Have You Seen My Keys?
If in fact the brain is the boss of my body, I’m in big trouble.
Let's Talk...
I’m starting to worry. I’ve never had a good memory for names or faces and it seems to be getting worse. A week ago, I saw a man I worked with for years and for the life of me I couldn’t remember his name. I couldn’t even put him into context. And it’s just not names of people. My sister and I laugh about how I was trying to tell her something about a fountain and I could not think of the word. Finally I said, “you know, a water unit”. Last night I called my pajamas “my sleeping pants”. Do you think I should schedule a CT scan?
Everything I read lately suggests that I’m probably normal for my brain age (NYT article, Older Brain May Really be a Wiser Brain). In my case, I think my mind is so distracted and I’m not “in the moment”. Fortunately, research has targeted things that all of us can do to help memory (NYT article, How to Train the Aging Brain).
In a recent article in AARP (Boost Your Brain Health, March/April 2010) indicates that studies show that the memory centers of adult human brains can grow new cells. “The more physical and mental exercise you get, the more brain cells you grow, the longer they survive and the better they connect with other nerve cells”. And for the problems I have with misplacing things—“pay attention to what you’re doing. As we age, we become more prone to distraction. When you put down your keys, focus on where you put them. Better yet always put them in the same place”.
Here are some brain-boosting activities that are worth trying to keep your mind sharp:
• Walk & talk—study a topic and discuss it on a walk with a friend
• Vary your routine—take a different route to work
• Get smart—be a life long learner
• Play—play games with several levels of difficulty
Source of image unknown
• De-stress—meditation, yoga, a walk in the woods
• Sleep—your brain is active when you sleep so give it lots of time to work
• Imagine—include creativity in your day
• Party—socialize and make new friends
• Eat right—diet rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains and fish
• Watch your numbers—keep blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol in check
You might also want to read, The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge, M.D.. My friend Kristen says the case histories of personal triumph over brain injuries and the possibilities to strengthen and change our brains are amazing.
Just as I sat down at the computer, I reached in my desk drawer for something and found my camera that had been missing for a week. I’d looked in my red bag (where I always keep it) 20 times. I never put my camera in that drawer but there it was. . .
Have a good week and I’ll talk to you soon.
Comments
Jun 21, 2010 at 8:16 amnikki: Oh, my heart! I had to laugh about your lost camera - last year I lost my ipod shuffle - a tiny thing - for several months, but just knew I had misplaced it. And I finally ran across it early this spring - in my clothespin bag as I was hanging out laundry on a cold, sunny day! I felt like I'd won the lottery!
Jun 21, 2010 at 8:48 amsandie: oh nikki, good story. I washed my last camera in my bathrobe pocket. Maybe we shouldn't have to worry about all these small appliances.
Jun 21, 2010 at 9:37 amtatyana: this made me laugh out loud! "Sleeping pants" -- precious! My theory is as we age our heads get filled up with so much stuff, it's like our RAM is filled and we just can't access it as quickly. I like your words for fountain and PJs better! xo
Jun 22, 2010 at 12:21 pmmaurine: Like almost any woman over 50, I have what feels like more than my share of "dead spaces", where I cannot remember what word I want. A recent one was "wooden-legged" for coffee table. But "sleep pants" is even funnier!
One thing I try to do religiously is not to multi-task anymore! At work, I can be particularly disciplined about it, as I am often dealing with sales transactions. I tell people "Not only do I no longer want to multi-task, but I couldn't do it if I wanted to." That seems to help a lot! At home, it's often a whole different story....
Jun 23, 2010 at 3:26 pmsandie: Maurine, that is great. I think we should start a list or dictionary of new terminology–"wooden-legged" is perfect.