Aging Gracefully: Aging, memory, good habits

Have you ever misplaced your keys? A lot of us have, but it is usually because we get busy or distracted and set them down without noticing. However, with age, it seems to happen more often with a higher inability to locate them as fast. That is why is its so important to develop good habits.

I don’t know who said it, but “there is a place for everything, and everything in its place,” is so true. Having a bowl near the door to put car keys is a great way to avoid losing them, but being sure to place them there immediately guarantees they will always be there.

It is also important to keep the memory sharp as much as possible for as long as possible, and Harvard Health Publishing (March 30, 2020) offers “7 ways to keep your memory sharp at any age.”

The article refers to those moments you go into a room and forget what you were there for. There are a number of examples of this through misplaced items, forgotten conversations, or missed appointments, but we see more of it as we age.

The only issue is that with age, it becomes more worrisome when those incidents increase and the fear of some type of dementia enters our thoughts. However, according to Harvard Publishing, most of those sudden bursts of memory problems experienced reflect normal aging changes in the structure and function of the brain. These changes can slow certain cognitive processes, making it a little harder to learn new things quickly or screen out distractions that can interfere with memory and learning.

Even though learning may be more difficult, there are various strategies that can be used to protect and sharpen our minds. Harvard offers seven that might help.

First, keep learning because a higher level of education is associated with better mental functioning. Research experts believe that advanced education may help keep memory strong by getting into the habit of being mentally active. There again is the word “habit.”

Challenging the brain with mental exercise is associated with maintaining individual brain cells and stimulate the communication between them. Keeping mentally active can be through a new hobby or learning a new skill. Reading, joining a book club, playing chess or bridge, writing, doing crossword or jigsaw puzzles, taking a class, pursuing music or art lessons, or even designing a new layout for gardening. Building and preserving brain connections is an ongoing process, so make life learning a priority.

Second, use all your senses. The more senses you use in learning something, the more of your brain will be involved in retaining memory. Research supports the brain’s ability to recall better when the odor-processing region of the brain is stimulated. So, challenge all your senses when learning, for example, cooking offers the opportunity to do that when making and tasting new dishes, or giving sculpting or ceramics a try, noticing the feel and smell of the materials used.

Third, believe in yourself. Studies have proven that when the messages are negative, memory is worse than when messages are positive. People who believe that they are not in control of their memory function are less likely to work at maintaining or improving their memory skills and as a result are likely to experience more cognitive decline. However, when they believe they can improve their memory and putting into practice the skills necessary to maintain it, they have a better chance of keeping a sharp mind.

Fourth, economize your brain use by developing those good habits for placing your purse, glasses, keys, and those items used often, as well as taking advantage of calendars, planners, maps, shopping lists, file folders, and address books to keep routine information accessible. Remove clutter for office and home to minimize distractions.

Fifth, repeat what you want to know. My mother was always great at remembering names, and she once said that when you meet someone for the first time, if you refer to their name in conversation when you meet them, you will more likely remember them. In grade school, writing those spelling words ten times helped to ace the test. The same concept is true with those things you want to remember. It has been found that there is a correlation between memory and writing, not typing, what you want to remember. Taking notes, pen to paper, the brain has a better connection. The same goes for repeating something out loud. So, if you want to remember where you place something, just say it out loud, but if you put it in the proper place, it will be there when you look for it.

Six, space it out. According to Harvard Publishing, repetition works when timed properly. Rather than repeating it constantly, spacing out periods of study is particularly valuable when you are trying to master complicated information, such as details of a new work assignment.

Seven, make a mnemonic, or an acronym to remember some things. In the day of computers and passwords, that can come in handy. Some of the most common are used to remember musical notes, such as “Every good boy does fine” for E, G, B, D, F on the lines for treble clef, or RICE to remember first-aid advice for injured limbs: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

All of these are great suggestions to build memory, but it needs to be compounded with exercise, and a good diet. For “aging gracefully,” it is important to get up and move for better circulation that feeds both heart and brain; dump the sugar, alcohol, and bad habits. Create good habits that include being sure to put “everything in its place” before dropping it.