Hello, dear readers of the Medicine and Health blog. You came to this page for a simple reason: you want to learn how to strengthen your memory, which often fails, especially if you are over 50. The article is extensive, you will find a lot of useful tips here
The problem of memory, or more precisely, its decline, worries many, especially retirees. I know this first hand. It’s rare that an elderly person who comes to me for a consultation, regardless of the main complaint, does not note that “something has happened” to his memory.
Many people come for this very reason, to find out how to strengthen memory and attention. So I decided that it would be nice to discuss this problem with you, my dear readers, especially since I can offer you delicious recipes that have already helped many to alleviate their condition to some extent.
What and how does a person remember?
This is an amazing thing - memory! Some words are stored in memory until the last breath. The first and most important, basic word “mother” is imprinted most deeply. Mom’s smile, caring, tired hands - I remember.
I not only remember my husband’s affectionate look, I not only hear his voice. The first doll, the first teacher - I remember. I also remember some meaningless episodes, scenes, pictures, smells. But I can’t remember what once seemed important—the dates that marked fateful turns in life. It flew out completely.
A.P. described these properties of memory very subtly. Chekhov.
“It happens that cranes flash on the horizon. A weak wind will carry their plaintive cry, and a minute later, no matter how greedily you peer into the blue distance, you will not see a dot, you will not hear a sound - just like people with their faces and speeches flash through life and drown in our past, not leaving nothing more than insignificant traces of memory."
Many people, especially those over 50, are characterized by a violation of the so-called short-term memory - for current, recent and upcoming events. A person does not remember not only the name of the film that he watched yesterday on TV, but also the plot, cannot remember who to call on the phone, and at the right moment forgets his phone number.
Elderly people at doctor’s appointments always ask: “How to strengthen memory and attention?”
And who among us has not experienced the chilling cold when, having left the house and finding ourselves at a considerable distance from it, doubts suddenly arise: did you lock the door, or turn off the iron or gas?
And the worst thing is that sometimes I really forgot. It is not for nothing that it is said that the memory of old people is like writing on sand, in contrast to the memory of children, which is like writing on stone.
Additional measures
How to improve children's memory? This question depends not only on exercise and proper nutrition. There are several additional measures:
• It is recommended to send your child to a sports section. Physical activity stimulates blood flow to the head and, accordingly, brain activity.
• Development will be better if the child spends 2-3 hours in the fresh air every day. Before going to bed, it is necessary to ventilate the bedroom.
• You should communicate more with your baby.
An anecdote on the topic of deterioration of short-term memory
Two friends, who were already over 80 years old, decided to visit their friend. Let's call her Tatyana. Tatyana, like her friends, had memory problems. Therefore, before the guests arrived, she wrote herself a note: “Don’t forget to offer the guests tea,” and put this note on the kitchen table. When they drank tea, Tatyana, going into the kitchen to wash the cups, saw her note.
I made tea again and served it to my friends. Entering the kitchen, I saw the note again and made tea again. We drank again. Finally, the guests said goodbye, thanked them and went home. And on the way, one says to the other: “Wow, Tatyana didn’t even treat us to tea!”, to which the other replies: “Did we really visit her?”
As M.Yu. Lermontov said: “All this would be funny if it weren’t so sad.”
Impaired short-term memory or forgetfulness is often accompanied by attention deficit: it is difficult for a person to concentrate, despite the fact that he tries to listen carefully and remember everything. They say about such people: “He looks and is invisible, listens and does not hear*.” How to strengthen the memory of such people?
They find it difficult to complete tasks that they previously handled effortlessly. And if any additional task appears, or, God forbid, several, then this becomes simply an impossible task.
It is clear that such disorders are often accompanied by emotional disturbances, increased irritability, anxiety, fears, and in some even aggressiveness. As a result, a person may develop depression.
On the other hand, older people remember events of long ago very well. This is long term memory. Grandma doesn’t remember her address, but she can describe her wedding dress perfectly, down to the smallest detail.
Older people are especially willing to share memories of past years if they are pleasant. Sometimes things get embellished. After all, everyone wants their life to look more beautiful. So in the past it seems better than it really was.
For an elderly person, an excursion into His past is not just memories. This is a balm, a medicine, and not only for the soul. “Just as a traveler sees a mirage in the desert, so the memory of the past is a joy to old people,” wrote the 19th century French poet Bérenger.
How many of us are so generous as to put aside, at least for half an hour, things that never end, and listen, even for the hundredth time, to the memories of people close and dear to us?
And then discuss, be surprised, praise and put it in the chest of your long-term memory - in the memory of your heart for life. After all, this is so easy for us and so important for the storyteller.
Positive emotions are one of the 3 pillars on which our health rests - both old, young and small.
Ways to improve memory and attention
Is it possible to keep a good memory for life and is it possible to restore or at least significantly improve if it begins to fail? For many decades, it was believed that about 100 thousand neurons per year die off in humans, especially in old age, which explains why we forget many events in our lives.
This is where the popular phrase came from: “Nerve cells do not recover.” In fact, as modern research has shown, healthy neurons do not die, and their performance must and can be restored.
The fact is that some nerve cells “hibernate”, while retaining accumulated knowledge and experience. The more such cells do not work, the more difficult it is to restore their vital functions.
A decrease in memory is inevitable, primarily for those who lead a “gray lifestyle” and are not satisfied with its quality.
“One third of older people retain amazing memory until the last days of their lives and are in no way inferior to young people. Most experience some decline in memory function. And only 12% of older people report a significant deterioration in brain function.”
But the years are not to blame for this. The great people of antiquity knew how to strengthen memory. The ancient Greek playwright Sophocles wrote his most famous works after crossing the 80-year-old mark.
The heyday of the composer Haydn's creative life came after 60 years. And in every person’s life there will probably be a friend or relative who, despite his age, has an excellent memory.
My mother-in-law, at the age of 72, did not have a notebook; she remembered all numbers, names, addresses, both old and new, by heart. The mother of one of my acquaintances, who holds a responsible position, at the age of 89 is his freelance personal secretary.
Every evening she reports to him about who called, what they talked about, reminds him when and where he needs to go, who to meet.
It is important that both of these women, despite their age and illness, took care of their appearance, regardless of whether they were at home, where no one but their own could see them, or whether they were going out somewhere. Both of them constantly read, were interested in events in the country, and loved their children and grandchildren. In a word, they had a goal and interest in life.
Love for life is usually mutual. Respect your body, listen to it, don’t poison it with all sorts of nasty things - and it will serve you faithfully for many years.
Have you ever wondered why there are such a large number of centenarians in the Caucasus? Because there, on the one hand, people of the older generation enjoy special respect and respect. They are considered, consulted, surrounded with warmth and attention.
There, old age is treated not as a time of decline, but as a period of worldly wisdom, spiritual height and rich life experience. On the other hand, such an attitude obliges an old person to constantly work on himself, both mentally and physically, which allows him to overcome age-related difficulties and maintain optimism, self-esteem and dignity until his last days.
When should you start?
When should children prepare activities to improve memory and attention? There is not and will not be any specific figure here! Each child may develop at a different rate. The mother should look at how classes are conducted to improve this ability, and independently determine whether her beloved baby can handle them. Before the age of two, you should try to play several simple memory games for children.
- You need to turn on a cartoon for him and see his reaction. The plot must interest him, otherwise his work will be in vain. Frequency – up to 1.5 hours a day. After a week, you need to ask your child a few questions. For example, what is the name of this hero? What is this series about? What will happen to this character? If the baby copes with this task without difficulty, it means that he is developing this ability well.
- By the first year of life, visual memory should be functioning. It's easy to evaluate. Children at this age recognize their loved ones. They will always reach out to those who are well known to them (mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, etc.). In the house they remember where their favorite toys and sweets are.
Psychologists recommend that children read a lot. Moreover, this must be done from birth. Yes, yes, newborns hear perfectly and are able to process information.
How to strengthen memory and attention at home using folk remedies
- So, the first preventive measure is not to lose interest in life, “to be an eternal student.”
In order for the memory to be better, it must be trained like a muscle. It is no coincidence that there used to be cramming at school. Everyone criticized it and eventually liquidated it. And along with it, a good memory trainer was thrown into the trash. It is very useful to memorize foreign words, learn poems and songs. The more you need to remember, the better your memory will be.
- Then the idea of mental and physical activity.
The great German poet Goethe noted that in old age you need to work with your head much more than in youth. Why do many people age quickly when they retire? They fall out of the disciplinary circle of social activities, when they need to get up early, get themselves in order, travel, or even better - go to work at a brisk pace (if it is not far from home), communicate with employees, make some decisions, complete assigned tasks .
And once you retire, you no longer need to do any of this. Finally, you can “relax both soul and body.” It is this leisure-idleness, and not physical and mental work, that ruins people, reduces health and life expectancy.
How many people are there who, despite the fact that they no longer have to rush to work in the morning, will force themselves to get up early, “bring beauty and health to their face” and hurry out into the air to walk quickly, repeating to themselves or memorizing verses of songs, poems, foreign words on the go?
I think that most would prefer to soak in a warm bed longer and watch TV instead of learning something new. There will always be reasons ("valid") - poor sleep, eyes no longer see so well, joints "creak", bad mood, heavy head...
- Fatigue and stress worsen our memory. Therefore, resting in nature, and generally changing the environment, have a positive effect on the mechanisms of our memory.
- And finally, proper nutrition.
Foods that improve brain function
Can you use it to improve your memory? French scientist Daniel Parrot claims that our brain suffers from poor-quality food no less than our stomach. Our brain needs nutritious, balanced food.
Animal proteins contain all amino acids, including those that the body does not synthesize itself. That's why you need to eat at least a small amount of meat or fish per day.
Proteins are also found in products of plant origin, but their set of amino acids is incomplete. Therefore, vegetarians need a balanced diet to strengthen their memory. The most proteins are in nuts, cereals and legumes, buckwheat, rice, lentils, red and white beans.
Carbohydrates are broken down in the gastrointestinal tract into simple sugars. They are slow and fast. The body needs slow ones all the time. They are the fuel for neurons. We get them from pasta, bread, potatoes, and some fruits.
Fast carbohydrates (sugar, candy, cake, ice cream) instantly saturate the tissues with glucose, which burns just as quickly if there are no new portions.
Hypoglycemia occurs (a decrease in blood sugar below 70-80 mg%), which is manifested by fatigue, dizziness, memory impairment, and headache. Therefore, if possible, it is better to refuse them or consume them in limited quantities. The exception is sweet fruits.
One-third of the structure of the brain consists of fats (lipids), which contain unsaturated fatty acids. If the body has a deficiency or they are of poor quality, memory loss occurs.
In addition, they help reduce blood viscosity, improve blood circulation, including cerebral circulation, and increase the flow of nutrients to brain cells. Enough unsaturated fatty acids are found in fish oil and vegetable oils (linseed, olive, soybean, sunflower, peanut, rapeseed).
Foods containing phosphorus and iodine, such as fish, shrimp, seaweed, and seaweed, have a beneficial effect on memory. Seafood dishes should be on the table at least 3 times a week, and better yet, every day.
Fatty fish of noble breeds (salmon, tuna, mackerel, etc.) should be boiled. You can put tarragon, dill, rosemary, and garlic in the belly. Then cool and add lemon juice.
Fish broth is very healthy. It contains bioactive substances, including gelatin, which thins the blood and, by normalizing blood circulation, helps improve memory. Therefore, the broth should be used either for soup or for jelly.
Due to their high content of microelements, vitamins A and B, dates help restore strength and improve performance . In addition, they contain dopamine, a substance that activates thought processes.
Dried apricots are a real storehouse of substances useful for the blood vessels of the brain: phosphorus, potassium, magnesium. To improve memory, it is recommended to eat 50 g of dried apricots per day.
Even ancient doctors claimed that eating raisins helps suppress anger. Modern research shows that raisins protect nerve cells from exhaustion and can activate memory.
walnuts “a holiday for the brain.” This definition is not accidental - nuts contain lecithin, which helps to better absorb information, and selenium, which improves memory. If you give your child a handful of nuts every day, there will be no trace of absent-mindedness, and new material in class will be easy to remember.
Pastes for improving memory
- This dish will help improve not only memory, but also support the heart and blood vessels, normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and increase hemoglobin levels in patients with iron deficiency anemia.
Mix dried apricots, raisins and walnuts passed through a meat grinder in equal quantities. Every day you need to eat a few spoons of this mixture.
- This paste is good for seasoning chicken, fish and meat broth.
You can not only decorate broths with it, but also eat it as a separate dish or spread it on bread. Can be used as a sauce for boiled eggs, containing lecithin, which improves brain function.
Pumpkin seeds (200 g), walnuts (200 g), celery (2 medium bunches), garlic (2 medium heads) - grind through a meat grinder or grind in a blender. Add spices to taste (ginger, turmeric, cumin, saffron, basil, thyme, suneli hops), sea salt, lemon juice to taste (about one large one). You can add more pine nuts without chopping. Keep the paste in the refrigerator. Recipes for two dishes that are good for breakfast.
- Soak whole wheat grains overnight. In the morning, cook over low heat until softened. Add salt before the end of cooking. Add raisins, chopped walnuts and honey to taste.
- Sprout or buy sprouted seeds of wheat, oats, peas, beans. Season with salt, add vegetable oil and lemon juice, add lemon zest.
Walnut kernel tincture
- Grind 15-20 walnut kernels, pour in 0.5 liters of vodka and leave in a warm, bright place for 14 days, strain, bottle and refrigerate.
What is it for?
Before we look at the important question of how to develop memory in a child, we need to say a few words about why this is needed:
- As mentioned earlier, memory is a faithful assistant in life. It allows the child to remember all the skills and useful information. Every society from birth develops 2 types of this function: visual memory (allows you to recognize your loved ones, objects and navigate in space) and intellectual memory (allows you to remember important information, poems, songs, etc.).
- A good memory is necessary for full learning. Knowledge will be given to the student better. He will quickly reproduce in his head the material that he learned earlier, thanks to this he better assimilates new information.
This function is formed arbitrarily, and the older the child, the better developed it is. Special memory games for children and a set of medications will help strengthen it.
