Keep Your Memory Sharp
Dr. Miki worked with a team at Baycrest Hospital in Toronto where he provided a memory rehabilitation program to individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Dr. Miki has shared his knowledge during presentations at several Vancouver hospitals and has been interviewed by
The Toronto Star (click here)
The Globe and Mail (click here)
Do you have difficulties remembering names, appointments, or recent conversations? Do you forget what you are supposed to do later today or next week? Many people experience varying degrees of memory loss as they get older or after a brain injury. In order to remain independent, maintain personal relationships, and enhance workplace performance, patients often seek to improve their memory through a memory rehabilitation program.
How Can Dr. Miki Help?
Dr. Miki will assess your memory problems and determine where in the memory process you are experiencing the most issues. He will then teach you different memory strategies that will be practiced at each session. Finally, you will learn how to implement these skills in your daily life so that your memory functioning improves.
How Does Memory Work?
There are four processes that must occur in order for you to remember information. First of all, you must pay attention to the thing you want to remember. When you pay attention, information will flow into your brain and will be encoded successfully. After the information is encoded it is stored for an indefinite period of time. Finally, the information must be retrieved from your brain at a specific time. A breakdown in any of these stages will result in a memory failure.
The link between depression and brain injuries
Many people with a neurological condition also experience depression. In fact, the likelihood of having depression after a Traumatic Brain Injury has been estimated to range form 25% to 45% [1]. Similarly, approximately 30% to 50% of people with Alzheimer’s also experience some form of depression [2].
Dr. Miki can help with memory rehabilitation and treat depression/anxiety at the same time.
What is Memory Rehabilitation?
Scientific research has identified several strategies that you can learn to improve and/or compensate for memory loss. Many of these strategies improve the encoding stage so that it is more likely that you will retrieve the information at a later time. Most importantly, these strategies are useful for everyday memory problems. All individuals can improve their memory functioning by putting this knowledge into practice.
Who can benefit from Memory Rehabilitation?
Anyone who is concerned with memory loss due to normal aging and those with more severe neurological conditions can benefit from Memory Rehabilitation. There are several neurological conditions that are associated with memory loss including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Cerebrovascular Disease, Stroke, Mild Cognitive Impairment, early Alzheimer’s, and Amnesia. The incorporation of memory strategies into daily life can provide you with the means to maintain and improve your ability to function independently. Many memory strategies can be learned and practiced within 3 to 6 sessions.
References:
- Rogers et al. (2007). Psychiatric Comorbidity following Traumatic Brain Injury. Brain Injury, 21, 1321-1333.
- Raskind. (2008). Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression Comorbid with Neurologic Disorders. The American Journal of Medicine, 121, 28-37.