Help for People With Memory Problems

Some people seem to be born with an amazing memory, remembering everything from people's names to the color of their kindergarten teacher's eyes from 20 years ago. Then there are the rest of us, unable to remember a person's name 10 seconds after introduction. Unfortunately, a certain amount of memory loss is a natural part of the aging process---known medically as "age-associated cognitive decline." No magic cure exists for age-related memory loss or just natural forgetfulness, but there are tricks and life strategies you can use to improve your memory.

Memory Tricks

Remember the tricks you used to study for big tests in high school and college? Those tricks can also help you improve your memory in the real world, at least short term. Mnemonic devices refer to associating things you want to remember with things that you are very familiar with or can otherwise easily remember. This can be a useful way to remember a person's name---for example, if the person is "Jane Doe" you might associate her first name with your cousin Jane and her last name with the movie Bambi. Other tricks include using the first letter of each word in a list to create an acronym, or using a similar method called acrostics to create sentences that help you remember concepts.

Staying Healthy

Illness, stress, and other physiological issues can affect our ability to remember things. Memory loss is a common symptom of sleep deprivation and also dehydration, for example. One way to improve your memory, therefore, is to take better care of your health. Healthy adults generally require between eight to 10 hours of sleep each night. Drink the appropriate amount of fluid for your size and get plenty of exercise. Practice relaxation techniques or meditate to help reduce stress. These basic steps for a healthy lifestyle will also help you to remain mentally alert, which will improve your recall ability.

Nutritional Supplements

Researchers at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute released a study in 2003 showing that Gingko Biloba may help to improve memory by stimulating brain metabolism. In April 2008, researchers from the University of Reading and the Peninsula Medical School released findings that diets supplemented with blueberries seemed to improve the memories of their test subjects over a 12-week period; they believe this improvement is caused by the active flavonoids found in the blueberries, which enhance active brain cell functions. Other nutritional supplements that are believed to support or improve memory include Omega-3 fats, choline, and glutamine (see reference 2).

Use Your Brain

According to the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging, one way to improve your memory is to use your brain. Mentally challenging activities such as crossword puzzles, learning a language or playing chess, exercise your brain, helping it to develop new cells and nerve synapses. This supports maintaining your cognitive vitality---a term researchers use to discuss mental capabilities like memory and retention---which affect your continued ability to live independently as you age.