Spring Arbor Living Blog

Mental health and memory are closely tied to physical health. Physical and emotional vitality are important to maintaining mental health. As you or your loved one gets older, and become less able to do some activities, replacing lost activities can help keep a positive attitude and sense of well-being over time.  If you can no longer run, try walking for example. But just as physical health needs upkeep, so does memory and mental health.

Protect or improve your memory and mental sharpness by:

• Challenging your brain daily. Read, learn a new musical instrument or language, do crossword puzzles, or play games of strategy with others. Just like an active body, an active brain continues to develop and thrive, while an inactive brain loses its power over time.
• Help your memory. Write down dates, names, and other important information that you easily forget. Use routine and repetition. For example, keep daily items such as keys and eyeglasses in a specific place. No matter what your age, having too much on your mind can keep you from remembering new information. And as you age, it is normal to take longer to retrieve new information from your memory bank.
• Preventing depression, which is a common yet treatable cause of cognitive decline in older people. In addition to getting regular physical activity and social contact, avoid the depressant effect of alcohol and sedative use, eat healthy meals and snacks, and include meaningful activity in your daily life.
• Not smoking. Cigarette smoking may speed mental decline. This connection was identified in a large study comparing smokers and nonsmokers age 65 and over.

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The minor memory lapses that occur with age-associated memory impairment can’t be eliminated completely; however, a number of common-sense strategies can improve overall memory at any age. The keys are to stay focused, active and alert.

Memory Tip 1: Place commonly lost items in a designated spot. If you’re prone to losing keys or eyeglasses, pick a spot and always put the items there when you are not using them.

Memory Tip 2: Write things down. If you have trouble remembering phone numbers or appointments, write them down and place the list in a conspicuous spot. Making a daily “to do” list will remind you of important tasks and obligations.  

Memory Tip 3: Say words out loud. Saying “I’ve turned off the stove” after doing so will give you an extra verbal reminder when you later try to recall whether the stove is still on. Incorporating people’s names into the conversation immediately after you have met them helps, too. 
 
Memory Tip 4: Use memory aids. Use a pocket notepad, cell phone, wristwatch alarm, voice recorder or other aids to help remember what you need to do or to keep track of information.

Memory Tip 5: Use visual images. When you are earning new information, such as a person’s name, create a visual image in your mind to make the information more vivid and, therefore, more memorable.

Memory Tip 6: Group items using mnemonics. A mnemonic is any technique used to help you remember. For example, when memorizing lists, names, addresses and so on, try grouping them as an acronym. Another mnemonic technique is an acrostic. Acrostics use the first letter of each item to create new words that form a sentence or phrase. Using rhymes or creating stories that connect each element to be remembered is also helpful.
 
Memory Tip 7: Concentrate and relax. Many environmental stimuli compete for your attention at any given time. To remember something, concentrate on the items to be remembered. Pay close attention to new information and try to avoid or block out distractions.

Memory Tip 8: Get plenty of sleep. During sleep the brain consolidates and firms up newly acquired information. Studies indicate that people are better at remembering recently learned information the next day if they have had a good night’s sleep.

Memory Tip 9: Rule out other causes of memory loss. If you suspect that you are having memory difficulties, consult your doctor. Some medical conditions can cause memory problems that can be corrected, including depression, hearing or vision loss, thyroid dysfunction, use of certain medications, vitamin deficiencies and stress. 
 
From Johns Hopkins Medicine

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