Forgetting things and scenarios do happen to all of us. Forgetting where you put the key to your car, what to buy at the grocery store, the dates of events you attended, and even recognizing people you’ve encountered before.
However, there are things that people do to improve and sustain their memories, often based on research in neuroscience. Let’s revisit some of them:
- Mushrooms help with memory retention
According to an article in Inc. Newsletters, Australian scientists reported that eating mushrooms can boost nerve growth and enhance memory. Pennsylvania State University researchers found that other types of mushrooms—porcini may be the best—contain antioxidants that fight medical conditions associated with aging like cancer, coronary heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Mushrooms have an active compound that helps keep our memories active.
- Dark chocolate and cinnamon
An Italian study suggests that eating dark chocolate provides cognitive benefits. On the other hand, according to a review in Nutritional Neuroscience of more than 2,600 studies, cinnamon helps improve cognitive function.
- Vegetable of all kinds
A Harvard study followed the eating habits of 27,842 men over 20 years. Their conclusions? The ones who ate the most vegetables and fruit—even fruit juice—had less memory loss later in life.
- Build good relationships
Recent research has demonstrated that memory can be impacted by the establishment and upkeep of relationships. A study carried out by Baylor College of Medicine revealed that prolonged periods of social isolation can lead to an overactivity of astrocytes, the most abundant cells in our brains, resulting in disrupted brain circuit function and memory formation. Consequently, placing a significant emphasis on one’s relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones is vital for attaining a fulfilling and contented life.
- Improve your environment
You must be keen about keeping and improving your environment, like your safe space in the bedroom, living room, or study/working room. If you prefer sleeping in a dim room, keep it dark to rest because, at a certain level of sleep deficit, the brain loses the ability to sense just how tired you are. When you’re in your safe space, you can sleep more, and your memory will improve.
- Spend your time wisely
Cognitive-based activities like the following will help boost your memory:
- Detailed hobbies that require you to recall and process information, like bird or even dog watching
- Reading for pleasure for at least 90 minutes at a time to strengthen older adults’ memory skills
- Doing brain and memory games and crossword puzzles to improve cognition, function, and neuroprotection
- Walk backward
Yes, you read it right. Walk backward. Researchers at the University of Roehampton in London came up with the idea of testing whether simply walking backward could trigger better recall. They call it the ‘mnemonic time-travel effect.’ Walking backward is easier to remember than “motion-induced past-directed mental time travel.”
We all share the same sentiment that we fear losing our memories and other cognitive abilities as we get older. And before we forget these crucial habits, we should take note of these steps to improve our memory and learning capacities.
Always remember that there’s nothing more fascinating than remembering people, scenarios, and events in our lives. We should take care of our human brains just like our families and loved ones. There’s nothing more important than our human brain, its functions, and its work. We should not forget the very essence of our human memory and brain to complete the existence of our human being.
