Memory After 50

We all have those momentary memory lapses where we forget what we were saying in the middle of a sentence, or we walk with purpose into another room, only to forget why we are there. We worry about our memory after 50.  I’ve driven home and not remembered a moment of the drive; almost as though I was teleported from my office to my front door.  As we age, some of us are more apt to blame these episodes on our advancing age.  The thing is, I can remember this happening when I was a young kid.  We don’t suddenly lose our memory after 50.

It’s Not About Age

It bothers me when people blame their issues on their age rather than on a normal part of our physiology. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to admit my own advancing years.  We abdicate our responsibility when we blame our weight gain, our mental acuity, or even our energy on age.  Just like the muscles in our bodies, we must exercise it to keep it working in top shape.  If you don’t use it, you lose it.  That’s a fact.  We need to actively engage our brains to prevent decline, just as we have to keep touching our toes each morning to keep that same flexibility over time.

A Lot on My Mind

Don’t believe me?  In a January 10, 2020 New York Times article written by Dr. Daniel J. Levitin, a neuroscientist.  He talks about our brains as a sort of giant rolodex that gets fuller with experiences as we age. (Only an aged person gets that rolodex reference! LOL!)  The older we become, the bigger the files, and the longer it takes to put our finger on just the right thing.  This type of fade happens to me all of the time, especially when I’m very tired.  Common words escape me, and I end up with what I refer to as word salad.  (Hopefully not in the true pathology of the phrase.)  When I’m under stress, it’s even worse.  While speaking in public, I’ve been known to completely forget a friend’s name when she raises her hand during Q & A. 

Brain Fade

These little brain fades led me to notice my tendency to be in my head a lot.  When I’m focused on a topic or concept, my mind will wander back to that while I’m doing boring or ordinary tasks.  In fact, it happened to me while I was writing this article.  I went to the kitchen to make myself some lunch, and while I was there, I refilled my water glass. 

I came back to the office with my food, and realized I’d left my water behind.  Back to the kitchen I went, to get my water.  But I decided to clear my desk of my lunch dishes while I was going.  So, I took the dishes, put them away, and went back to my office, once again forgetting my water!  I went back to the kitchen and saw some mail on the counter.  Of course, I had to sort through the mail, and then I walked back to the office.  This time, before I actually sat down at my desk, I remembered the water.  Dang it! 

Focus on the Task

I forced myself to keep my mind on the water, and I finally made it back to my desk with it.  Incidentally, my water glass is a giant RED Yeti glass with my initials on it, which my boss gave me for Christmas the year before I retired. (Thanks again, HA!)  It’s my favorite thing ever.  I have it with me 24/7.  How could I have made so many trips to the kitchen and forgotten this very obvious item?  Clearly, I need to practice focusing on the task at hand.

Tame the Wandering Mind

Neuroscientist Amishi Jha studies exactly this, how to tame the wandering mind.  Dr. Jha’s Ted Talk is very interesting, and she talks about developing the skill of mindfulness.  Everyone can do this to great benefit.  The benefits are cumulative over time, and with just 15 minutes of mindfulness exercises each day, we can even learn how to experience stressful events and keep a clear head.  Here are some mindfulness exercises you can do to reduce distractibility.

Menopause Affects the Brain

Unfortunately, there really are some age-related changes that can effect our recall.  Dr. Lisa Mosconi, also a neuroscientist talks about how menopause affects the brain in her Ted Talk.  This is a good-news/bad-news explanation of the impact of the decline of estrogen in our bodies.  The good news is our brains are still as sharp as our younger selves, but the drop in estrogen we experience in menopause can cause brain fog, and other issues.  Definitely watch her talk.  It’s worth the 15 minutes of your time.  To ward off deposits that collect in our brains as estrogen declines, which can be precursors to Alzheimer’s, Dr. Mosconi recommends a Mediterranean diet.  Haven’t we heard this before?  I love Mediterranean foods, so I don’t know why I’m not paying attention to this advice.

The Mediterranean Diet

By following a Mediterranean diet, I’d probably improve my weight, which is easy to blame on aging.  But I’m not giving in.  I’m not going down without a fight.  There are easy things that I can do to keep my body, mind, and psyche working at full capacity well into my twilight years.  Admittedly, I’ve let some of these things go in recent months, but I’m going to act while I still can.  Another sad truth is the longer you goof off, the longer it’ll take you to get back into shape.  This is true of physical stamina, flexibility, dexterity, coordination, and even singing. 

While we’re spending a lot of time at home, try working up to a 90-second plank, stand on one leg while washing dishes to practice your balance, learn a new skill, do crossword puzzles, improve your memorization skills, and eat your veggies. Check out this article on Pushing 60 and Aging Gracefully for other ideas for staying youthful. What are some habits that you practice to keep your mind and body in good working order?  Share your tips with us in the comments.