Brain health day blog: Healthy brain aging

 

Every year on July 22^nd, world brain day is celebrated worldwide. the goal of this day is to bring awareness about the importance of brain health as it is a crucial part for our wellbeing.

Brain is one the largest and complex organ which helps function different cognitive processes like thinking, memory, knowing and remembering.

Memory is essential to all our lives. Without memory we cannot carry on our daily life. Memory is a mental process that has ability to store millions of data, to retain and recall information concerning daily life. A good memory is a valuable skill. If you have good memory your quality-of-life increases. If your memory declines the quality of life will also decrease. Having good memory is important in life from learning to applying the knowledge in present and future.

Causes for poor memory

Normal aging can cause poor memory or forgetting but cannot lead to drastic memory loss. In such cases can be due to other factors given below

·        Head injury - A head injury can cause memory problems.

·        Alcoholism – Alcoholism can lead to impairment in cognitive skills.

·         Hypothyroidism – hypothyroidism is also called as underactive thyroid gland can result in forgetfulness and other mental process.

·        Brain disease – Alzheimer, dementia can cause memory problem interfere with thought, memory, movement.

·        Emotional distress – Emotional distress (stress, anxiety and depression) can effect on memory like forgetting and unable to think.

It is a believe that memory starts declining with growing age. Memory is like a muscle. The more it is used, the better it gets.. People who are aging you can over come this by giving plenty of brain exercise.

 

 

There are some tips and techniques to retain and enhance the process of recall information.

·        Chunking – chunking is a process of breaking down large piece of information into chunks or groups

Ex – 187453 can be chunked as “187” “453” this becomes easy to recall

 

·        Musical/ rhymes Mnemonics – This technique helps in encoding information using music. Information can be memorized in a form of  song / rhymes .

Ex – A, B, C, D song

 

·        Acronyms – Acronyms is word formed using first letter of the thing

Ex – To encode the ‘’colors of rainbow’’ can be recalled as an acronym as “VIBGYOR”

 

·        Train your brain – Just as physical activity helps to be physical healthy, mental activities can help build up memory strength.  Exercise your mental skills by involving in mind games, sudoku, chess, even mobile games which enhances memory.

 

·        Exercise – Engaging in physical activity not benefits your physical health but also mental health.

 

·        Eat well – One of the reasons for good memory is healthy food. Including healthy food in your diet can help improve your memory. Veggies, fruits, dry fruits (almond, walnut), whole grains, health fats (fish, nuts, olive oil).

 

·        Get enough sleep – It is important to receive approx. 6 -7 hrs. of sleep for an individual. sound sleep can boost the quality of memory.

 

·        Get organized – Organizing can also help in retain memory.  Common methods like putting a sticking note, keep to – do list, keeping thing in their respective places (bills, keys,), note down important dates in a dairy.

 

Dr.Bheemsain Tekkalaki Consultant Psychiatrist

Aishwarya Patil Clinical Psychologist

Sumana Psychiatry Center Belagavi

www.sumanapsychiatrycenter.com