Get Your Memory in Gear

If you find yourself frequently forgetting where you put your glasses or the name of your new co-worker, you may be experiencing memory loss as a result of aging or even mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A recent study conducted by the Mayo Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center indicates men are 50 percent more likely than women to develop memory loss. MCI is defined as a decline in memory function greater than typical forgetfulness and less severe than dementia.

In the same way you watch what you eat and maintain a fitness routine to help prevent heart disease, healthy lifestyle habits and a few simple exercises can sharpen your memory, including:

Clear away clutter—Organize the large and small pieces of information you are asked to remember on a daily basis with a calendar or notebook or post notes on a corkboard in your kitchen or office.

Get a full eight hours—Sleep is essential to improving memory and retaining new memories made throughout the day by allowing your brain to recharge.

Make friends a priority—Social interaction has been proven to lower the risk of dementia and relationships can help prevent depression and reduce stress, both of which contribute to memory loss.

Work it out—Both regular physical and mental activities promote healthy brain function, all the more reason to ride your bike and refine your crossword puzzle skills.

Zone in—The brain needs eight seconds to completely process new information and store it in your memory. In addition to paying attention, it may be helpful to fit information into your individual learning style, auditory or visual.

Sources: health.harvard.edu, helpguide.org, mayoclinic.com, nih.gov, nlm.nih.gov, reuters.com.