“Fit body, Fit mind.”
Middle-aged
and older adults may worry about forgetting a person’s name or misplacing car
keys. Is this a sign of Alzheimer’s? In most cases, it’s age-related memory
loss.
Let’s
explore six memory components.
1. Semantic
memory allows retention of word vocabulary and general knowledge. This allows
performance of routine tasks, such as preparing meals and operating a
smartphone.
2. Episodic
memory involves recalling recent events.
3. Source memory includes learning a piece of
information for the first time.
4. Recall
of short term information involves working memory.
5. Prospective
memory is remembering things to do in the future, such as appointments and
coming errands.
6. Fluid
Intelligence is the method for solving or finishing a task. It’s fifty to
eighty percent heritable from your parents. Brain training can improve fluid
intelligence by expanding a wider variety of tasks that exercise working
memory.
Let’s
put this into practice. Suppose you need to buy a Christmas gift. Create a
mental relevant image, word, or phrase that connects the gift to your recipient.
The more personally relevant and emotional the gift, the more likely you’ll remember
the task. It might be helpful to use an acronym, such as “BIG” – Buy Gift for
…… .
Creating “To Do” lists posted on your kitchen
door, day planner, or into your cell phone can help.
Increased
physical activity translates to boost in memory function. Physical exercise includes
walking, aerobics, gardening, golf, tennis, dancing, and stair climbing. Let’s
face it.These activities demand time, full effort, and
practice.
The
more we use our memory, the more our memory is sharpened.
Maintaining
memory in older age is not a lost cause. Get started.
Source:
“Building Better Brains,” Scientific American Mind, September/October 2012
