Memory and Aging
Memory is the ability to put into storage, keep and then retrieve information.
How aging affects memory
As we age there is a decline in our memory, both putting in new information into memory and retrieving old information. We forget where we just put the magazine (short term memory), or cannot remember the name of the street, with a post office on it, that leads to the freeway (long term memory).
What can you do to remember things more easily?
- Get more organized. For instance have a place to put your car keys as you come in the house
- Write things down
- Find some tricks that work for you for remembering, for example, names
- If possible allow time to think
- Repeat and review
- Keep your mind active
Get more organized
One of the characteristics of aging is a decrease in the ability to focus. Teenagers can focus on one thing and blot out everything else. The reduced ability to focus means that there is strong competition between lots of inputs.
To use the classic example of car keys.
When you come into the house, you are thinking about what to make for dinner, forgetting to pick up the dog food, noticing the table is dusty and taking off your shoes. You put down the car keys without paying any attention. Later when you want to go out in the car, you have no idea where the car keys are.
Decide on a convenient spot to place the car keys close to the door. Try to concentrate on putting them there when you come in, until it becomes a habit. So even though you may still not remember putting down the car keys, when coming into the house, you know where they are.
Getting organized will reduce frustration, mean less wasted time and allow more focus on important things plus getting you out of house faster!
It is almost like being very mildly obsessive compulsive.
Continued..
