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Seven Great Ways to Protect Your Memory

With the Alzheimer’s epidemic in America, people tend to worry about their memory, even when they are younger. Maybe you can’t remember where you parked the car, or you searched all over the house for your sunglasses, only to find them perched atop your head.

Sharpness of memory varies from person to person. Genes are a factor—by some accounts, about 30% of our memory health is hereditary. But the other two-thirds of memory wellness might well be within our control, say experts. There are steps we can take to maintain a healthy memory.

1. Exercise your mind and memory. Mental stimulation encourages new connections between brain cells. “Use it or lose it” isn’t just a cliché when it comes to memory health. Give your brain a workout with challenging activities. Learning something new is especially good. Take up an instrument, learn a foreign language, join a club, or volunteer.
2. Exercise your body, too! Aerobic exercise has been found to ward off Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and other memory-damaging conditions. It helps us avoid obesity, which is also bad for brain health. Talk to your healthcare provider about an exercise program that is right for you.
3. Eat a brain-healthy diet. We can choose foods that help protect memory. Avoid cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats. Instead, choose fish, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats such as olive oil or canola oil. Take a multivitamin if your healthcare provider recommends it—but don’t take megadoses that could be toxic.
4. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Many substances found in cigarette smoke damage the brain and impair memory. And having more than a drink or two per day can be toxic to the brain.
5. Get enough sleep and get help for sleep disorders. While we’re sleeping, our brain is busy converting short-term memories to those that are retained. Plus, harmful waste material is cleansed from our brain as we sleep.
6. Lower your stress level and seek help for depression. Stress and depression cause chemical changes in the brain that can raise the risk of Alzheimer’s. Talk with your healthcare provider if you feel stressed or depressed. Counseling, meditation and other relaxation techniques can all help.
7. Protect against head injury. Head injuries are another major cause of memory loss. A head injury can result in catastrophic damage to the brain and memory. Always use your seatbelt, and if you are a cyclist, wear a helmet. And protect yourself against falls at home, where most serious fall injuries happen.

If you’re having memory lapses, or if you just find yourself fretting about memory problems, talk to your doctor. Stress can really work a number on our memory—so stressing out about our memory is an ironic cycle we want to avoid! Relax, knowing you’re doing everything you can to keep your memory strong.

The information in this article is not intended to take the place of your healthcare provider’s advice. If you are worried about your memory or about any of the brain health factors above, share your concerns with your doctor.