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StayingSmart

Open Door - May 2009 page 14

I forget where I have put things

I can't say what's on the tip of my tongue

At the end of the day I haven't got the important stuff done

I forget to take my tablets

Around half of all people living with MS experience some problems with memory, attention span or concentration at some time. For most people these symptoms are relatively mild and like other symptoms of MS can come and go. However these problems can be difficult to come to terms with and to talk about as Helena describes in her article Losing concentration.

Information about these problems has been hard to find and when people have found something that is helpful they often want to share their experiences. This is why the MS Trust has been working with Dr Dawn Langdon, a clinical neuropsychologist, to develop StayingSmart. StayingSmart is a web-based resource designed for people who want to know, or know more, about how MS can affect thinking. Cognition is the general word that covers all aspects of thinking and includes memory, concentration and planning.

MS Trust StayingSmart

The aims of StayingSmart are to:

  • support learning about cognition in MS
  • build confidence in managing cognition in MS
  • facilitate sharing of knowledge about and experience of cognition in MS.

To help people work out which type of thinking is tricky StayingSmart starts with everyday problems. A click on the most relevant problem, which might be memory, attention, finding things, wayfinding, language, or decision making skills, will lead to information which is helpful for that type of problem.

There are different levels of information for each aspect of cognition considered. As an introduction, there is a brief explanation of the different cognitive issues in MS and in the Tips and Tricks section people are invited to share their experiences of how they manage the symptom.

Examples of the Tips and Tricks suggested for people who have problems finding things include:

  • Have a set place for everything (your glasses, your car keys) and always put these essential items in their set place.
  • At key times during your day (returning from an outing, before going to bed) check important items are in their set places.
  • If keeping things in different set places doesn't work, have one place to collect important things, such as a canvas tidy over the kitchen door with lots of pockets for glasses, car keys, bills to pay, letters to post etc. You could label the pockets.

The Gadgets and Gizmos section features items readily available that may be helpful, for example a flashing keyfinder that will beep and flash if you just whistle so locating any mislaid keys.

Involving Family and Friends has ideas for talking about thinking glitches with those people who are close. If you are having difficulty finding things and put some of the tips above into practice, it is likely that the people around will notice what you are doing and this might be a good time to tell them about your experiences.

Other Important Influences considers other aspects of MS that can affect cognition, such as fatigue or depression. There is also information about the health professionals who can offer help and support.

All the information is clearly signposted and layered so that as much or as little information can be accessed as you require.

Visit StayingSmart

StayingSmart will be launched on World MS Day (27 May). Keep an eye on this website for more information.

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