Aging Successfully
Studies have shown that people who tend to age "successfully," share certain characteristics and activities that may help keep them sharp. These practices, some of which are listed below, may help prevent declines in cognition and memory.
- Physical activity is strongly linked with lifelong brain health. Aerobic exercise in particular seems to sharpen memory skills.
- Mental exercise, especially learning new things or pursuing activities that are intellectually stimulating, may strengthen brain cell networks and help preserve mental functions.
- More formal education is associated with mental sharpness among older persons, possibly because continued learning creates a "neural reserve" of denser, stronger nerve-cell connections.
- A sense of control or influence over our lives and those of others—believing that what we do makes a difference—seems to prevent cognitive decline, for reasons that are unclear.
Keeping Your Memory Sharp
What may seem like a faltering memory may actually be a decline in the rate at which we learn and store new information. Practice these memory skills to enhance learning and to help make remembering easier:
- Relax: Tension and stress are associated with memory lapses. Managing stress improves memory.
- Concentrate: Your teachers were right: If you want to recall something later, pay attention.
- Focus: Try to reduce distractions and minimize interferences.
- Slow down: If you're rushing, you may not be focused or paying full attention.
- Organize: Keep important items in a designated place that is visible and easily accessed.
- Write it down: Carry a notepad and calendar, and write down important things.
- Repeat it: Repetition improves recall. Try repeating names when meeting new people, or repeating facts when you're learning new information.
- Visualize it: Associating a visual image with something you want to remember can improve recall.
Source: The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, Press Office
This content is brought by Staying Sharp, a partnership between NRTA: AARP's Educator Community and the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives.
