Memory is an electrochemical process of the brain, which registers and stores information. We all experience changes in our memory as we age. According to Dr. Gary Small, the director of the Center on Aging at the University of California, Los Angeles, brain aging starts at a very young age and continues gradually over the years. About one third of the process can be attributed to genetics and the other two thirds have to do with environment and lifestyle choices. A large percentage of memory loss experiences are caused by stress, poor nutrition, medications, or depression.
Research has shown people who are mentally active during their 40’s and 50’s are less likely to develop memory problems in later years. Mental exercise is as important as physical exercise for good health. Just as your body benefits from aerobic exercise, your mind benefits from Neurobic exercise. Neurobics is term coined by Lawrence C. Katz and Manning Rubin in their book “Keep Your Brain Alive.” Neurobic exercises use your senses in unexpected ways, which strengthens nerve connections and activates unused pathways in your brain.
If you're thinking "my mind isn't what it used to be," perhaps it's due to the fact that it's not doing what it use to do. Don't allow yourself to get bogged down in the same daily routine. Read a book. Attend a class. Learn something new. Challenge your mind!
Most people have good memories; they just don’t practice using them efficiently. Memory works by association. If there is no obvious association between things, it is difficult to remember them. Actively working to create an association between bits of information will make them easier to remember. Some things can be easily remembered with rhymes or poems (e.g. “i before e except after c”). Thinking of a picture in your mind, preferably something silly or unusual, that links the information, will make it easier to remember. There are many fun ways to exercise your brain. Playing board games such as backgammon, chess, or checkers, and doing crossword or word search puzzles are all activities that stimulate your brain.
In addition to mental exercises, Dr. Small also recommends physical exercise, a low-fat diet and eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish, avocados, walnuts, and Brazil nuts, and fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants including prunes, raisins, blueberries, broccoli, beets, and onions in addition to reducing stress. Grape Seed Extract (grapeseedextract.com) is a powerful, natural antioxidant. YF-8 is a dietary supplement that provides a wealth of anti-aging and memory-enhancement benefits. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimage.com ]
