A cure to Alzheimer?
Experts say that not all memory loss leads to Alzheimer. “Generally, people who worry about getting Alzheimer’s do not have the illness.”
As we get older and near middle age, usually our memory capabilities tend to become a bit dull. It starts from forgetting little things like the time slot of our favorite TV show, to important matters, like our phone or social security number. Although this can be extremely annoying for us, it is still perfectly normal and there are still some remedies for this problem.
However, for some, this is a very serious and frustrating matter, especially if it gets in the way of their work. Some people may have even become paranoid, thinking they have just been afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.
Fear not. To help your memory get back on track, here are a few tips you can try:
• Revisit the things you need to remember. For example, to memorize a telephone number, keep repeating it to yourself. Take a break and try it again.
• Fish and nuts are excellent brain foods. It is a great idea to study after eating these foods. Also take vitamin supplements every morning and stock up on energy drinks to give your brain and your whole body more staying power.
• Say the things you want to remember aloud to yourself. For example, if you want to remember where your car keys are, say out loud: “I’m putting my car keys on top of the TV.”
• Play some puzzle games with a friend to help power up your brain. Try playing scrabble, hangman, bridge and take one some crossword puzzles on your favorite newspapers.
• Engage in more conversations. Be the one who starts the talking and try to talk to a diverse group of people as much as possible. This will help you use your memory much better. Also, spend more time with your kids. Tell them what you used to do when you were their age and / or your favorite bedtime stories. And make a habit of telling your spouse the happenings of your busy day. This will also help you get closer with your loved ones.
• Link new information to known facts. For example, while you are in your garden, you can state that a new flower which has bloomed is darker than the one in your front yard.
• Use mnemonics when studying for an examination. They have been proven effective for a long time now. Also, don’t just memorize the lesson. Understand it fully. Over-memorizing something will only give you a harsh and painful headache.
• Keep a personal journal or diary and jot down everything you’ve done during the day. This will help you remember all the important and daily tasks and chores that you do.
• Get enough sleep. When you arrive home early from work or school, take a short nap (about an hour). This will refresh your brain and make it ready to accept new information while retaining everything else.
• If you’re trying to remember something from your past, like your childhood memories, try associating them with figures / objects which were prominent during that era, such as, actors, movies, songs, TV shows, etc.
• If you have the time, feel free to visit your basement / attic or wherever your old stuff is stashed in. Inspect your old toys, clothes, memorabilia, etc and take time to reminisce about the ’good old days’. You should also watch old family movies or audio cassettes. Have them transferred to a CD in order to make them easier to understand.
• Of course, practice makes perfect. If you’re trying to store a new lesson, recipe, skill or task into your memory, keep doing until you’ve mastered it and it becomes second nature.
• If you are into art, visit museums once in a while. The paintings, sculptures and classical music may remind you of persons or events in your life.
• Stress releases high level of gluocorticoids, which inhibit memory. So rest and relax once in a while. Meditation works extremely well. Do it for 15-30 minutes a day.
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