As we grow up, we begin to notice changes in our ability to memorize things. You may have come to the kitchen and cannot remember what, or you cannot remember the familiar name during the conversation. You can even miss the meeting, because it slipped out of my head. The failures in memory may occur at any age, but we tend to upset because of them as agreed, because we fear that they are a sign of dementia or loss of intellectual function. The fact is that a significant loss of memory in older people is not a normal part of aging, but is associated with organic disorders, brain injury or neurological diseases, and Alzheimer's disease is one of the most terrible.
Most fleeting memory problems with which we face with age reflect normal changes in the structure and functions of the brain. These changes can slow down certain cognitive processes, making it difficult to study the new or eliminating distracting factors that can interfere with memory and learning. Of course, these changes can upset and seem far from harmless when we need to learn new skills or combine countless duties. Thanks to the research decades, we can use various strategies to protect and hone your mind. Here are seven exercises that you should try:
Continue to learn
A higher level of education is associated with the best mental functioning in old age. Experts believe that constant education can help maintain strong memory by escaling a person to mental activity. The brain training mental exercises activates the processes that help maintain the activity of individual cells and strengthen the relationship between them. Many people have a job that supports their mental activity, but the hobby or the development of new skills can act in the same way. Try reading, playing chess or cards, crosswords or sudoku - good all means. Creating and maintaining brain ties is a continuous process, so make training throughout the priority.
Brain training mental exercises activates processes that help maintain the activity of individual cells and strengthen the relationship between them
Use all senses
The more senses you use when studying something, the greater part of the brain will be involved in saving memory. In one study, adults showed a series of emotionally neutral images, each of which was accompanied by the smell. They were not asked to remember what they saw. Later they showed a set of images, this time without smell, and asked to indicate that they saw before. They showed excellent memory on images associated with smells, especially those who were associated with pleasant flavors. The visualization of the brain showed that the pear-like cerebral bark is the main area of the brain, the processing odors - became active when people saw objects originally associated with smells, although the smells no longer attended and the subjects did not try to remember them. So, throw the challenge to all your feelings, going to the unknown. For example, try to guess the ingredients when you sniff and try a new restaurant dish. Try the modeling or ceramics, paying attention to the feeling and smell of the materials you use.
Believe in yourself
The myths about aging can contribute to the impairment of memory. Middle and older students worse cope with memory tasks when they are subject to negative stereotypes of aging and memory, and better when memory conservation reports are positive in old age. People who believe that they do not control their memory function, with a smaller probability will work on maintaining or improving their skills and, therefore, with a greater probability there will be a decrease in cognitive functions. If you believe that you can become better, and implement this belief in life, you have more chances to keep the uncertainty of mind.
Save on the use of the brain
If you do not need to spend mental energy on the memories of where you put the keys or about the time of celebrating the birthday of your daughter, you can better concentrate on learning and memorizing new and important things. Take advantage of calendars and schedulers, maps, shopping lists, folders with files and address books to always have access to everyday information. Highlight at home space for glasses, handbags, keys and other items that you often use. Remove mess in your office or house to minimize distracting factors and you could focus on the new information you want to remember.
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Repeat what you want to know
If you want to remember something that you just heard what you read or thought, repeat it out loud or write it out. So you will strengthen the connection between the neurons. For example, if you just told someone's name, use it when you speak with him or with it: "So, Mark, where did you meet the Dasha?" If you put one of your things to another place, and not on her usual place, tell me aloud what you did it. And do not hesitate to ask to repeat the information.
Repetition is the most effective learning tool if it is designed for time.
Distribute periods of learning
The repetition is the most effective learning tool if it is designed for time. It is better not to repeat something many times in a short period of time, as if you were preparing for the exam. Instead, reoperate the foundations after all the longer periods of time - once an hour, then every few hours, then every day. The distribution of learning periods is especially valuable when you are trying to learn complex information, for example, the details of the new working task. Studies show that the interval rehearsals improve memorization not only in healthy people, but also in people with certain physical cognitive problems, for example, associated with multiple sclerosis.
Make a mnemonica
This is a creative way to memorize lists. Mnemonic techniques can take the form of acronyms or suggestions (for example, the classic "every hunter wants to know where the pheasant sits" to memorize the colors of the rainbow).