Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness

Hmmmm, now what were we going to discuss next? Oh, yeah, how to cure those blasted bouts of forgetfulness. You know, when a name or date is on the tip of your tongue ... or you can't seem to remember where you parked your car ... or left your keys.

Frustrating as it is, a memory slip doesn't mean you're edging toward Alzheimer's disease. (Alzheimer's is marked by things such as not knowing the year or forgetting the names of immediate family members.) Everyone has occasional episodes of forgetfulness, so even if you've forgotten the last time it happened to you, here's how to build a better memory.

Get in shape. Scientific research confirms that a healthy body indeed helps breed a healthy mind--memory-wise, at least. Several studies show that people over age 40 who exercise aerobically at least three times a week have 20 percent better memory skills than people who don't exercise. So if you're not a regular exerciser, change those sedentary ways.

"Regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain," explains Richard Gordin, Ph.D., professor of physical education at Utah State University in Logan. "And improved blood flow often means improved thinking and memory."

Tune in talk shows. "The most troublesome tasks for everyone are remembering names and faces and remembering dates and appointments. I recommend you watch TV shows that will help improve those skills," says Douglas Herrmann, Ph.D., a research scientist at the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, and author of Super Memory. "Since meeting new people challenges memory, watch talk and game shows, and try to recall each guest's name as the show goes on. A show like 'Wheel of Fortune' is good for improving your vocabulary and recalling word definitions."

Write it down. Putting information in writing also puts it into your memory, says Dr. Herrmann. So try writing down important information in order to remember it more easily later on. Many memory experts suggest you "make lists."

Think in rhymes. Want to know it? Become a poet. "Make a rhyme for uninteresting things or hard-to-recall facts, or when the information is complicated or highly detailed," says Dr. Herrmann. "Rhymes give us a structure that helps us remember things."

Remember your beta-carotene. Consuming at least one serving daily of foods rich in beta-carotene can improve some aspects of your memory and word fluency or recall, particularly if you're over age 60, according to James G. Penland, Ph.D., research psychologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Dark green vegetables and orange fruits and vegetables are abundant in beta-carotene.

Observe rather than see. Seeing something allows for a momentary experience, which may or may not give you the opportunity to soak up details. But observing means paying attention to detail. For instance, you've seen a $20 bill countless times, but can you remember who's pictured on the front of it? Unless you know it's Andrew Jackson, you're not an observer.

"By noticing special properties or features of commonplace items, you will have a better chance to commit them to memory," says psychologist Robin West, Ph.D., of the University of Florida in Gainesville, author of Memory Fitness over Forty.

Play mental games. Playing cards or board games like Scrabble is a good way to practice improving your memory, advises Forrest R. Scogin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. "But choose the games you like, because it can be very frustrating for someone having memory problems to say 'If I just start playing Scrabble, my memory will improve.' " The process is like building up your strength with exercise. Don't expect too much too soon.