We’re all familiar with the concept of a “senior moment.” We just take it for granted that we’ll have them. So, for instance, when we try to address a grandchild and have to cycle through multiple relative’s names to get to theirs (“Susie-Carol-Angela-whatever your name is!”), we just assume that’s an inevitable part of aging. We’ve probably seen our parents or grandparents do the same thing. But is it truly unstoppable?
As we age, we get less blood flow to our brain and the rest of our body. That means, in a nutshell, that it’s harder for our brains to make and keep connections. So a small amount of memory lapses is normal. It doesn’t mean that something is necessarily wrong, just that our brains have to work harder to remember things than they did when we were younger.
And that’s simply it. You might have to work harder, but it doesn’t mean your brain doesn’t work. Your brain’s just working in a different way now. Maybe you have to supplement your memory with reminders like alarms or to-do lists, but plenty of people use those. We all lead such busy lives nowadays that they just come in handy.
In addition, while you can’t stop the passage of time, you can manage it. You can do that through living the healthiest life possible. One of the most important steps is reducing stress and managing your anxiety. So if you can, try not to worry too much about what you can’t remember. We’re all just living our individual lives and doing the best we can. So try your best.
And try to stay healthy in other ways. Eat a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables and healthy proteins like fish. Try to stay active physically and socially. Some memory trouble is to be expected and some can be prevented, but the rest you can manage.
