What happens to memory as you age?

With aging comes some mental decline. And one of the first things to go is the ability of the MTL ( medial temporal lobe ) to recall specifics.

According to Dr. Roberto Cabeza, the lead author of the Duke University study:

“Specific memories don’t last forever, but what ends up lasting are not specific details, but more general or global impressions. Past studies have shown that as normal brains age, they tend to lose the ability to recollect specifics faster than they lose the ability recall impressions. However, patients with Alzheimer’s disease tend to lose both types of memories equally, which may prove to be a tool for early diagnosis.”

Good reason to do everything you can to keep your memory sharp.

Thankfully, there ARE a few things you can do right now to slow – and sometimes even prevent – mental decline as you age:

Walk more – Part of the reason for memory decline as you age, is that the hippocampus shrinks. But a study reported at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that walking just 3 times a week for 40 minutes can expand the size of the hippocampus by almost 2 percent. This alone can have a huge effect on keeping your mind and memory “young.”

Vinpocetine – This extract from the periwinkle plant has been used in Europe for decades to treat and help prevent dementia. It’s so effective, one study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that regular supplementation with vinpocetine helped chronic cerebral dysfunction patients improve significantly and score better on numerous mental tests.

Blueberries – You’ve probably heard that these are great for your heart. But it turns out they’re also good for your brain. One Tufts University study suggests it can even help prevent the loss of short-term memory. You can eat them plain or add them to your favorite cereal or oatmeal.

Folic Acid – This is one I found surprising. It’s already well-known that folic acid is good for pregnant women. But a Dutch study found that supplementing with folic acid can improve your memory. Subjects who took 800mcg daily knocked off 5.5 years their age when it came to their performance on standardized memory tests.

Reduce Stress – This is a big one. The research is clear that higher cortisol levels caused by stress can drastically reduce memory (both short term and long term). Our recommendation of course is to use hypnosis to reduce the effects of stress on your life.

From EXPLORING THE MIND