Top 5 Ways to Boost Memory for Seniors

Boosting your memory is crucial to keeping your mental health in check as you age. And if you are over the age of 50, you have more than likely started to notice subtle changes in your memory already.  Certain signs may include not being able to remember familiar names during conversations, or not remembering why you went in a particular room to do something. While these things can certainly happen to people of all ages, aging adults may feel more alarmed and fear these subtle mental changes may be signs of the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

The good news, however, is that there have been countless studies that have shown that there are a number of things that you can do to assist in reducing the risk of developing age-related neurological diseases and cognitive decline. Here we will be sharing some of the top tips that you can begin implementing today to keep the brain in tip-top condition with every passing year.

1.  Challenge Your Brain

When you take some time to challenge your brain by way of incorporating mental exercises, you are encouraging the cells in your brain to become more stimulated and communicate with each other.  While having a job is a great way to keep yourself active, both mentally and physically, if you are retired and want to keep mentally fit, then learning new skills or taking up a hobby is a great way to do so! There are a ton of free classes and clubs that are offered at local area hospitals, libraries, churches, and community centers. Get inspired! There are lots of fun, free or low cost things that you can take advantage of to help keep your mind young!

2.  Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness allows you to experience life on a minute to minute basis, allowing yourself to become more aware of each passing moment, which encourages gratitude, and helps you to release negativity and painful emotions. To practice mindfulness, you really only need to become aware of each present moment. As you are going about your day to day activities, pay attention to the sensations you feel, flavors you taste, smells you experience, and sounds that you hear. When you begin to pay attention to such sensations, you are bringing awareness to yourself and become more focused. If your mind starts to wander, bring it back to where you were and enjoy the moment.

3.  Raise the Bar on Your Health

Eating right, taking vitamin supplements, and exercising on a regular basis are all top ways to keep not only your body up to par, but your brain as well. You should aim to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, but if you aren’t very mobile, even the slightest changes can help. Things like lifting small weights while watching TV, or taking a leisurely stroll in the afternoon can add up. Eating right is also one of the best ways to ensure that you are keeping your body and brain at its maximum health in terms of getting all of the natural vitamins and minerals that it so desperately requires, in addition to the health supplements that you should certainly be taking. If you have any questions about what supplements and foods you should be incorporating into your diet for promoting maximum health, be sure to reach out to your doctor, healthcare provider or a nutritionist for more details.

4.  Get Adequate Rest

There have been a number of studies that have proven that when you don’t get enough sleep, you simply are unable to perform at your best. Sleep deprivation has been shown to lead to have a number of negative effects on your body and your mind. You should be sure to try and go to bed every night at a regular time, and get the recommended number of hours you need (they tend to vary between men and women as well as age). Practicing good sleep habits such as turning off screens for about an hour before bedtime, and not drinking caffeinated drinks in the evening can also help you rest better.

5.  Don’t Stress

Stress contributes to so much negativity in our daily lives, and the more we stress the more it is going to ultimately have on our mental and physical health. Take time out each day for yourself, to clear your mind and just relax! Even when things feel like they are spiraling out of control, bring yourself back to the moment, recognize that you can’t control the situation, but you can control how you feel and react to it, and let it pass.

Memory loss is something that inevitably happens with age, but there are so many things that we can do to take back the power and try to fight back against memory loss. The more you want to boost your memory, the easier it will be to take matters into your own hands and do everything you can to keep your brain working hard and in your favor.