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says she would simply caution older people not to spend money on something that hasnt been proved to work to
help age-related memory loss.
I would encourage people to look at various options for free, says Plassman.
Brain Booster No. 4: Sleep
Healthy sleep patterns are crucial for cognitive performance, especially memory, the experts say. That means at least
seven hours of sleep each night.
Sleep is essential to lower levels of stress hormones, to relax and refresh your entire body, and to literally turn off
your brain. There are parts of sleep where memory gets archived, says Doraiswamy.
While it may be tempting to take over-the-counter or even prescription sleeping medications, be aware that
many may impair memory. Check with your doctor about side effects of sleep medications, as well as all drugs.
Also, limit your intake of alcohol if you experience sleeping problems, as it can disrupt sleeping patterns.
Brain Booster No. 5: Red Wine
*Some studies indicate that red wine is good for the heart and thus the brain, the experts say. Not all the reasons are
understood, but many researchers believe red wine may be good for you because it contains the antioxidant
resveratrol.
*(Komen: yang ini tidak sesuai untuk orang Islam, banyak lagi sumber antioxidant yang lain).
There is a possibility, however, that the benefits associated with red wine could come from other factors, such as the
social aspect of wine drinking or income level associated with those who drink wine.
A 2007 study of elderly Italians showed that drinking alcohol in moderation may slow the progression to dementia in
elderly people who already have mild mental declines. Defined in the study as less than one drink a day, low to
moderate drinking was associated with a significantly slower progression to dementia among people with mild agerelated cognitive declines, compared with nondrinkers.
Brain Booster No. 6: No More Multitasking
One of the biggest causes of failing to remember something, explains Small, is that people arent paying attention.
As our brain ages, its more difficult to do several things at once, says Plassman.
Multitasking thus becomes an impediment to remembering names, a recipe, or something you just read. Thats
because the brain first has to encode information before it can retrieve the information as memory. Unless the brain is
paying attention and taking in the information it will later need, the brain cannot encode the information.
Brain Booster No 7: Learning New Memory Tricks
Small, who also authored the best-selling book The Memory Bible, says he teaches a technique called look, snap,
connect in which participants are taught how to focus on someone or something and make a connection that will
help them remember.
These kinds of techniques can be learned very quickly, Small adds.
Long-practiced strategies such as linking a persons name to something else or another person are also helpful, or
using sound associations, says Plassman. Check your local library, senior center, or hospital to see whether free
classes might be offered.
While age-related memory loss is typically minor, be on the lookout for more serious memory loss in yourself or a
loved one. Forgetting where you parked your car is one thing, says Doraiswamy. Forgetting that you have a car is
another.
If memory loss is making an impact in your everyday life or getting worse, consult with a doctor.
Also, try to laugh a little about the age-related memory loss while doing what you can to curb it. While the loss is real,
its not as if you are losing control of your brain. The loss is relatively subtle, and in most cases, your brain still works
like the incredible organ that it is.
For many people, if you have a relatively good memory, forget about it, says Doraiswamy. Shooting for the
impossible (the memory we enjoyed in youth, for example) only induces stress.