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As part of the ‘normal’ ageing process you may fail to
remember names, recent events are less readily recalled than events from the past and
there is a general slowing in our response to new situations. There is,
of course,
enormous variation in mental ability between people, partly dependent on genetic heritage,
and partly consequent to circumstances.
Contrary to popular belief, your memory has the potential to stay sharp throughout your
life. If you find your memory deteriorating as you get older, it is more likely to be due
to stress, poor health or a lack of mental exercise. Research has concluded that only five
per cent of cases of bad memory are actually attributed to brain disorders such as
Alzheimer’s disease.
How can we maintain optimal mental function?
While there is a loss of brain cells with age,
connections between brain cells do continue to increase. We can continue to make
inter-neuronal connections by using our brains - keeping the brain active with whatever
takes our mental fancy - crosswords, bridge, drawing, painting etc. Severe long-term
stress, on the other hand, impairs the formation of inter-neuronal connections and
aggravates the loss of mental ability.
In the majority of cases, short-term
memory problems are a case of simple neglect and under-used basic memory skills. Along
with a relatively short period of storage, short-term memory is also of limited
capacity - approximately seven items can be stored at a time. Research has shown that when
your memory is filled to capacity, new information will displace the old. So if you want
to remember something, make sure you repeat it and encode it into the long-term memory to
prevent losing it.
The memory process begins when you decide to remember a piece of information and encode
it, either verbally or pictorially. You are more likely to remember visual imagery as it
forms a stronger impression than verbal statements. When learning new information, try to
make the best use of the brain’s system of memory storage. Go over the information
repeatedly to strengthen the connections between the brain cells or neurons. Involve
several senses in the learning process to help make memory retrieval easier. Make a note
of accompanying smells, sounds and even tastes, if possible.
Memory boosting
Do not worry if you have trouble
remembering things - but improve your memory through practice. Keep exercising your memory
to help day-to-day memory storage and retrieval.
Concentrate
- lack of concentration is the top reason for forgetfulness -
Be selective
- prioritise the things you need to remember - don’t try to remember everything -
Be predictable
- for example, always put your keys in the same place so you wont lose them -
Reduce your
stress levels - stress interferes with memory function - relaxation helps you
assimilate new information as well as its transfer to long-term memory.
Brain Food
Certain nutrients can boost or help
prevent loss of brain functioning. Vitamin E, phosphatidylserine and Ginko Biloba can dramatically improve alertness.
There are hormone receptors throughout
the brain and, undoubtedly, many hormones have complex actions that affect your mental
functioning. Oestrogen, testosterone, DHEA, Pregnenalone and thyroid hormones have
beneficial affects on mental function.
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