What Was I Going To Write? Oh, I remember, it’s about memory!

Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory…unknow

I have this new habit. I enter a room with speed and determination, set on my course of retrieving something. And there in the middle of the room in this crevasse and whatever it was that I was looking for has fallen in this void. I’m standing there with absolutely no idea what I’m looking for.

My new habit is this: I hang out in the room, look around, convinced I am going to remember what it is I’m looking for. I don’t berate myself. I’m quiet, sure of the fact, that I will remember. And, all at once it comes back to me. I say a little thank you and move on. It works…for me.

The Discoveries

It turns out, that scientific discoveries over the last two decades have revealed that our brain is the most modifiable part of our body and easiest to strengthen, more than our heart. Which means I’m on the right track for excavating that crevasse! I have been doing this habit for a while now and I have to say the times I go looking for something and remember what it is increasing. I’ve also added, (when I remember,) to concintrate on what I’m going to look for.

There are a few schools of thought about how to exercise the brain, either with physical or mental exercises. Dr. Neil Charness, professor of psychology at Florida State and a leading authority on aging and cognition has written about aerobic exercise, verses mental exercise. His findings have found that the stimulus of physical movement is more beneficial for the brain. The movement of physical exercise can cause positive structural changes in the brain and boost its ability to function in top form. So, the next time you drive a few blocks for an errand, you might want to consider walking. Two for the price of one – your body is in motion and your brain is being stimulated. Even household chores that involve large muscle groups are beneficial. You might consider some enthusiastic vacuuming or leaf raking. Remember – two-fold reward!

Get a move on

For years we have heard the benefits of exercise for our physical well being. Now, with the increase in our life span, we are reading and learning more about the importance of movement for our brain. Staying physically active not only helps to boost our memory in the short run. There is increasing evidence that more movement improves the odds of avoiding the feared mental disorders like dementia. In 2018, a review by scientists at the University of Southern California found that as many as 1 in 3 cases of Alzheimer’s were preventable through lifestyle changes. More exercise can make you sharper and more “with it” as you age. Don’t forget girls, that physical exercise is also great for our complexion!

Think about it

Use it or lose it…We are all familiar with this saying and it definitely applies to our mental agility. Today there is such a vast array of mental stimulation, some say too many stimuli. If approached thoughtfully, we can teach an old dog new tricks, and gain increased knowledge. The computer for many is like the rising monolith in 2001 A Space Odyssey. The dawn of mankind. It is aerobics for the mind. Like we mentioned a few paragraphs above; the mind is modifiable. When you are learning a new system or program on your computer you are teaching your mind a new trick. And the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

It is easy to walk away from a new project in frustration, but if we stick it out, we become more adaptable and our mind begins to remember the program. Any activity that feels difficult is exercising our brain, expanding our memory, and creating new neural pathways. Think, learning a new language, a musical instrument, a new sport. Dr. Sandra Chapman, from the University of Texas at Dallas says to focus on one ‘in the moment’ activity with no other distractions. Period. Reading the paper, working out, and listening to the news all at the same time actually decreases your brain fitness. “Doing one thing for a concerted period of time will not only strengthen the brain but increase energy tremendously.” And, least we forget about being social. You remember that activity. Where you actually go out, meet friends, greet each other with a kiss, or a hug. Well, even virtual social stimulation is good for us. When we are socially active we have sharper mental functions and memories than those who are more socially isolated.

Mind, Body, Spirit and a Nosh

We’ve known for 50+ years that the Mediterranean diet is beneficial for health, but olive oil is emerging as the “most important ingredient,” says Domenico Practico, M.D., director of the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

When you review the olive-growing regions around the world, you will find regions where the incidences of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive decline are very low. But there’s a caveat. the oil must be EVOO, Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Dr. Practico goes on to say, “it has been discovered that the compounds in the fat of high-grade olive oil can flush out proteins that gum up the communication channels between brain cells, that may delay or even reverse Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.”

In a supervised lab test, most of the retailers, including reputable stores, found that the EVOOs did not pass antioxidant standards. Here are a few tips when selecting your EVOO. Select a dark bottle…Check for the best-by-date…Buy as newly bottled as possible…Buy California EVOO, where the standards are strict…Give it a taste test. Remember – what’s good for the body is good for the mind.

Here are a few more tips to keep your mind on fast forward…

• 1. Exercise: Keeping physically active will not only help boost our memory in the short run. There is also increasing evidence, as mentioned above, that more movement improves the odds of avoiding dementia.
• 2. Stay Busy and Engaged: Middle-aged and older Americans who stay busy tested better on multiple cognitive functions including brain processing speeds, reasoning, and vocabulary.
• 3. Keep Learning: A recent study on the impact of sustained engagement (in mature adults)found that learning new and demanding skills is key to staying sharp as we age. Take an on-line class. Learn a new creative skill, throw a pot on a wheel, learn to salsa.
• 4. Mindful Meditation: Work by Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, found that individuals who meditate have more gray matter in the frontal cortex and that this gray matter is preserved despite aging. 50-year-old meditators had the same amount of gray matter as 25-year-olds. No one can argue that meditation is a powerful stress reducer – which, in turn, creates a healthier internal environment.
• 5. Yoga: The practice of yoga combines the three muses of Mind, Body, and Spirit. If you have room for a mat, a TV, or a laptop, you’re in business. There is a wonderful site – Yoga with Adriene on YouTube, totally free with a full page of sessions you can select from. The time and level of the workout are listed on each video. You can do a six-minute beginner or an hour+ advanced. Adriene is lovely and easy to follow. Give it a try.

Memories shape who we are, they make up our internal biographies. Our memories are critical to the essence of who we are as human beings. I find myself drifting through my memories while I’m waiting for sleep to find me. If I cannot remember a time, it will often come to me in the morning. It’s better than counting sheep. Concerns about declining thinking and memory skills rank at the top of (aging) fears. As we’ve seen here there are a number of ways to stave off time. One of the easiest things to do is make sure you are not a mental couch potato! Get up, get moving, and remember you are fabulous@any age! xok