How to Reduce Memory Loss

We all know elderly people who suffer from memory loss.

There may be numerous causes for memory loss, including disease, depression, emotional trauma and genetic causes, We are going to focus on what is considered the most prevalent reason for loss of memory, namely aging.

Starting in our mid twenties, we lose approximately 1% of the nerve cells in our brain every year. As an example an average 75 year old may function with only about 50% of the memory function of his youth.

Fortunately there are a number of steps we can take to reduce the rate at which we lose our memory as we grow older. We will discuss just a few of the most crucial ones. For our discussion, we are assuming that there are no neurological problems in play and that we are speaking about an otherwise healthy person, whose memory problems are the result solely of his aging.

There are several modifications we can choose to make to our lifestyle and our diet which may produce upgrades in the functioning of our memory. Amongst these are lessening our alcohol consumption, avoiding cigarettes, and eating foods rich in fiber, vitamins and especially antioxidants (such as fresh fruits and vegetables), as the latter can help with the health of the brain.

Other useful dietary adjustments are switching from red meats to fish heavy in Omega-3 fatty acids, and staying away from foods prepared with chemicals such as preservatives like MSG. Also reducing the level of stress in your daily life can slow the rate of memory loss. Regular exercise or a daily yoga program can substantially lower stress.

The majority of us error in not taking nutritional and herbal supplements created to improve the health and functioning of the brain. We will briefly mention a few here. The well-known Ginkgo biloba and Vinpocetine (from the periwinkle plant) are blood vessel dilators that permit more oxygen to reach the brain. Thiamine and Vitamin B are antioxidants which can aid in protecting brain cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Two other possible supplements to consider in order to reduce the rate of memory loss caused by our aging are acetylcarnitine and phosphatidylserine, both of which have been used by Alzheimers patients with some success. In addition, the herbal supplements bacopa from India and the Korean ginseng have been the subject of studies showing their usage can improve the functioning of the brain, and in particular one�s memory.

There are several mental activities that can help us retain our memory as we grow older. Clearly an active brain can more readily withstand the ravages of age. Taking on new mental challenges, including learning to play a new instrument, studying a foreign language and taking flying lessons, are just a few examples. Making a conscious effort to remember particular things, like peoples names or birthdates, may seem trivial but when done regularly often helps to keep the brain active and sharp. Also there are a number of memory tricks that can aid with specific things you may wish to be able to easily recall later, including repetition, mnemonics (tricks to help one remember, for example the invented name Roy G. Biv where each letter is the first letter of one of the primary colors) and just taking the time to write the words you wish to remember on paper and then repeating them orally a number of times.

It is clear that if one makes the decision to lead an active mental and physical life, is prudent in selecting the foods that will be the basis of your diet, adds the necessary herbal and nutritional supplements to the daily regiment, and forgoes some vices, the memory loss which is a part of our growing older can be substantially reduced.

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