Why Can’t I Recall Her Name?
Where is my cell phone? I just had it! What was I supposed to buy at the grocery store?
When older adults notice their memory slipping, it’s natural to feel frustrated or nervous. You may even wonder: Am I getting dementia? The truth is that while some memory loss and cognitive decline are part of your body’s natural aging process, you also can take simple steps to keep your mind sharp — no matter your age.
Nearly every aspect of your lifestyle — including diet, sleep, exercise, and other habits — can mean the difference between being forgetful and being able to remember information.
What Causes Memory Decline?
You have both long-term and short-term memory. Long-term memory is like a vault that you go into to get information. Short-term memory is like a list of items on a notepad that your brain continually updates — or forgets, as the case may be.
Your memory works like a computer. First, your brain takes in information through the senses. From these stimuli, your brain cells — aka neurons — form connections. Your brain sends messages through these connections and stores them as memories in the appropriate “place,” so you can access them later.
Several brain regions work together to create memories and process information. Age-related physical and chemical changes in these areas slow down this activity. Fewer connections are made, and existing connections weaken. The brain may also generate fewer neurotransmitters with age, affecting memory.
How to Improve Your Memory
Whatever your age or health status, you can support the parts of your brain involved in memory. It’s never too late: The brain adapts by growing and rewiring new connections well into your golden years.
Improving your memory involves strengthening the health of your neurons and the connections between them. Here are some tried and tested ways to improve your memory:
Catch Up on Your Sleep
When you sleep, your brain consolidates or permanently stores recent memories. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, can cause poor memory or more serious brain conditions. Getting a full night’s sleep or even a nap will improve your ability to recall information afterward.
Tip: Make sure to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Follow a regular sleep schedule and limit drinks with caffeine, like coffee — especially in the afternoon. Try a natural supplement like valerian or hemp extract.
Follow a Healthy Diet
Eat foods rich in antioxidants — these come from brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Excellent nutrition supports vibrant brain cells, and that boosts memory formation and recall.
A whole-food, plant-based diet provides this type of nourishment. People who eat more fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of memory decline and even dementia. A typical American diet full of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates can cause shrinkage of the brain area that stores short-term memories.
Tip: Try a plant-based Mediterranean diet built on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil. Olive oil’s omega-3 fatty acids protect brain function and boost cognitive abilities. Avoid sugar and junk food to avoid brain fog.
Eat Blueberries & Strawberries
Many berries protect the brain as we age, but blueberries and strawberries pack the biggest punch. Experts think this is due to their high levels of flavonoids and anthocyanins (two powerful antioxidants). These strengthen brain connections, supporting long-term memory.
In a group of 16,000 women, those who ate the most blueberries and strawberries had slower rates of cognitive decline — this means the loss of memory, focus, and “thinking skills.” Blueberries also improve your ability to perform spatial memory tasks, like recall.
Tip: Incorporate blueberries, strawberries, and other berries into your diet. Toss them in your morning oatmeal or on your salad. They also make the perfect sweet but healthy snack.
Reduce Your Stress
Did you know that the stress of a hectic life can mess with your ability to form and recall memories? Regular exposure to stress hormones harms brain cells and damages the hippocampus — a part of your brain that creates memories. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol, in particular, can affect your working memory.
Tip: Balance your work-life responsibilities. Make sure to take breaks for rest, fun, and socializing. Blow off steam by working out, and find effective ways to relax, such as meditation.
Meditate!
Mindfulness meditation busts memory-blocking stress and lowers blood pressure. It also can improve memory in people of all ages.
Meditation is thought to stimulate connections between brain cells and increase your brain’s gray matter. As a bonus, it boosts happiness, confidence, and serenity in your daily life.
Tip: Even if it’s only 10 minutes a day, develop a meditation practice. Try meditating along with an online video. Or simply find a comfortable, quiet spot to sit and clear your mind. During the allotted time, focus only on your breathing and the present moment, gradually relaxing your body.
Keep Your Thyroid in Good Shape
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ in the neck. It produces hormones that balance several of your body processes, including brain activity.
If your thyroid hormone levels dip too low, you may notice verbal-memory lapses and muddled thinking. Hypothyroidism — an under-functioning thyroid gland — can ultimately lead to a shrunken hippocampus if not treated. As mentioned, this part of the brain is connected to memory. So keep that thyroid in tip-top shape for the best memory.
Tip: If you think your thyroid may be out of whack, have a health professional check your thyroid hormone levels. A diet rich in iodine (from kelp) and selenium (from Brazil nuts) helps support thyroid health.
Lower Your Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a natural fat found in your blood and cells, and it’s vital for brain health. But high levels of “bad” (LDL) cholesterol can interfere with memory. Like sludge in a pipe, it clogs your arteries, harms blood vessels, and restricts blood flow to your brain.
High total cholesterol correlates with mild cognitive impairment, age-related memory loss, and forgetfulness.
Tip: If your total cholesterol is above 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), it’s time to lower it. For more information, check out How to Lower Cholesterol — Without Medication.
Check Your Vitamin D Levels
Vitamin D plays a vital role in memory. It supplies your brain with the cholesterol it needs to function well. It also plays a role in cognitive performance.
Adults with insufficient D levels seem to lose memories faster than those with healthy levels. Deficiency in this vitamin may be a risk factor for dementia.
Tip: Ask your healthcare provider to test your vitamin D levels. If you’re low (which is common), eat more D-rich mushrooms, or take a supplement. Expose your bare skin daily to the best source of vitamin D — the sun.
Make Sure to Exercise… Regularly
If your body’s not in shape, neither is your mind. Regular exercise reduces insulin resistance and inflammation. Exercise prompts the release of brain chemicals called growth factors that support brain cells.
Exercise actually helps stimulate new brain cells to grow, as well as making new connections between them. These effects appear to work with both short-term and long-term exercise patterns. Slow pedaling on a bike for just 10 minutes improves memory!
Tip: Get in the habit of moving every day, even if it’s just a walk around the block. Get an exercise buddy to join you for motivation.
Keep Your Brain “Muscles” Active
When it comes to memory, use it or lose it! The more often you perform mental tasks that require attention, the better you can store and recall information. “Exercising” your brain strengthens your memory.
Scientists think that when you engage your brain, it increases the number of cells in your hippocampus. People who did 15 minutes of online brain-training most days of the week had better short-term memory and problem-solving skills than those who didn’t.
Tip: Challenge your mind! Try a new hobby, do jigsaw puzzles, or play Sudoku. Learn a new language or how to play an instrument. Tackle brain-teaser books or try brain-training phone apps.
Increase Vitamin B12 Intake
Your brain uses 20 percent of your body’s energy. That’s why vitamin B12, which plays a significant role in energy metabolism, helps memory. Your body stores this vitamin less efficiently as you age.
Vitamin B12 is found mainly in animal foods, so if you follow a vegan diet but aren’t using a supplement, it could affect your memory.
