Keeping Memory Skills Healthy as You Age
In recent years, there have been many discoveries in neuroscience proving that brain function can stay strong with old age and can be significantly improved. By focusing on various healthy activities, you can make an effort to change the way your brain functions and have long-lasting memory as you age.
Although memory loss is commonly associated with old age and seen as unavoidable, decades of research have proved this wrong. With small efforts in your daily routine, you have the ability to prevent and reverse these age-related changes. Below are a couple of examples of ways to keep your memory skills sharp and constantly improving regardless of your age.
Exercise
Exercising regularly does not only benefit one’s physical health. Exercising has been proven to improve the brain’s function and activity, allowing the brain to be stronger and healthier. Scientists have found that cardiovascular exercise is linked with more cell growth in the hippocampus, which is a component of the brain associated with learning and memory.
According to research presented in Health magazine, physical activity mitigates the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other mental illnesses associated with aging. Getting 30 minutes of exercise per day increases the amount of oxygen sent to the brain and enhances healthy brain chemicals.
By delaying memory impairment and keeping essential components the brain strong, physical activity has the ability to greatly improve brain function and keep one’s memory sharp. Lowering the risk of memory-related diseases is essential to one’s quality of life.
Stimulate the Brain
By constantly challenging the mind and constantly making an effort to learn new things, your mind will be in a very strong and sharp state. Advanced education allows you to form a habit of staying mentally active.
According to research presented in a Harvard article, challenging the brain maintains the strength of brain cells and allows them to communicate with one another. When your brain cells are able to transmit messages to one another, they are constantly exercising and staying powerful.
There are many ways to stimulate the brain that are enjoyable and fun. Doing puzzles with family, signing up for educational classes on topics that interest you, or learning to play an instrument are just a few examples of ways that you can stimulate the brain without it feeling like a chore.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
As we age, drinking and using drugs has much stronger impacts on one’s health and the brain is much more sensitive. The alcohol stays in your system for longer due to slowed metabolism and is associated with various severe health conditions.
A study published by American Journal of Psychiatry proved that drinking problems at younger ages are directly associated with memory impairment. The participants who admitted to heavy drinking in their past were twice as likely to suffer from memory issues and mental diseases.
Keeping the mind sharp by avoiding alcohol and drugs is essential to a strong memory throughout old age.
Stay Organized
Even throughout retirement, keeping planners, calendars, and lists is crucial to staying productive and maintaining memory skills. By writing tasks and reminders down, you are much more likely to remember them in the future and will have confidence in your memory.
By focusing on information, you want to remember and writing things down to stay organized, your memory will be sharpened and remain strong. You will no longer feel frustrated and defeated and will be confident in your productivity.
Conclusion
There are so many different tasks you can incorporate into your daily life to keep your memory strong and your mind sharp. Making an effort to learn new things through reading and other activities that stimulate the mind, your brain will constantly feel challenged and your brain cells will be working hard to communicate with one another.
Although memory loss is commonly associated with old age and seen as unavoidable, decades of research have proved this wrong. With small efforts in your daily routine, you have the ability to prevent and reverse these age-related changes. Below are a couple of examples of ways to keep your memory skills sharp and constantly improving regardless of your age.
Exercise
Exercising regularly does not only benefit one’s physical health. Exercising has been proven to improve the brain’s function and activity, allowing the brain to be stronger and healthier. Scientists have found that cardiovascular exercise is linked with more cell growth in the hippocampus, which is a component of the brain associated with learning and memory.
According to research presented in Health magazine, physical activity mitigates the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other mental illnesses associated with aging. Getting 30 minutes of exercise per day increases the amount of oxygen sent to the brain and enhances healthy brain chemicals.
By delaying memory impairment and keeping essential components the brain strong, physical activity has the ability to greatly improve brain function and keep one’s memory sharp. Lowering the risk of memory-related diseases is essential to one’s quality of life.
Stimulate the Brain
By constantly challenging the mind and constantly making an effort to learn new things, your mind will be in a very strong and sharp state. Advanced education allows you to form a habit of staying mentally active.
According to research presented in a Harvard article, challenging the brain maintains the strength of brain cells and allows them to communicate with one another. When your brain cells are able to transmit messages to one another, they are constantly exercising and staying powerful.
There are many ways to stimulate the brain that are enjoyable and fun. Doing puzzles with family, signing up for educational classes on topics that interest you, or learning to play an instrument are just a few examples of ways that you can stimulate the brain without it feeling like a chore.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
As we age, drinking and using drugs has much stronger impacts on one’s health and the brain is much more sensitive. The alcohol stays in your system for longer due to slowed metabolism and is associated with various severe health conditions.
A study published by American Journal of Psychiatry proved that drinking problems at younger ages are directly associated with memory impairment. The participants who admitted to heavy drinking in their past were twice as likely to suffer from memory issues and mental diseases.
Keeping the mind sharp by avoiding alcohol and drugs is essential to a strong memory throughout old age.
Stay Organized
Even throughout retirement, keeping planners, calendars, and lists is crucial to staying productive and maintaining memory skills. By writing tasks and reminders down, you are much more likely to remember them in the future and will have confidence in your memory.
By focusing on information, you want to remember and writing things down to stay organized, your memory will be sharpened and remain strong. You will no longer feel frustrated and defeated and will be confident in your productivity.
Conclusion
There are so many different tasks you can incorporate into your daily life to keep your memory strong and your mind sharp. Making an effort to learn new things through reading and other activities that stimulate the mind, your brain will constantly feel challenged and your brain cells will be working hard to communicate with one another.