My friends and I are in our 80’s and of course we worry about memory loss. We see that there are supplements claiming to improve memory, but we can’t believe it’s possible. Are they a waste of money?
Norman Wallall, by email.
Memory loss and dementia are something we fear even more than cancer these days, surveys show, and I know there are many people who put their trust in supplements.
Usually this is the herb ginkgo biloba. There are 40 different flavonoids — a type of antioxidant — in the ginkgo biloba leaf, and extracts have been shown in various ways to increase blood flow through arteries in some parts of the brain, or change the way the nerve cells of the brain use sugar as the main fuel.
Memory loss and dementia are something we fear even more than cancer today, surveys suggest (File image)
But despite more than 400 clinical studies on this herb, none of these effects have been consistently shown to prevent or treat changes in memory function.
So you and your friends are right: There are no supplements — or even prescription drugs — that will halt mild cognitive impairment, or reverse a decline to dementia in those who show signs of mental decline, which is enough to make any difference in real life.
The advertising surrounding such supplements is persuasive, but save yourself the false hope – and the expense – and instead focus on taking daily exercise, such as any physical ailments.
Be diligent about keeping your blood pressure within the normal range and avoid tobacco use and anything more than the most minimal alcohol intake.
There is a lot of advice on activities that help prevent memory loss, such as learning a language, playing a musical instrument, or participating in other activities such as table tennis or ballroom dancing.
These stimulate the mind-body connection and improve the neural pathways. While they do not restore lost memory function, they have been shown to help prevent it from deteriorating further.
There are no supplements – or even prescription drugs – that will stop mild cognitive impairment (File image)
I have small sores just in my right nostril, a recurring problem for the past five years. My doctor prescribed two different creams, Naseptin and Bactroban, neither of which made any difference. I would be grateful if you could help me.
Carole Haag, Kenley, Surrey.
A sore in one nostril is a common problem, usually caused by a condition called nasal vestibulitis. This is caused by damage to the delicate lining caused by, for example, blowing or picking too hard, leading to infection.
Using a potent antibiotic cream, such as the Naseptin and Bactroban you’ve been prescribed, should cure it.
But since neither worked in your case, this suggests to me that you don’t have an infection.
Another possible explanation is that it is a basal cell carcinoma (BCC). This is the most common form of skin cancer, accounting for 80 per cent of skin cancers diagnosed in the UK.
Reassuringly, unlike melanoma, it does not spread into the distance. A BCC usually causes sore skin that does not heal.
A sore in one nostril is a common problem, usually caused by a condition called nasal vestibulitis (File Image)
Confirming a BCC diagnosis involves a biopsy under local anesthesia. Here, a small piece of the ulcerated area is removed and sent to a laboratory for analysis.
The good news is that there is an effective treatment that will eradicate the lesion and the area should eventually heal.
There are several treatment options for BCC: a chemotherapy cream, radiation to the area, or surgical removal (on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia). The specialist will decide which one is most suitable.
I recommend that you talk to your doctor about a referral to a dermatologist or ear, nose and throat consultant for examination and possibly a biopsy.
In my opinion… AI can be good news for stroke patients
The outcries of concern about artificial intelligence (AI) and the threat it could pose to our very existence should not be dismissed.
But it must be seen in context, because there are aspects of this technology that are life-enhancing – even life-saving.
Take stroke, for example, where time is of the essence for both diagnosis and treatment.
There are two causes of a stroke: a ruptured blood vessel or a blocked blood vessel, and the difference is critical in determining the right treatment.
Currently, this can only be resolved through a scan, which must then be reviewed by the medical team. But thanks to a form of AI called e-stroke technology, they can now all see the scan images remotely and coordinate immediate action.
In a pilot study started at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in March 2020, this not only saved a significant 60 minutes of time to start treatment, but also vastly improved patient outcomes. Three times as many patients (48 percent compared to 16 percent) were able to perform everyday tasks after their stroke.
In short, AI is like the preacher’s egg – good in parts. The secret, of course, is finding those good parts.
Write to Dr. Scurr
Write to dr. Scurr at Good Health, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY or email: drmartin@dailymail.co.uk — add contact details. Dr. Scurr cannot respond to personal correspondence. Answers should be taken in a general context. In case of health problems, consult your own doctor.