4 Ways to Help Protect Your Memory With Age

As we age, so many aspects of our health change. You may start to notice gray hair and wrinkles. Your muscles and bones tend to shrink and lose strength. Your heart has to work harder to pump blood due to stiff arteries. Plus, your large intestine and bladder lose structural integrity.

Thankfully, living a healthy lifestyle can reduce the severity of these changes as you grow older. 

In addition, memory and cognitive function can also take a hit with age. Many people fear that as they grow older, they’ll develop more serious conditions that cause severe memory loss such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. 

Some age-related memory loss or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is normal as you grow older. Your brain can’t fire off neurons as quickly, so it may take you a little while longer to recall something, but you shouldn’t lose your ability to learn a new skill or remember your loved ones. 

To protect your memory from severely declining, there are some steps you can take to keep your brain sharp, just like you would your physical body. Our senior health care team at HealthStone Primary Care Partners in Hollywood, Florida, provides four helpful ways you can strengthen your memory in this month’s blog.

1. Stay active

Staying in good physical shape not only helps reduce your risk of memory-threatening diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, but it also boosts the actual function of your brain as well. 

You should aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise throughout the week. If you can’t exercise for very long periods, try taking a few 10-minute walks throughout the day. 

2. Exercise your mind

Just like working out your body keeps you in good physical shape, working out your brain keeps you in good mental shape. The great part about mental exercise is that it can take so many forms, so you can find something enjoyable and sustainable for you. 

You can do crossword puzzles, learn a new skill, read books, try a new hobby, or even play a brain-training game on your phone. 

3. Be social

If you need to find ways to flex your brain muscles, join a card game or book club. Not only will these sharpen your mind, but they allow you social interaction as well. Having regular connections with others is great for your brain, and it can boost your mood. 

Studies have shown that those living in isolation are more at risk for memory problems and depression, which can be a cause of dementia. 

4. Sleep tight

Poor sleep habits have been linked to memory loss. This can mean not getting enough sleep or waking up periodically through the night. If you’re not getting seven to nine hours of restful sleep every single night, your cognitive function could be affected. 

Make sure you stick to a regular sleep schedule, avoid caffeine before bed, and treat any sleep disorders that might be preventing you from sleeping well. 

If you’d like to learn more about memory loss and age, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with our compassionate team by simply calling our office or using our convenient online scheduling tool.