Sharper Adults/Sharper Kids

Does your retrieval time seem to be slowing? Feel like you're having memory lapses even though you are 30's or 40's. Take heart. Difficulty with retrieval can be due to many things, most fixable. It may just be due to our mental filing cabinets get more and more full as we age. This is the wisdom that comes with age but we must keep exercising the brain to keep the retrieval working. Lack of brain and physical exercise, stress, lack of sleep or just too much going on can interfere with storage and recall. However, if you or those around you are troubled by your memory lapses, do see your doctor because there are a number of treatable conditions, such as a lack of B12, or a thyroid deficiency, that can cause faulty memory. 

Researchers believe that some forms of dementia such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's start decades before recognizable symptoms. However, genetics is responsible for only 35% of aging. More important is how you've lived your life. People in their 80's and above can have minds as sharp as those in their 30's. Dementia is not inevitable or a normal part of aging. If you want to age well, you may need to alter your lifestyle now.

1. Exercise your mind. We use much more of our brains when we learn a new task. Once learned, only a small part is exercised. If you want to keep sharp, you must continue to learn and do new things. You must also exercise retrieval of what is already there since our mental filing cabinets get more and more full as we age. This is the wisdom that comes with age. Some of the things you can do: brain teasers, language games, puzzles, read, learn a new language or skill. Exercise it or lose it. The more brain connections you build, the better off you will be even if you eventually are stricken a dementia causing disease.

2. Exercise your body. A brisk walk or other daily aerobic exercise increases blood flow to your brain delivering additional oxygen and nutrition. It will make your thinking clearer, improve your mobility, balance and mood. Research has found that physically active 70 year olds can have shorter reaction times than less-fit 30 year olds. If you are not currently exercising check with your doctor first then start and build slowly. The key is a lifetime habit.

3. Eat brightly colored foods even if you already are taking a multivitamin. Researchers continue to find and name new beneficial nutrients. Eat brightly colored foods to be sure you're eating those that have recently been discovered and those not yet identified. Then do #2 to deliver more to your brain.

4. Drink enough water.

5. Laugh more. The hippocampus in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients is shrunken. The hippocampus is important for long-term memory and laughter. Some studies have found the patient's sense of humor leaves well before the onset of other symptoms. So laugh it up to show you still can. You will also be helping your immune system.

6. Stop and smell the roses. Not only will this help with #5, but sudden loss of the sense of smell can be a neurological warning sign and demands a visit to the doctor. So keep checking and enjoy life more while you're at it.

7. Get enough quality sleep. The brain needs sleep to store long term memories. You'll pay the piper if you skimp on it.

8. Reduce stress. Stress causes all sorts or hippocampus shrinking chemicals in your brain. Do #5 to counter those bad chemicals and change your attitude and lifestyle to remove the source of stress. When you're feeling stressed or unhappy, force a smile on your face to get the good chemicals going. Try it. You'll actually feel better.