9 Tips on How to Improve Your Memory and Cognitive Function
With all the talk on television about how to improve your memory with certain foods and exercises, and how that can translate into a longer life, a lot of people wonder if there really is any truth to it at all. The truth is that memory is more complex and connected in our bodies than most of us even realize.
Here are 9 tips on how you can improve your memory and cognitive function:
1. Take Vitamins
A lot of variables influence memory. There is absolutely no cast iron science to back up that some vitamins will help improve your memory, however there are definitely some foods that it might have been recommended that might have had some potential to boost cognition. Vitamin E can’t reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s, however it will slow the progression by reducing inflammation.
2. Brain Training
In recent years, more people have been looking into the possibility of brain health through increasing brain power and that’s where puzzles come into the picture. Through solving mazes and brain teasers, people can actually increase their brain power and make themselves feel a whole lot better at the same time.
Puzzles that improve brain health and memory are great for anyone to play, no matter what age you are or what kind of brain function you have issues with. Puzzles that are made specifically for improving brain health often use mazes and crosswords which are both fun and educational
3. Restful Sleep
Sleep plays an integral role in brain function and memory. Our brains need sleep in order to regenerate, grow, and strengthen themselves. During sleep, the brain regains energy by clearing out the old and creating new neural pathways. New brain cells will be born and synapses will form and consolidate as the brain heals itself. Some of the neurotransmitters which carry information from nerve to nerve are renewed during sleep.
4. Meditation
For those who aren’t getting enough sleep, there are certain things that can be done to increase brain health. A lot of research has gone into the study of meditation and cognitive enhancement. This includes the study of how meditation can benefit you psychologically and cognitively.
There is even a new type of meditation which is being used to help people suffering from brain damage or from mild dementia. The positive benefits of meditation include improved sleep, lower stress, increased focus, better moods, and increased energy.
5. Reduce Stress
The ability to recall facts or information is one of the more developed skills in most people. In fact, many people with bad memories will admit to themselves that their poor memory is largely a result of stress.
Stress can effect the brain in many ways; it can cause blood pressure to rise, it can induce nausea and diarrhea, and it can lead to more forgetfulness than you may realize. This means that you can take steps to prevent or reduce the effects of stress on your memory by exercising mental muscle.
6. Memorise and Repeat
7. Healthy Diet
One of the ways that people have tried to exercise brain power is by avoiding a high calorie diet. This doesn’t mean that you have to eat until you drop, or that you have to deprive yourself of all food. What you’re looking for is a diet that makes your brain work harder. By cutting back on high calorie diets and increasing protein intake, the ability of the brain to learn and remember information increases.
8. Medical Support
There are other reasons that people may want to know how to improve your memory. People who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease and other mental disorders are highly at risk for developing poor memory. In order to protect against the development of these mental disorders, scientists have developed drugs that prevent the progression of these diseases. These are called anti-amyloid drugs.
They work by preventing the formation of amyloids in the brain which are a build up of protein deposits. Some of these drugs also work to repair brain cells that have been damaged by the disease.
9. Regular Exercise
An excellent way to make sure that you get the most out of your brain without having to work too hard is to do mental and physical activity together. If you have a lot of free time, you can plan a day just for a good old-fashioned physical activity.
Exercise can keep your brain working efficiently without making it feel tired. The more physical activity that you do, the better the blood flow to your brain. A healthy brain is able to function at its best because it has enough blood flow to function properly.
How to improve your memory confidence begins with realizing how important your brain is. It’s not just an ordinary part of the body that you’re losing as you age. It helps you think creatively and problem solve. With the right mental effort, you can easily increase your memory capacity.