Have you ever walked into a room and then forgotten the reason why you entered? Have you ever gone into a grocery store, left with a buggy full of groceries, then returned home only to realize that you failed to get the one specific item you went there to buy? Most everyone would admit that they forget things from time to time. How can you know if your forgetfulness is a typical response to environmental or physical stimuli in your life or a greater concern for a serious risk of memory loss?
Factors for Forgetfulness
For many, this world is one in which there are endless to-do lists, deadlines, and commitments and obligations to family, friends, jobs, and social groups. This increase of things to remember brings ample opportunities for you to forget where you need to be, what time you need to get there, and what needs to be done when you arrive. Increased demands on your time mean increased demands on your memory. There are other factors that can affect your ability to recall things easily; for example, there are ingredients found in many foods you might eat that can have a negative effect on your brain’s memory power. These substances include processed sugar, high amounts of sodium, saturated fats, aspartame, partially hydrogenated oil, and mercury. Dehydration can also affect your brain’s level of performance.
What Is Typical
Forgetting an appointment or having trouble recalling what you ate for dinner last night might sometimes happen. Consistently forgetting the name of a close friend or family member is cause for concern. You might not remember certain conversations, even important ones, or details that have been discussed; however, if your loved ones notice that you are regularly repeating questions or conversations, you should probably talk with your doctor about it. You should also pay attention to areas in which you used to thrive mentally, like performing skills related to a long-time profession, but in which you now find yourself struggling to follow instructions, perform common tasks, or teach others.
Help for Memory
Eating a healthy diet and staying properly hydrated will go a long way in helping your brain and body function at its best. Ensure that you are getting adequate sleep as often as possible. Take some of the best supplements for memory loss to naturally boost and support your body’s brainpower. Engage in exercises and activities that will challenge your brain outside of your normal everyday activities. Brush your teeth with your nondominant hand. Play word search, Sudoku, or solve crossword puzzles. You can find custom puzzles online to make things even more fun, why not have one created of your favourite photo?
Feeling as though you are not as mentally sharp as you used to be can be a scary thing. Seeing loved ones suffer from the challenges of dementia can increase your concern over every moment of forgetfulness in your life. Taking some extra steps to help support your brain to be its best will go a long way in keeping serious memory issues at bay and will also give you greater peace of mind for your future mental health.
Speak Your Mind