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It can be frustrating to misplace your car keys or forget why you walked into a room. It’s no secret that as we age, our brains age, too—making it harder to concentrate and retain new information. What you might not know is that age-related dementia isn’t the only culprit. Memory loss can also be brought on by:
- Alcohol use
- Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues
- B vitamin deficiencies
- Cancer treatments
- Epilepsy
- Head trauma or brain infection
- Hormone imbalance
- Medications like antidepressants
- Sleep deprivation
- Stroke
However, there are four big ways to boost brain health.
- Be social. A 2021 study found that good relationships really can be a lifeline. Older adults with larger social networks and who interacted daily with family and friends retained better cognition over five years than those with smaller networks. In addition, they scored better on memory and cognitive tests.
- Diet. Studies agree that antioxidant-rich foods like berries and chocolate foods increase brain blood flow, oxygen levels and cognitive function. A 2020 study found omega-3 fatty acids in fish like salmon and tuna can also improve mood and boost gray matter—the brain’s control center for movement, memory and emotion.
- Get some shut-eye. Scientists have noticed a link between memory and sleep. They theorize that the hippocampus and neocortex replay our days and store those memories during our sleep cycle. However, according to the Sleep Foundation, lack of sleep can lower learning ability by 40%.
- Sensory stimulation. One common theory is that more effective learning takes place during sensory stimulation. A 2021 study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found music, light, virtual reality and aromatherapies can reduce the effects of dementia. These therapies also improve memory, cognition, enhance brain plasticity and regulate blood flow.
If your memory loss disrupts your daily routine or gets worse, make an appointment to see your doctor.
