Expect to Keep Your Memory
Age-related memory loss. Think it's inevitable? Here's why you might want to think again.
Buying into the stereotype that memory function automatically dwindles with age could become a self-fulfilling prophecy, research shows.
Defy the Stereotypes
At least that's what happened in one study. When older adults (ages 60 to 70 years) were given cues that people their age tend to suffer from memory loss, they actually performed more poorly on memory tests than a control group not exposed to such cues. Likewise, older adults who felt looked down upon -- or stigmatized -- due to age also fared poorly on memory tests. Bottom line: Anxious thoughts about negative stereotypes may disrupt your working memory. So think positive! (Test your working memory with this little online game.)
Multifaceted Memory Protection
Okay, positive thinking is no guarantee against memory problems -- but a positive attitude is always a healthier choice. For a full-court defense against age-related memory loss, here are some other ways to sharpen your noggin:
- Stay in touch. Staying connected to family and friends can nourish the connections in your brain.
- Eat right. The YOU Docs recommend this list of six memory-boosting edibles.
- Sleep tight. Power naps can help recharge your brain.
- Step it up. Walking today means a better memory tomorrow.
RealAge Benefit:
Learning a new game that requires brainpower can make your RealAge 1.3 years younger.
Moderators of and mechanisms underlying stereotype threat effects on older adults' memory performance. Hess, T. M. et al., Experimental Aging Research 2009 Apr-Jun;35(2):153-177.
