Have you ever forgotten where you parked your car, or set your keys down, and now you can’t remember where? Have you been at a party and been introduced to someone and five minutes later you can’t remember their name, or you are in a conversation, and you can’t retrieve the word you want to say?
I admit that I had spent five minutes looking for my cell phone as I was talking on it. I also agree that when I go to the mall parking lot, I merely hold my key up and press the panic button. It works every time, except when I forget that I parked on the opposite side of the mall. I will even admit, that if I don’t write my appointments down, the time will come and go, and I am completely oblivious to it. If you too are experiencing these symptoms, I hate to be the one to break this news to you, but you are entirely normal.
Neurologist believes that the brain is fully mature around the age of 25 with some developing earlier and some later, but generally, after you have reached the ripe old age of 25, it’s all downhill from there.
We rely on a thing called “working memory” to accomplish most of our daily task. This is the brain’s ability to hold small pieces of information for short periods. The average working memory can keep about 5 to 8 pieces of data at a time. So if you have ten things that you are trying to remember to accomplish in a short period, rest assured the brain is going to throw out 3 to 4 of those things. Don’t take it personally that the short term memory likes to keep a clean house. It is not a hoarder; that’s your long-term memory’s job.
Should you be desperate to get those extra few pieces of information locked in your head here are some things that can help with your memory.
- Folic Acid: citrus fruits, beans, avocados, papaya, are rich in folic acid which helps to keep healthy blood flow to the brain.
- Turmeric: helps the brain absorb more oxygen, increasing your alertness.
- Quit drinking: alcohol increases short term memory loss
- Reduce Stress: stress significantly affects your brain’s ability to retrieve information.
- Rest: sleep deprivation affects your memory
As time marches on, we all find we must make changes to adjust; there is nothing wrong with having to write things down, don’t spend the entire day looking for the note pad you wrote it on.
