Improve Memory and Brain Health

Improve memory and brain health with these tips for seniors.

How sharp is your memory? Do you sometimes forget things? Is your mind as sharp as it used to be? Do you have trouble remembering people’s names right after you’ve met them? Do you sometimes look all over the house for your phone, and then discover that it's been in your hand the whole time?

If the answer to any of these questions is Yes, you are not alone. Many of us in our golden years don’t remember things as well as we used to. On today’s episode of Camp Codger, which we call Improve Memory and Brain Health, our expert guest is Dr. Linda Sasser, author of Brain Sense: A Guide and Workbook to Keep Your Mind and Memory Sharp. She is also a nationally known expert speaker on topics about brain function and brain health.

Is It Normal to Have Memory Problems?

That's the first question we asked Dr. Sasser. Thankfully, she said yes. (That made the Camp Codger counselors feel better.) As we get older, we will occasionally experience some memory problems. These include misplacing things, sometimes needing to pause to remember directions, and forgetting names.

"What we like to say is if you forget where your keys are, that's normal," said Dr. Sasser. "But if you forget what your keys are for, that is a red flag. So if your memory lapses start interfering with accomplishing daily tasks, paying bills, brushing your teeth, getting dressed, or getting lost coming home from the grocery store, then that's a concern."

Experts say some of our thinking abilities peak at age 30, and they slowly decline as we get older. So we're all going to experience things like a slowing down in our thinking speed as we get older.

Tips to Improve Memory and Brain Health

If each of us is going to experience some memory lapses, is there anything we can do about it? Fortunately, the answer is yes! Here are four tips to help improve your memory and brain health.

1. Physical activity raises blood flow to the entire body--including your brain. So being physically active every day is good for your brain and your memory.
2. Staying mentally active is also good for your brain. Do puzzles. Read. Keep your brain active by doing a variety of things.
3. Get plenty of sleep. It turns out that sleep is really good for your brain.
4. Eat a healthy diet. Eating more fresh vegetables and less processed food is good for your body-- and your brain.

Dr. Sasser shares more information about how to improve memory and brain health on this episode of Camp Codger. Please listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also tell your "Alexa" speaker to play the Camp Codger podcast. You can even go to YouTube and search for Camp Codger to listen to our episodes.

ONE MORE THING: We still have a few of our First Edition Camp Codger bumper stickers. If you leave a comment about a recent Camp Codger episode, we'll send you a bumper sticker. Free! All we ask is you put it on your car or somewhere else where people will see it.

We hope you enjoy this episode of the Camp Codger podcast. And please tell your friends about it.

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