Now where did I put my glasses? I know I had them when I sat down...
According to Daniel L. Schacter in his book, The Seven Sins of Memory, aging boomers are grumbling in record numbers about forgetting things.
Laboratory studies show that this is a problem, but declines in memory are not particularly large. In other words, older adults generally recall about 10 to 15 percent less that younger ones. And there is tremendous variances among older adults the degrees of memory loss.
Why do some older adults continue to show good memories even compared to younger people? Science hasn’t yet documented the reasons, other than the fact that those people with higher educations appear to retain memory capabilities longer.
The reasoning behind this is that the more education, the more growth of neurons; the more neurons, the longer it will take for deficits to show up.
I think in the end, science will show that those with healthier aging brains and good memories also have healthier diet and exercise habits as well.
Memory is a manifestation of the brain's neurological power; it's our mental muscles. When you see a person with well-defined biceps, there's usually a reason: either they lift weights, play tennis or do some other physical exercise. A good memory means a healthy brain that is well-nourished and well-used or exercised.
It wouldn’t surprise me that they eventually prove that memory is related to the degree of healthiness found in brain cells. Your memory depends on how well nourished and protected your brain cells are. This can only occur with good diet, generally good physical health, supplements of the right kinds of vitamins and antioxidants, as well as mental stimulation.
It just makes sense, doesn’t it?
You can do a lot to help keep your memory in good condition. Use it or lose it.
How will you exercise your brain today?
You are absolutely right...it is strange to find myself at forgetful and at mid-life (or to be perfectly honest, later than mid-life). I agree with you that brain fitness and exercise is going to be one of the keys to our staying physically healthy and staving off old age as long as possible. I'm exercising more, I'm working crossword puzzles, I've even got my wife to teach me how to needlepoint -- it's not real manly, but it does give the brain a workout. I've notice a difference after all my efforts. I've also had good results with anti-aging supplements. My favorite is Jean Carper's Multi Nutrient Formula GOLD PowerPak . It has one of the most powerful anti-aging protection available and combines her Multi Nutrient Formula GOLD, Omega-T Fish Oil and High Antioxidant Green Tea Extract. By geting the Anti-Aging PowerPak at the discounted price I save up to $300 per year compared to purchasing each of those products individually each month. Before I tried it, I'd always poo-pooed supplements, but I'm sold!
John
Posted by: John Smith | December 20, 2007 at 07:19 PM