Getty Images Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Question 1 of 9 What is considered the “flash drive” of the human brain? Cerebellum Hippocampus Brain stem Occipital lobe The hippocampus is the brain area that’s crucial for memory storage and retrieval. Question 2 of 9 True or false: A good night’s sleep plays a key role in making memories stick. True False Sleep is the time when memories are saved and cemented into long-term storage for later retrieval. Question 3 of 9 Name a memory technique used by contestants in the World Memory Championships Memory palace Jumping jacks Memory lane All-nighters With the memory palace technique, a person envisions placing a set of items they want to remember into the rooms of a building. When they mentally navigate through the space, they’ll see the items and remember them. Question 4 of 9 If you’re learning new information and want to remember it, it helps to: Reduce distractions Write down the new information or repeat it out loud Stay calm All of the above Stressing out will make you more likely to forget, but staying calm, focusing on the task at hand and spending time going over the new information will help lock it in. Members only Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition Join AARP to Continue Already a Member? Login
Question 5 of 9 Which of these memory lapses is generally not a cause for concern? Forgetting an appointment but recalling it later Getting lost in familiar places Repeating the same question multiple times Not recalling recently learned information We all experience memory slips, regardless of our age. But when the familiar becomes alien or we lose information repeatedly, that’s worth a visit to the doctor. Question 6 of 9 What medications may cause long-term memory loss? Incontinence drugs (anticholinergics) Opiate painkillers Anti-anxiety drugs All of the above In some cases, doctors can prescribe alternative drugs if memory loss or brain fog occurs. Question 7 of 9 Which of these is not a normal memory lapse? Drawing a blank on someone’s name Losing your keys, then finding them, but you don’t remember putting them there Recalling an event from the distant past, but mixing up a key detail All of the above What’s concerning, says Heather Whitson, M.D. of the Duke University School of Medicine, is if you find what you’re looking for but have no recollection of putting it there in the first place. Question 8 of 9 Which is a risk factor for dementia? High cholesterol Hypertension Hearing loss All of the above Researchers have tied 14 lifestyle factors to dementia risk. Several are also heart disease risks and there’s plenty you can do about them. Question 9 of 9 Why is hearing loss a risk factor for cognitive decline? The brain gets less auditory stimulation People with hearing loss often become socially isolated The ears are the window to the brain A and B The brain needs stimulation and people often pull away socially when hearing becomes a problem in group settings. Social isolation is an important risk factor for dementia. Submit Quiz You have unanswered questions. Please go back and complete those questions to finish the quiz. 0 Correct 0 Incorrect Oops...something went wrong. Please log out and log back in to continue.
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