As you age, your memory and concentration may not be as good as they once were. This is common with many people after retirement home. However, some ways can help improve these areas. This article will discuss how you can get better at remembering things and staying focused when remembering them. Many people try a lot of different strategies when looking for ways to improve their memory and concentration when aging, but this article discusses only a few simple ones that show some great results if followed regularly.
1. Be Active
The best way to improve memory and concentration isn’t through medication. It’s through exercise. There are several reasons why this is the case. First of all, movement allows your body to release epinephrine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which provide mood. Boosting benefits for people who suffer from depression. Second of all, exercising releases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into the brain’s hippocampus. BDNF stimulates nerve cell growth throughout the central nervous system. This helps your brain retain its youthfulness by regenerating cells that die off as you age. Finally, exercise increases blood flow throughout the body, including to the brain, which helps prevent degenerative conditions like Atheros or vascular dementia.
2. Eat Healthy Foods
Eating healthy foods is very important to maintaining a healthy memory throughout the aging process. A good start would be to eat more leafy green vegetables high in folic acid. Folic acid helps lower homocysteine levels, an amino acid that increases the risk of heart disease. Health professionals also recommend fish oils because they increase BDNF levels. Omega 3 fatty acids are found richly in many different types of fish, including salmon, tuna, and sardines.
3. Get Adequate Sleep
Getting enough sleep every night is incredibly important for your cognitive function throughout life. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend adults get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. When you don’t get enough sleep, it’s much harder to concentrate and perform everyday tasks. This can lead to several problems in your day-to-day life, which often goes unnoticed by people who do not keep track of their sleeping habits.
4. Don’t Smoke or Drink Too Much Alcohol
Smoking cigarettes is incredibly bad for your memory and concentration from many different angles. First off, smoking releases toxins into your lungs, where they travel through the bloodstream until they reach the brain. Nicotine deprives neurons of glucose that they need to fire effectively, further impairing cognitive function. Also, nicotine narrows the arteries leading to the brain, which reduces blood flow and increases blood stress, increasing the risk of stroke.
5. Reduce Stress Levels Through Meditation or Yoga
When you are stressed out, your body releases cortisol, a hormone shown to decrease memory capacity in mice. Women have greater problems with stress than men because they have more of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA), which breaks down serotonin. Since women naturally produce less serotonin, it becomes even harder for them to concentrate when under high levels of stress.
6. Improve Your Diet through B Vitamins and Fish Oils
If you eat foods that contain folic acid, vitamins B12, B6, and B9, it will help reduce levels of homocysteine found in your bloodstream. Homocysteine is an amino acid linked with cognitive decline. Furthermore, Vitamin D has also been shown to improve memory. Lastly, omega three fatty acids are very important for improving memory. They improve long-term memory and aid in mood regulation.
7. Use Essential Oils for Stress Relief
Lavender oil has been shown to improve memory. Peppermint essential oil also improves concentration and mood. Finally, sweet orange oil is effective while promoting a positive mood.
8. Participate in Social Activities
Being socially engaged has been shown to have a positive impact on memory. Older people with more social interactions performed better on memory tests. These adults need to maintain good relationships with their friends, family members, and neighbors. For example, at the Manor Village Life Centers, there’s a lot of emphasis on social calendars and facetime with wellness coordinators to get residents engaged with their friends.
9. Practice Good Hygiene
Maintaining proper hygiene is very important for both your physical health and your mental health. Keeping your hands clean by washing them frequently will greatly reduce the chance of spreading bacterial infections such as this.
10. Exercise Your Brain Through Puzzles and Word Games
The best way to maintain good memory and concentration in old age is by working your brain throughout your earlier years. Doing things such as playing word games or puzzles will train the brain to work better over time, leading to improved cognitive function later on in life.
Ultimately, there are many things you can do to improve memory and concentration as you age. Although it will come with a great deal of effort, the benefits greatly outweigh the challenges you will face. If you want to have a better life in your older years, then be sure to follow these tips.
This is a sponsored post
Digital Health Buzz!
Digital Health Buzz! aims to be the destination of choice when it comes to what’s happening in the digital health world. We are not about news and views, but informative articles and thoughts to apply in your business.
