- Step it up, physical movement helps prevent illnesses that can lead to memory loss by releasing protein ( FDA recommended 50 grams a day) needed by the brain for healthy nerve cells. Park at the end of the lot and walk into stores. Walk the store once and then go get what you came in for!
- Try Mediterranean diet research has shown a 20 decrease in memory problems, due to lots of fruits, vegetables, and fish and the use of good olive oil.
- Engage your brain, mentally challenging activities will keep your mind sharper. Learn something NEW every day. Teach yourself to do as much as possible with your non-dominant hand.
- Stay social, stay engaged in your life. Studies prove that the more social connections someone has in their life the better they are at enhancing and preserving mental acuity. When you get home from a gathering of new folks write their names down, then call them and tell them how much you enjoyed meeting them.
- Sleep better. If your sleep is restless (the major cause of the inability to concentrate) here are a few tricks: no food, caffeine, alcohol, computer works 3 hours prior to bedtime, and set a regular calming bedtime routine.
- Lower your stress. High levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, prevent the brain from moving data out of the “memory bank”. Try yoga, meditation, and even massage to your routine until you find something that works for you.
- STOP smoking. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor and may cause small strokes in the brain. Keep looking into all available quitting solutions until you find one that works.