Protecting Your Mind: Vision, Hearing, and Safety

Some of the most impactful factors for brain health are often overlooked. Addressing sensory impairments, reviewing medications, and safeguarding against exploitation are practical, protective measures that support overall cognitive function and well-being.

The Critical Link Between Senses and Cognition

Your eyes and ears are the primary gateways through which your brain receives information about the world. When these senses are impaired, the brain has to work much harder to process information, diverting cognitive resources that could be used for memory and thinking. Furthermore, untreated hearing loss is a significant risk factor for social isolation and has been strongly linked to a higher risk of developing dementia.

It is essential to schedule regular check-ups:

Annual Vision Exams: Ensure your prescription is up-to-date and get screened for conditions like glaucoma and cataracts.

Regular Hearing Screenings: Hearing loss can be gradual, and many people don’t realize its extent. Modern hearing aids are discreet and highly effective, and using them can dramatically improve social engagement and reduce cognitive load.

Conduct a Medication Review

As people age, they often accumulate multiple prescriptions from different doctors, a phenomenon known as polypharmacy. The more medications a person takes, the higher the risk of adverse drug interactions and side effects, including confusion, memory problems, and dizziness. Certain classes of drugs, such as some over-the-counter sleep aids, benzodiazepines, and certain antidepressants, are known to have cognitive side effects in older adults.

At least once a year, schedule a “brown bag” medication review. Put all of your prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements into a bag and take them to your primary care physician or pharmacist. They can review everything to check for potential interactions, redundant prescriptions, and medications that may no longer be necessary or could be prescribed at a lower dose.

Staying Safe from Scams and Financial Exploitation

Criminals frequently target older adults with scams, using psychological tactics to create a sense of urgency, authority, or scarcity. These tactics are designed to bypass rational thought and trigger an emotional reaction. For example, a scammer might pretend to be from the IRS and threaten immediate arrest (authority and urgency) or claim you’ve won a lottery but must pay a fee to collect (scarcity).

Protecting yourself involves developing a default sense of skepticism and having a pre-planned response. A safe, all-purpose script is:

“Thank you for the information. I do not handle financial matters or make decisions over the phone. I will hang up now, independently look up the official contact information for your organization, and call them directly if I am interested.”

Never give personal information, account numbers, or passwords to someone who calls you unexpectedly. Do not click on suspicious links in emails or text messages. If you believe you have been targeted by or have fallen victim to a scam, it is not your fault. Report it to preserve evidence and help authorities. In the U.S., you can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).