Cognitive decline, or in other words memory loss, is the most common problem faced by the elderly. Such loss can cause a lot of sadness, confusion and hurt feelings for both the sufferer and his/her family and friends. Keep reading for advice on making the most of your memory.
Using mnemonic devices is an excellent strategy for improving your ability to retain new information for a longer period of time. You can compare mnemonic devices to shorthand writing; the former helps with memory, while the later assists writers. If you can associate a common item or word with something you want to remember, you create a roadmap in your brain to retrieve the information.
You can improve your memory through games designed to simulate your brain. This works in the same way as exercising to keep your body in good shape. This brain exercise can improve many mental skills, including attention span, concentration, and of course, memory. Popular choices for improving your memory may include things like crossword puzzles, sudoku and trivia questions.
When you have to memorize a substantial amount of information, try studying at a variety of locations. This allows you to create a visual link with a set of information, making it easier to internalize. By moving around, however, you can easily store items in long-term memory by disassociating them from locations.
Write down things you want to remember in order to improve your memory. Writing things out can stimulate the brain, and bring blood to critical areas that are responsible for memory. Keep a notebook, a journal or write detailed lists to constantly help your ability to remember items you may need in the future.
Your brain is like a muscle; you have to work it out to keep your memory sharp. It has been proven in studies that playing puzzles will help fight off senility.
If you are trying to learn a great deal of information, studying in many different spots will help your brain hold into your memory. This way, the information is not associated with a particular place. Instead, it becomes a part of you. Think of it this way – when you change up the places where you learn things, it’s easier for the information to move from your short-term memory to your long-term one.
Social activity is critical for optimizing your memory. You will be happier and more alert if you do this. Your brain cells will not get stimulated when you are feeling lonely or depressed. If you have regular conservations with people you know, your mind will be engaged and you will remember things better.
Try writing sticky notes if you are having trouble remembering things. Stick your notes in places you know they will not be missed or forgotten, such as next to your phone or near the computer screen. Your notes will be handy to jog your memory when you need to remember something important.
When you are trying to commit something to memory, associate it with a song, humorous phrase or image. When things are more funny and information is easier to handle, you will have a better time.
Memory Loss
A helpful strategy to boost your memory of information is to visualize the concepts that you want to be able to memorize and recall. If you are studying information from a textbook, photographs and charts can be great visual cue to help in committing the information to memory. You can also draw your own charts or graphs to help aid in the memory process.
Memory loss is the most common thing we think of when we think of an aging relative or friend. While memory loss is unfortunate and unpleasant, it is also very natural. There is hope, though, and memory loss does not have to be accepted as inevitable. This article offers several useful and effective techniques that can help slow down memory loss, and in some cases even improve memory.
Try to relate new information you need to remember to information you already know. Creating a relationship between the two things makes it much easier for your brain to store information and recall it later. If you relate information, it will help you remember things in a more timely fashion.