We all forget things from time to time, especially as we age. And, while cognitive decline is certainly a common effect of aging, there are certain things you can do to make sure you avoid this problem as you reach late adulthood.
Here are some tricks to keep your brain sharp.
Repeat Names
One of the first signs of dementia is the inability to remember recent events, dates, and names. This is also very common in healthy older people. The only difference is that healthy people tend to remember these names later. To avoid this problem, try to repeat the name a few times throughout the interaction with your new acquaintance.
Visualize Things
If you can’t remember where you parked your car, try to visualize your parking spot in an interesting way. For example, if your parking spot is 2B, you can imagine two bees on a flower. Of course, this technique isn’t possible for some forms of visual memory loss.
Use Mnemonics
One of the most popular tricks to keep your brain sharp is using mnemonics. Students often use this technique to learn new things by connecting them with things they already know through limericks, keywords, and first letters.
Retrace Your Steps
If you find yourself entering a room and forgetting why you’re there, don’t worry – we’ve all been there. Retrace your steps and try to think about what you were doing before you made the decision to enter the room.
Keep Things In the Same Place
Having a special place in your house where you keep your keys, glasses, or phone can help you avoid the annoying search for these items every time you need to leave the house. The best way to avoid forgetting things is to keep yourself organized and responsible.
Conclusion
If you want to practice your cognitive ability, try some of these tricks to keep your brain sharp. However, if you do notice that your memory is getting increasingly worse, contact your doctor so you can get a professional opinion.
