Reduced cognitive functioning is a common problem of the elderly. Such loss can cause a lot of sadness, confusion and hurt feelings for both the sufferer and his/her family and friends. Below are tips to help you assist your loved ones who are dealing with the effects of memory loss.
If so, allow yourself a brief break, but no longer than 15 minutes, during every hour and use that time to rest your mind. You will then be able to remember the information.
Mnemonic Devices
Creating mnemonic devices to improve memory is a good way to keep information stored in your brain for a long time. Mnemonic devices used for memory is similar to writers using shorthand. You take a bit of information and pair it with an everyday item or word, which creates a correlation that helps you better remember the information.
Your brain is similar to a muscle. It can become weak if you don’t exercise it often. A number of research studies demonstrate that playing puzzles and games keeps the brain functioning well as old age sets in.
Whenever possible, allow yourself to get a full eight hours of sleep. Believe it or not, sleep plays an important factor in both your long-term and short-term memory. When brain cells are weary, they will not help you with memory retention. Get a little more rest each night to keep your memory sharp.
When studying, you can improve memory retention simply by moving to different surroundings while you continue to study. A change in scenery refreshes your mind which makes memory storage and retention far more effective. It does this through waking up your brain. When there are any changes to your routine, it makes your brain more alert. When your brain is more alert, is can absorb, retain, and recall more information.
Being socially active is good for your memory. Humans are genetically predisposed for social interaction, so your spirits will remain high while your mind remains alert. When you feel depressed or lonely, your mind lacks stimulation and brain cells become dormant. Talking and interacting with friends, even if it is online, keeps your mind sharp and better able to remember things.
Try to relate new information you need to remember to information you already know. Creating a relationship between the two things makes it much easier for your brain to store information and recall it later. If you relate information, it will help you remember things in a more timely fashion.
Log on to your library’s website and download ebooks designed for memory improvement. Many well-known psychiatrists have written books to help you improve your brain function and memory. The tools given to you in these books may be what you need in order to help you remember things.
Memory Loss
Memory loss is one of the most tragic things that happens to the aging mind. Prescription drug interventions can help slow memory loss, especially in patients suffering from dementia.
Regular exercise is a great strategy to help improve your memory. Just a bit of exercise everyday will be a big help.
Always try your best to space out gathering information. If your goal is to store information in memory, you should schedule multiple sessions to study. Don’t try learning everything all at once. When you do this, you overwhelm your brain, and don’t recall all that you studied. Engage in study sessions on a regular basis to adapt your brain to the practice of remembering.
Use a calendar and a day planner to keep track of events. Day planners are very useful to help organize your mind. Make a schedule and look at it often. When you write things down, it helps your mind remember them. When you forget something, it can be frustrating, so working your brain can help you to not forget sensitive information.
When we think of aging loved ones, we often think of memory loss. Although it is a melancholy situation, it is unfortunately the way things are. Sometimes this loss can be offset or even stopped completely. Hopefully, the information that you read in this article provided you with some great tips on how to deal with memory loss.