Q: Progressive aphasia is when you lose your skills and abilities associated with language and communication over time, in a way that exceeds a natural age-related decline. If you aren't already aware of changes in your communication abilities, be on the lookout for: Language abilities that become more and more impaired with time. Problems with written language in addition to spoken language. Difficulty "finding" words (i.e. loss of precision of vocabulary), or substituting incorrect words due to forgetfulness. This may include forgetting the names of things, and frequently "talking around" a word by describing it or referring to it without using its actual name, as well as forgetting a person's name despite recognizing the individual. Stuttering and/or trouble pronouncing words (or mispronouncing words). Difficulty understanding words and sentences (note that this must be due to a word comprehension problem and NOT a hearing problem), which may lead to confusion or continually asking for clarification. Slowed speech, incomplete sentences, incorrect word order, grammatically incorrect sentences, and/or decreased use of language as a means to communicate. Trouble with written language, such as incorrect spelling, and problems reading and understanding written information. Becoming mute (this is a very late sign). Note that the signs and symptoms will vary depending upon the specific area of the brain that is affected, which varies from person to person and tends to spread over time. This subtype of progressive aphasia presents primarily with speech difficulties. Speech will generally consist of fewer words, missing words, incomplete sentences, grammatically incorrect sentences, and difficulty "finding" (or remembering) the correct words to refer to things. Generally, in this subtype of PPA, comprehension of what other's are saying remains intact. It is predominantly a disorder of word production. This subtype of progressive aphasia mainly affects word finding. Speech is normally preserved, other than challenges remembering the names of objects, and difficulty maintaining the precision of vocabulary that may have been used in the past. The primary problem in the semantic subtype of progressive aphasia is losing word comprehension. For instance, you may not recognize or understand the meaning of words that you previously understood. you may frequently ask for clarification, or appear confused, when trying to make sense of what others are saying. PPA most commonly affects individuals between the ages of 40 and 80 years old, with the peak incidence occurring around 60 years old. It affects twice as many men as it does women. It has been hypothesized that there may be a genetic component to progressive aphasia, as it happens more commonly in individuals with a family history of cognitive decline (such as other family members who have been diagnosed with dementia or aphasia). It is important to understand that, while progressive aphasia always presents initially as symptoms only related to language and communication (without other symptoms that are commonly associated with dementia, such as memory loss), PPA may progress with time to become a more widespread dementia syndrome. However, the diagnosis of PPA relies on presenting during the initial few years with deficits only in language and communication skills. Progressive aphasia presents as a gradual decline in your language and communication abilities. It is not associated with a triggering event, and there is no definitive "time of onset" of the condition. Rather, most people notice subtle challenges with language and communication coming on gradually, with no other signs or symptoms of mental deterioration. If there is a history of a triggering event, such as a stroke or a traumatic brain injury, you are likely NOT suffering from progressive aphasia. Note that one of the hallmarks of progressive aphasia is that it continues to "progress" (i.e. worsen) with time. It is not something that all of a sudden begins to show improvements, and it does not have a fluctuating course (with periods of being worse followed by periods of being better). The best way to keep track of, and to remember, your symptoms and their progression over time is by keeping a diary. Having a written record is always more reliable than going by memory alone, and the written record will help your doctors to diagnose the condition as well.
A: Watch for speech problems that get worse over time. Recognize signs of the "agrammatic/nonfluent" subtype of PPA. Look out for signs of the "logopenic" subtype of PPA. Watch for signs of the "semantic" subtype of PPA. Consider whether you are in the population most frequently affected by PPA. Take note of how it started. Keep a diary of how your symptoms are changing (or worsening) with time.

Q: If you've fainted with no known cause, it is very important to see a physician about the problem. Your doctor will help you to find the cause of your fainting and hopefully rule out any serious heart or nervous system disorders. If the episodes are caused by an underlying medical issue, it may be treatable. Treatment may eliminate your fainting spells entirely. Your doctor may have diagnosed you with vasovagal syncope. This is the most common type of fainting, especially in otherwise healthy individuals. In vasovagal syncope, fainting is triggered by certain stimuli that vary from person to person. Think about what you were doing each time you either fainted or felt like you were about to faint. If your trigger is a situation you can avoid, such as dehydration or the sight of blood, try not to put yourself at risk again. If your trigger is something unavoidable, try to find a way to prevent the drop in blood pressure. Your doctor may have some solutions. For example, some people faint when having blood drawn. If this is your trigger, tell your phlebotomist. He or she will likely have a protocol to prevent fainting that likely includes some way of keeping your legs elevated. When you encounter presyncope, attempt to lie down instead of falling. From a horizontal position, your body is better equipped to recover from fainting. Lying down makes it much easier for your heart to pump much-needed blood back to your head. Keeping your legs elevated is the easiest way to prevent blood from pooling in your feet, decreasing blood flow to your brain. This will shorten the fainting episode and possibly prevent it altogether. Sitting down with your head lowered between your knees will have the same effect.
A: Talk to a doctor. Discover and avoid your triggers. Lie down if you can. Elevate your legs if you can.

Q: As you start working, drink one of the caffeinated beverages you have set aside. Drink it slowly, so the caffeine doesn't overwhelm your system and cause you to crash. For every caffeinated beverage you drink, drink a cup of water. As the night goes on, increase the time between caffeinated beverages. If you feel yourself falling into a slump, take a multivitamin. No matter how focused you are, at some point, your brain will hit a wall. Instead of working through the slump at your computer, use this time to get in some exercise. A quick workout can boost your brain's ability to learn and retain information, which will help you break through your slump. Don't do a full workout instead, do some quick exercise in the form of 10 pushups, 10 jumping jacks or 10 sit ups. Pain stimulates the brain and keeps you from falling asleep. When you feel yourself nodding off, try pinching your thigh or eyebrow to give yourself a quick jolt. If pinching isn't cutting it, splash cold water on your face for an added boost. Lower the thermostat in your house or study area to keep your body alert. Take a cold shower to freeze yourself awake. Melatonin, the hormone that makes humans sleepy, is brought on by darkness, so turn on your brightest lights. Try to work in a room with fluorescent lighting, if possible. The closer the light is to your eyes, the better, so try to work near a desk lamp or computer screen. Change rooms every couple of hours so your eyes don't have time to fully adjust to the bright lights. Mint increases brain activity and improves memory, so chewing gum and sucking on mint candies can help you increase your alertness and improve the quality of your work. Keep a stash close to your desk and dip into it whenever you feel yourself slowing down. Drinking mint tea is also a great way to get some added caffeine.
A:
Begin your caffeine cycle. Take a break for exercise. Keep from falling asleep by making yourself uncomfortable. Keep the lights turned on. Chew gum.