7 Simple Tips To Keep Our Mind Sharp At Any Age

The lapse of memory can occur at any age. While older people have to suffer significant memory loss, it is often not due to the aging process but to brain injury, organic disorders, or neurological illness. Studies have indicated that we can prevent cognitive decline and decrease the risk of dementia by practicing certain good health habits such as:

Getting enough sleep
Eating a balanced diet
Not smoking
Staying physically active
Having good social connections

Some health conditions that can cause cognitive impairment include depression, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, and diabetes. If we have to face any of these health conditions, we can protect the memory by following the advice of our doctor carefully.

Changes in memory can be frustrating. However, the good news is that we can learn how to protect and improve memory. Below are several ways you can try.

Keep Learning

A higher level of education is one of the factors helping you have better mental functioning when we become older. Experts show that advanced training may maintain the ability to remember by assisting a person to form the habits of staying mentally active. Challenging the brain with mental exercises can activate processes that help preserve brain cells and promote communication among them. Nowadays many people do jobs associated with mentally active, however, pursuing a hobby, volunteering for a project at work, or learning a new skill can also bring the positive effects on your memory.

Use All Of Our Senses

Our senses are the excellent tools to help us retain our mind. In one study, scientists showed adults a set of emotionally neutral images. Each of those images is presented along with the smell. The unique thing is that they did not ask the people participating in the study to remember what they saw. After that, witnesses were shown a series of images without odors and required to indicate that they had seen before. They had great recall for all odor-paired pictures, particularly for those related to pleasant smells. The imaging of the brain showed that the piriform cortex, the central odor-processing area of the brain, got active when we saw objects paired with odors, even though the subjects had not tried to remember them and the smells were not present anymore. Therefore, we should use all our senses when venturing into unfamiliar things.

Believe In Ourselves

Myths about aging affect the way we think about the memory very much. Middle-aged and older people do worse on the tasks of consciousness as they have negative stereotypes about the relationship between aging and memory and better as the messages are positive. People who believe that they cannot control the memory function are less likely to maintain and improve their memory skills and hence are more likely to suffer cognitive decline. If we have the belief that we can promote and practice, we will make the mind sharper.

Prioritize Our Brain Use

There are things we do not need to use mental energy to remember such as the time of the birthday party of our granddaughter or where you laid our keys. We are better able to focus on learning and remembering important things. Taking advantage of calendars, file folders, address books, shopping lists, or maps is useful for you to keep the routine accessible. Choose a place at home for the keys, purse, glasses, and other items we use regularly.

Repeat What We Want To Remember

As we want to recall something you have just read, or heard about, write it down or repeat it out loud as it will help you reinforce the memory. For instance, if we have just told the name of someone, use it as we speak with them: “So, David, where did you meet Karen?”

Space It Out

Repetition is the best method to strengthen the memory and learn something when it is appropriately timed. It does not mean that we will need to repeat information or knowledge many times in a short period as if we were swotting for an exam. Instead, relearn the essentials after more extended periods of time – one day, three days, then a few weeks, etc. Spacing out periods of study brings the better results and is especially valuable when we have to deal with complicated information, like the new work assignment details.

Avoid Head Injuries

Whether it’s from falling on the ski slopes or a car accident, head injuries can have a disastrous effect on the brain function. A study showed that three years after the injuries like that, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease rises by more than 40 percent. We can improve your balance by practicing yoga or standing on one foot as you have a wall nearby. Besides, remember to wear a helmet when playing a contact sport or biking.

Above are 7 tips on how to keep our mind sharp at any age that you should follow. All content provided is for informational and educational purposes. We recommend you consult a healthcare professional to determine which method is appropriate to you.

Author bio:

This guest post is by Emily Pham, a blogger with many years of experience in searching the best natural home remedies for beauty and health issues.

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