Improve Memory Loss

April 19, 2010, By Jeff Waddle 1 comment

As we age, memory loss can become a real problem. Everyone loses their car keys once in a while but when you start forgetting the names of people you met an hour ago or your ATM pin number, it could be a sign that bigger problems are on the horizon.

No one can completely reverse memory loss but there are ways to improve your memory and keep your brain working at peak levels.

Give Your Brain a Workout

Your brain, like the rest of your body, needs regular workouts to stay fit. These simple activities have been proven to help get the brain moving:

• Do crossword puzzles or Sudoku: studies have shown that a daily crossword puzzle can delay rapid memory loss in people suffering from the onset of dementia.
• Play board games like backgammon, Scrabble, checkers and chess that involve strategy and logic.
• Card games like bridge, gin rummy and euchre keep you counting, strategizing and solving problems.
• Online games like Zuma (hand-eye coordination, problem solving) and Bookworm (language arts) and video games can stimulate memory recall. Try different ones to challenge yourself regularly.
• Surf the Net: middle-aged men surfing the Internet have displayed brain activity seen in younger men, so checking out new and interesting websites can help keep you sharp.
• Reading: turn off the TV and pick up a book because the simple act of reading keeps your language skills up to speed. Try to read a book at least every couple of months.

Break Up Your Routine

One of the leading causes of mental deterioration in the elderly is doing the same thing day after day with no break in the routine. Doing the "same old stuff" affects you, too, so shake it up with these brain challenges:

• Take a different route to work.
• Use your opposite hand to brush your teeth or eat—try using chopsticks once in a while, too.
• Study a foreign language—you don’t have to become fluent, but matching a few foreign words with your native tongue is an effective brain exercise.
• Learning to play a musical instrument gets all kinds of good things happening in your brain like hand-eye coordination and memory recall.
• Pick up a new hobby. Even if it’s not playing a musical instrument, a hobby that challenges your skills in a new way will do you good.
• Expand your social circle. Interacting with new acquaintances is always stimulating. Throw in volunteering for a worthy cause and it can be downright rewarding to boot.

Lastly, exercise is important for keeping your brain in shape, too, because aerobic activity increases blood flow to your entire body.

Jeff Waddle is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.