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A reader wrote: I’m only 61 years old and my memory is not what it used to be. My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a year ago and I have two aunts on my paternal side who have Alzheimer’s. What can I do to prevent my memory from fading away?
Be sure to get enough food and water. Are you good to your body? Be good to your brain. A healthy brain is a brain that functions well. The brain needs oxygen and glucose to operate so getting proper nutrients each day is critical. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and watch the intake of foods that are high in fat and cholesterol. Just as your whole body benefits from drinking water- your brain does, too! Make sure you drink as much water as you can.
Try to alleviate stress. When we experience stress, the adrenal glands produce cortisol. Cortisol blocks the neurotransmitters in the brain from doing their job- transmitting information between the neurons (brain cells). The result? Memory is hampered.
Exercise Regularly. One of the best ways to relax is to exercise. Exercising releases endorphins – a natural antidepressant – in the body. Exercise also circulates more blood to the brain as your heart rate increases. And more blood means more oxygen and nutrients to the brain.
Sleep, sleep, sleep. Research studies have shown that long term memory is consolidated during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep – the period of sleep when we are dreaming. Most REM sleep occurs between the sixth and the eighth hour of sleep. The brains uses this sleep cycle to move some of what you experienced or learned during your waking hours into long term memory storage. If you don’t get enough sleep at night, I might affect your memory. Insufficient or restless sleep also makes you fatigued the next day which makes it more difficult for you to concentrate and remember.
Use it or you may lose it. Research reveals that the more we stimulate and challenge the brain, the better it functions. It is extremely important that w expose our minds to new ideas and experiences. Read, write, do crossword puzzles or brain teasers, play chess or any other activity that makes a lazy brain work.
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