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6 – Take time for friends. When you think of ways to improve memory, do you think of “serious” activities like solving crossword puzzles or mastering chess strategy? Or do you feel about lighter pastimes, like hanging out with friends or watching a fun movie? Numerous studies indicate that cognitive benefits accompany a life full of friends and pleasure.
Relationships stimulate our brains; interacting with others is the best brain exercise. A recent Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study found that people with the most active social lives have the best memory.
7 – Manage stress. Over time, chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the brain region involved in forming new memories and retrieving old ones. Studies have also established a link between stress and memory loss. In this case, meditation relieves stress and improves memory, concentration, creativity, and learning and reasoning skills.
Meditation also increases the thickness of the cerebral cortex and promotes more connections between brain cells, which increases mental alertness and memory capacity.
8 – Laughing. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specific brain areas, laughter involves multiple regions throughout the brain. In addition, listening to jokes and developing punch lines activates brain areas essential for learning and creativity. Spend time with people who laugh easily at themselves and everyday events. Post a funny poster in your office, select a computer screensaver that makes you laugh, or frame photos of happy memories of loved ones.
9 – Adopt a brain diet. Just as the body needs fuel, so does the brain. You probably already know that a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and protein will bring many benefits. Such a diet also improves memory. Research shows omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for brain health and good memory.
10 – Recognize health issues. Many prescription and over-the-counter medications hinder memory and clarity of thought—for example, cold and allergy medications, sleeping pills, and antidepressants. Talk to your doctor about possible side effects.
11 – Is it depression? Memory problems are severe in older people who are depressed to the point where they are sometimes mistaken for dementia. The good news is that when depression is treated, memory should return to normal.
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