Our memory influences who we are in many ways. All the experiences that we have lived, the people with whom we have related, and all the memories that our personal stories tell make us the people we are. For this reason, memory loss due to age affects us in various practical and emotional spheres. Taking specific measures to keep the brain agile and healthy is a good habit. This post will explain how to improve memory and take care of it with exercises and tricks.

Can memory be improved?

In the health of the memory and general of the whole organism, genes indeed influence. However, other factors, such as our habits and choices throughout life, play a crucial role. Like other organs in the body, the brain benefits from a healthy lifestyle. Play sports regularly, eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, reduce the consumption of less healthy substances such as sugars and harmful fats, and avoid tobacco, preventing disease and promoting brain health. Suppose your question is whether memory can be improved. In that case, the answer is yes, and there are several things you can do to take care of your brain to stimulate memory. Here are some examples of how memory can be improved.

Exercises to improve the memory

Memory problems, such as difficulty concentrating or remembering certain events, usually manifest as one gets older. This is not why you have to start exercising your brain only in old age, quite the opposite! A person accustomed to using memory enhancement techniques will develop mental alertness and is more likely to benefit from an active brain in old age. There are also other techniques to increase the memory that can be exercised at any age. You can learn more about how to improve memory in children and adults in our article “Mental training.”

Mindfulness:  It is a philosophy that encourages mindfulness. Practising mindfulness can help you relax and let go of negative thoughts. In short, it is a way to reduce mental stress that can affect memory and the health of the entire body. Discover mindfulness exercises you can do to start the day!

Mind games:  Although there is no scientific evidence that these exercises protect against memory loss, activities such as chess or crossword puzzles can improve cognitive ability on a day-to-day basis. So they are one more way to improve memory skills in old age.

Walk backwards:  The exact reason is still unknown, but researchers have found a link between backward walking and short-term memory improvements. As explained in a Harvard Medical School article, one of the hypotheses focuses on the fact that people associate reverse movements with a return to the past, which can trigger a memory response.

Listen to music:  On another occasion, we have talked about music’s benefits, contributing to improving our memory.

Video games:  In a study, it has been shown that playing video games is an activity that improves memory in older people and the benefits increase as the action is practised over time.

Clench your fists: This is another exciting exercise that might sound like science fiction. However, some researchers have found that unilateral hand clenching increases neural activity in the contralateral hemisphere’s frontal lobe. The hypothesis is that these gestures help to memorize and remember.

Use mental exercise apps: Keeping memory fit in old age worries people a lot, and although much remains to be discovered about the functioning of the brain and how to avoid age-related memory damage, we have more and more tools to exercise our brain. Applications to exercise memory are one example and are increasingly being developed.

Tips to strengthen the brain and memory

Exercises to improve memory are essential, and we should practice them throughout our lives to keep our minds sharp. But, in addition to exercising the brain, we can also take into account some habits that promote brain health, improve memory and concentration:

Being physically and mentally active helps protect you from illness and be positive. When you’re okay, your mind is OK.

Balanced diet: The brain, as well as the muscles, also need the energy to function properly, so taking care of your diet is synonymous with taking care of your memory.

The brain needs oxygen and nutrients:  Doing outdoor activities for even 20 minutes a day is a good habit of protecting your health and memory.

Keep boredom at bay:  Learning new things, being creative, and positive are actions that help take care of the body and mind.

Socialize and talk to people:  Listening and speaking are exercises that help improve memory; try to keep this habit always throughout your life.

The exercises and tips that we have proposed in this article are just a few examples of improving memory. There are many more and, without a doubt, your doctor will be able to help you find those that are best for you. Anyway, remember that one of the best ways to protect your memory is to be happy and not forget to be empathetic and understanding with those who have memory problems.