Does Ataxia change your thought process?

Hi everyone I am always trying to think of a good debate that people might like to write in about. Do you think Ataxia has effected your personality? Has it changed your thought process? Is your memory effected by it or do you forget more than normal? For myself I noticed I can't concentrate like I once could! A good example for me sounds corny,but i will tell myself I will watch all the channels on tv guide go by so I can see what's playing,I never make it to the end my mind keeps wandering! Is your mood effected to the point of no control ? I recently read where they were saying that scientist have linked the cerebellum to your thought process. Have you heard of this and if you have where? They are finding more types of Ataxia all the time and have found out the cerebellum plays more a role than pervious thought than just your balance and motor functions! I can only speak from what i experience ,but I know all the time what's happening to me just can't control it. We are always told this is a neurological disease only,i wonder? Would love to hear what you think and what's going on with you and this will be a good time to get some input from your fellow members here on site. You can't get better advice than from a fellow Ataxian!! michael

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Permalink Reply by Kati on March 3, 2010 at 6:51am

Hi

Good Topic. I think my memory is affected, I wouldn't say its worse as I remember all same things I remembered from years ago, but learning new things seems harder. Possibly because its taking longer for information to transfer between short term and long term memory? I'm not sure.

I need more visual reminders and have to re-read things more. I have found that from researching the different AAC systems and deciding which one to use for myself the most important factor has become which system is the easiest to REMEMBER how to use!

I by no means have learning difficulties, I previously had a degree and taught others, but I'm finding more and more that I like things to be as simple and obvious as possible so I instantly know how to do something or how to find something.

I'm sure I have heard something about cerebellum and thought processes been linked, that idea seems familiar, but I can't remember where from!.. lol sorry.

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Permalink Reply by William Phillips on March 3, 2010 at 12:20pm

I can only comment on my own personal experience of having Ataxia. I've only been affected in physical ways. My mind / memory,is, to my knowledge unchanged. Some stuff I remember, some I forget, some stuff I know, some I don't.
I think when we get older (I'm 62) we tend to forget things simply because the older we get the more we have to remember.
Some drugs taken for Ataxia may have side affects which can affect the mind / memory. I know from personal experience that is true. So experiment not just by taking medication but also by not taking medication. Take it easy - BILL

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Permalink Reply by Patsy on March 9, 2010 at 3:00pm

I have always found it difficult to maintain concentration - since diagnosis and on reflection I think this could well be due to the difficulty of tracking messages from cerebellum. As I have got older, [I am 67 now] everything has become slower and this in itself causes problems.

I think in the past, I have kept going on adrenalin and 'overdrive' - now I am retired, I struggle to focus on what needs doing.

Typing makes it much easier to communicate as I have been doing it for over 50 years!

I agree with Bill about the drugs - my GP prescribed a drug for neuro pain and explained that it would affect my natural will power to balance!! Dont use it anymore - most important thing to me is to do stretching exercises so I dont cease up.

;o) Patsy x

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Permalink Reply by Marie Turner on March 9, 2010 at 4:43pm

Hello
Luckily my ataxia has only affected my mobility,handwriting and speech. The worst is my balance. However ironically for the firsttime in my life I feel emotionally balanced. I have always struggled with concentration but always came up with the goods in exams. My long term memory is excellent but I can't remember things you do on autopilot.I leapt on and off emotional roller coasters for most of my life but now I feel peaceful in spite of the ataxia. My mother was a very negative person so I was determined to be the opposite. Mentallly I don't feel as if ataxia has affected me.Emotionally i feel more mature and there are generally more ups than downs. i read somewheere also of the connection between memory and the cerebellum but don't think it has affected me that way.

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Permalink Reply by Louise Davy on March 16, 2010 at 12:05am

Hi, I have to say that I am really struggling with my memory. I have episodic ataxia and my balance is noticably worse but so is my memory - I am hoping it is the ataxia and not early on set dementia. The other day, I forgot the word for microwave (I kid you not) I had to describe what I meant like a 5 year old - it's square and you put food in it to cook for short time etc - really upset my daughter usually if I think hard I can remember the word but it might take me a minute. Quite scary at the age of 40!!

Lou

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Permalink Reply by nati cepeda on March 16, 2010 at 12:57pm

hi,
i have fa and no it hasnt affected my memory. it has affected my balance, speeach, writing, and walking. this all started after i had my daughtter but before that i only tripped whem i walked.

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Permalink Reply by Lorinn Coburn on July 13, 2010 at 9:50pm

Hello Bones,

I have been having pretty severe changes. My short-term memory is scary now; I have times when I can't remember how to work the keyboard or functions on my computer, or how to work my cell phone, etc. I forget what I'm doing frequently, and have to stand for a bit and really concentrate to figure it out. I quickly forget appointments, conversations, plans I've made, where I put things. Sometimes I can remember better; other times I forget within seconds. I also cannot retain new info or remember things I've learned even minutes before. I used to fly through school work, and loved it. Now I can't do it at all.

Last year I started an online course in medical coding, and loved it until about six months ago, when these problems got lots worse. I thought at first it was age; but my mother stayed sharp until her 80's, so I don't think so now. I am really excited to work with the OHSU people, they have an excellent neuro department, and a clinic just for movement disorders.
I still really like medicine; so even tho this process is scary at times, it's really interesting to me, too. The brain is a very mysterious thing! thanks for the lead, it's a great subject.

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Permalink Reply by Patsy on July 14, 2010 at 3:12am

I have to add that in this world of new technology, passwords, updates, constant changes, I find that it is not only us over 60's that have problems with memory. Our children in their 30's and 40's often get stuck for a word or a name and they refer to it as CRAFT moment [cant remember a flipping thing].

Men seem to be worse having a more selective memory and not generally good at multi tasking.

Worrying about memory loss just makes it worse.

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Permalink Reply by Kati on July 14, 2010 at 11:11am

I have been using memory games, there has been some improvement in remembering where marching pairs were in game or sequence of colours.

Your brain needs stimulating and exercising so challenge it by learning something new.

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Permalink Reply by Lorinn Coburn on July 14, 2010 at 12:56pm

I heartily agree with you, Kati, I have been playing online mahjong for years and still really love it. I have trouble with my arms more now, though, and get discourages when my scores keep falling. But I think I will approach it from a differing perspective; not expect to reach or stay at any certain level, just enjoy the game. Kinda Zen. : )

Kati said:

I have been using memory games, there has been some improvement in remembering where marching pairs were in game or sequence of colours.

Your brain needs stimulating and exercising so challenge it by learning something new.

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Permalink Reply by Kati on July 14, 2010 at 2:34pm

Hi Lori

I get involuntary twitches in my arms and can take few attempts to get them to go where I want particuarly with fine motor tasks like operating a mouse. I use a special joystick but even then find I cant score highly on timed games and I was bit of gaming fan in my younger years having owned most of the consoles.

Now I struggle with platform games, adventure games take ages as I cant get far in a spare hour and usually forgotten where I got up to by next time I get chance to play. I have gone back to simple games with no time limit.

I recently got an iPad which is great for small simple games and puzzles, many free and also use it as back up communication aid, diary and to do lists to help me remember appointments and what I was doing.

The notepad feature is great for making notes as I'm doing research as handwriting is difficult to do quickly and I can copy and paste links/text between my Mac and my iPad. I find the iPad keyboard manageable in landscape mode and found a notepad app which works with the same abbreviations software I have on my Mac (Textexpander for Mac and Textexpander Touch for iPad/iPhone).

I've had it about a month now and found it really useful. I did a post on my blog about it here:

http://katilea.wordpress.com/

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Permalink Reply by Carol Gow on July 14, 2010 at 2:59pm

Hello Lorinn
I play mahjon and solitare. The latter I was told to do by a professional. It is to help with hand co-ordination. At first I was sceptical but try placing the cards on a bad day!! It makes you think as well.
Regards
Carol

Lorinn Coburn said:

I heartily agree with you, Kati, I have been playing online mahjong for years and still really love it. I have trouble with my arms more now, though, and get discourages when my scores keep falling. But I think I will approach it from a differing perspective; not expect to reach or stay at any certain level, just enjoy the game. Kinda Zen. : )

Kati said:
I have been using memory games, there has been some improvement in remembering where marching pairs were in game or sequence of colours.

Your brain needs stimulating and exercising so challenge it by learning something new.