If you suspect that an a relative may be going too far with forgetting things and that they may have Alzheimer’s Disease, you can do a simple test to determine if they are there yet. Just take a piece of cloth, or even the bottle itself and place a little bit of ground cinnamon on it. Have the person smell it…if they can’t smell it, then there is a good chance they have the makings of the disease. Simple, yes, Definitive, no..you may need more tests but more than likely they are in the process of cognitive decline.

Sometimes this could indicate a disorder of the olfactory bulb that controls smell. In this case, if the person can smell spearmint, peppermint, or other flavors then they are OK and one should look toward dementia.

Aging is relative and that means that we are all related, especially in the context of getting older. Each of us has to interpret what it is about aging that affects us and then again how we are all able to accept our own aging process and the changes that are upon us.

Each moment we age, we learn something new about us and about our world around us. Take a moment and identify the changes that have encompassed you today. What have you learned about yourself and others. How can that help you cope with your life and with the aging process? Keep a journal daily and make a note of your experiences and observations. Check back in and let us know what you learned.

Today I learned that physical pain allows one to appreciate being human, being alive and anticipating the moment when there is no physical pain …