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Small Beginnings A Column for Kids By a kid---Kate O.

Why is our Memory so important?

When we meet someone, learn something new, or an event occurs the brain will judge its importance then save it for later use. When working correctly the brain will store the information to be kept for future reference. There are different parts of the brain that store old or new information.

Memory is wonderful if working properly. It is normal to forget information or names of people, but for many people memory problems are constantly a problem. Severe problems with memory…chances are they have an illness or condition that is causing the problem. Brain injury is just one of many memory illnesses. Brain injury can occur at anytime to anyone of any age. Some people with a minor form of brain injury can recover from memory loss, but in many other cases, memory loss lasts forever.

Memory loss can be devastating to the person, friends, family, or co-workers.

Our lives depend on our memory to get us to a certain place, remember certain tasks, & even how to use tools, appliances, like a stove or stereo. That is why it is important to wear a seatbelt when in the car or protective helmet/head gear when involved in certain activities or sports.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a blow to the head or a blunt object penetrating the head.

TBI can happen a lot of ways causing a person to be stunned for a few minutes or when someone is unconscious (called a coma). Abusing alcohol or abusing drugs can cause chemicals to be released to the brain causing memory problems.

A person may not realize he/she has a brain injury.

Friends & family are often the first to notice a memory problem. It is their care & concern that leads them to contact a doctor to diagnose & treat the brain injury. Brain injury effects not just memory, there are always more medical issues & illnesses, caused by a blow or penetrating object to the brain. The injury effects the brain, throwing off the brain from its normal minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, and year by year routine.

A person that has brain injury can also have one or more of the following: ---Memory problems, or ---Changes in speech, or language, or motor skills, or ---Seizures, vertigo, or photo sensitivity, or ---Migraines, or arthritis, or stroke, or paralysis or ---Changes in personality, or emotions or mental abilities.

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Job Verses the Brain… People with brain injury often exhibit Alzheimer type behaviors. This last year medical science has tested people with Brain Injury & Alzheimer’s to assess the effects of these illnesses on job performance. The outcome: mentally demanding careers were found to keep your mind sharp which prolongs some symptoms from getting worse.

People in mentally demanding jobs through-out their careers are less likely to develop Alzheimer's type behavior compared to jobs less mentally demanding, stated Neurology magazine. Researchers conducted a study comparing the work histories of 122 people with Brain Injury & Alzheimer type illnesses & 235 people without.

All had jobs with similar mental or physical demands when they were in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, & 50s.The study showed the need for continued investigation into challenges of the workforce. ==Did the early influence of Brain Injury & Alzheimer type behaviors make holding a mentally demanding job difficult or ==Did the demands of a mentally challenging job have a direct effect on the disease.

The conclusion: keep the brain challenged to keep it strong & keep physically strong to live a long happy life for you & those around you.

REMEMBER: If you don‘t use it you lose it. #