As we get older, all of us are likely to develop some challenging medical issues. Preparing ourselves to navigate the healthcare system can empower us and lower our risk for future cognitive and mood impairments.

Take control of your healthcare and protect your brain with some of the following strategies:

• Partner with your doctor to make sure that you review all your health concerns and issues at every appointment. Any question is fair game, and don’t forget to talk about your memory.

• High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and many other common age-related illnesses have effective treatments. Take your doctor’s advice seriously; it will not only save your brain, it may save your life.

• Medication side effects can cause confusion and mood changes, which may even appear to be symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s important to bring all your medicines to your appointment with your doctor so you can review both prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

• Medicines available to treat Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias don’t offer a cure, but they can lessen symptoms. This allows patients to remain at a higher level of functioning longer and reduce caregiver burden.

• Sometimes depression and confusion occur together and treatment with an antidepressant medication can often help. An accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment not only improve mood, but memory as well.