How to Prevent Memory Loss as You Age

Do you want to learn how to prevent memory loss as you age? Did you know that both a healthy lifestyle and mental exercise can measurably improve your cognitive functioning?  Start now on the road to a healthier life and reduce the signs of aging. Consume healthy whole foods, daily nutritional vitamin and mineral supplements, regular physical activity and use the brain-sharpening ideas below.

Currently the largest aging population ever in America is baby boomers. They represent seventy-six million born between 1945 and 1964. This generation doesn’t want to look, act or feel old. Scientists are hard at work on ways to prevent dementia and age-related mental decline for this boomer age group.

Most will remember that boomers grew up at a time of great social change. They found their rock and roll music and were the first generation to grow up with television. Boomers are known to spend millions on a tuck here a wrinkle there to reduce the signs of aging. They are now turning sixty and fear getting older more than any other generation. They have been confronted with increasing loss of memory due to the agitated lifestyle they lead. 

5 Brain-Sharpening Ideas for Any Age:

1. Keep moving – Exercise reduces stress and promotes new neurons in the brain responsible for some aspects of memory.  Commit to moderate aerobic exercise such as walking three times a week to reduce your risk of dementia. Keep moving and get your heart pumping to bring more blood and oxygen to your brain.
2. Play games – The Nintendo Wii video game is being used to help people who have suffered strokes and brain injuries regain mental abilities. In addition the Nintendo Wii games can help the body regain balance and arm strength. Cross-word puzzles and Sudoku are other ways to keep your mind in shape.
3. Healthy fats – Consume more of the omega-3 fatty acids to improve concentration and boost your mood.  Best food sources are flaxseed, walnuts, wild salmon, halibut, soybeans, tofu and winter squash. Recommended daily amount is 4 grams when consuming 2000 calories per day.
4. Folic Acid – Studies have shown when adults take at least 800 mcg of folic acid they did much better on cognitive tests.  Folic acid is best absorbed in a liquid nutrition supplement. Some good food sources include sunflower seeds, pinto beans, fresh spinach, asparagus and orange juice.
5. Relax – Live a longer and healthier life by slowing down. Take time to relax, get plenty of sleep and reduce the stressors. As we age higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood has shown lower results on memory tests. Stress may also be a trigger to poor memory in people with a gene associated with Alzheimer’s.

List of resources, all worth checking out. 

7 Brain Boosters to Prevent Memory Loss from WebMD.com

Dementia article from NLM.NIH.gov/Medline Plus

Alzheimer’s article from NLM.NIH.gov/Medline Plus

Medline Plus is Trusted Health Information for You

Website NLM.NIH.gov is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine / National Institutes of Health

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Cheers to a Healthy Day!

Lou Ann Donovan