There are three signs of aging. The first is memory loss but the other two slip the mind. It may be fun to joke about memory loss, but it’s not funny when you have to wander the parking lot looking for your car or go the basement to get something but can’t remember the item. There is no need to panic however.
“If you’re misplacing your car keys, it’s usually perfectly normal,” says Dr. Kelly Ryan, psychologist with Linden Oaks Hospital in Naperville. “It’s a normal part of aging.”
The culprit is usually short-term memory, according to Ryan. This part of the brain seems to operate less efficiently during the aging process. But there are ways to get around this age related malady. Here are a few tricks to help with memory issues.
Do it the same way
When you establish a routine like placing your keys in the same place when you walk in the door, you use several parts of your brain instead of just relying on short term memory. “There is a saying that the neurons that fire together, wire together,” says Ryan. So when the same connection happens over and over, it becomes stronger. Organizing your life and putting things in the same place creates a strong memory path in the brain making it easier to remember.
Use rhyme
When you create a rhyme or associate another idea with the thing you’re trying to remember, you’re using more parts of the brain than just short term memory. It’s easier to remember a name if you rhyme it with a physical feature like “Cher with the blond hair.”
Change your list for a quick stop at the store to a word like “BED” for “bread, eggs and dog food” for quick recall when you shop. “When you have to create a different meaning for language, you use a different part of the brain. We don’t retain the things in short-term memory as well so it helps to use other parts of the brain,” notes Ryan.
Write it down
Making lists is a great idea provided you remember where you put the list. If you write something down, put a reminder in your phone or use some other type of memory aid like a string around the finger, it can help with remembering things. You not only have the visual clue but there is also a better connection in the brain. “Putting something into written language uses more of the brain which helps with memory,” says Ryan. Take advantage of modern technology. Today’s smart phones are ideal because they can send daily reminders of things that need to be accomplished. Use the alarm feature to remember that it’s time to leave for your doctor’s appointment.
Stop, stare, aware
One of the reasons we forget things is that life is very distracting. It’s easy to be in a hurry to get to an appointment and forget where the car is parked in the seven story parking garage. AARP suggests getting into the habit of taking a moment to register your surroundings before leaving your car and then connect it to something. For example, parking lot 3F could translate to the “three friends” you are meeting for lunch. Many parking garages are already helping by naming floors after celebrities or assigning colors to each section. It is easier to remember that you parked in the blue Elvis section than the E section of the third floor. “The natural state is to be on auto pilot. Any time you focus, you are more likely to engage and remember,” says Ryan.
Use a spin to get you in
Using today’s technology requires remembering passwords that often need to be changed. One method of doing this, according to AARP, is to come up with a basic template like your childhood nickname plus a number of people in your family, for example “skip5.” Then tack on an abbreviation of each website that makes sense before or after the key phrase. For example, the password for Old Second Bank would be “osbskip5,” while the password for Scott Grocery Store would be “sgsskip5.” When it’s time to change passwords, simply move the abbreviations from front to back or change the key phrase.
Gadget works magic
People who are under a lot of stress are more likely to forget things, which may cause more stress. One way to address this cycle is to purchase one of the lost-and-found gadgets now available. Two of the most popular are TrackR and Tile. Basically, these are little devices that you attach to things you don’t want to lose like your briefcase, phone, keys or sunglasses. When an item is misplaced, a cellphone can be used to make the devices attached to the lost item beep making it easier to find the missing item. Both gadgets also use crowd-sourcing and GPS to help locate items farther away than 100 feet. The gadgets will not improve your memory but can be a quicker way to find your purse before dashing out the door to catch the train.
Use it or lose it
As with many parts of the body, you need to flex your brain power daily. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are all good for your brain health as well as your whole body, says Ryan. “One of the most important factors for brain health is getting enough sleep so that your brain has time to get organized. “Cognitive training can also help your brain,” notes Ryan. Playing cards, chess and computer memory games all help keep your brain healthy allowing for better memory power. Finally, Ryan says that socializing with others and interacting helps keep your brain functioning at its peak level and can help strengthen memory abilities.
