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To reduce the impact of age related memory loss, it is important to stay healthy and fit. A well balanced diet which is low in fat and contains ample source of vitamin B12 and foliate will help to protect the nervous system. Getting plenty of rest (8 hours per night), not smoking or using other tobacco products, engaging aerobic and anaerobic exercise and practicing stress reduction strategies will also beneficially affect memory. Alcohol consumption should be strictly limited and illegal drugs should not be used.
The following 5 strategies have been proven beneficial in preventing loss of memory.
1. Exercise: Physical fitness and mental fit
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(Source: Medical Journal)
Memory loss, also known as amnesia, is states of unusual forget fullness. This refers to a loss of the every day sense of memory responsible for knowing facts, events, information and experiences. Loss of memory is also called “Amnesic Syndrome”. People with amnesia typically are lucid and maintain sense of self but they face severs difficulties in learning new information and forming new memories. They may not be able to recall memories of past experiences and information.
Memory involves several different functions of the brain. Most studies of the brain divide memory into two kinds, Declarative and procedural. The declarative involves strong facts and the procedural involves skills and habits.
There are at least three general types of amnesia.
1. Anterograde: This type of amnesia follows brain trauma and characterized the inability to remember new information.
2. Retrograde: This form of amnesia is opposite of anterograde amnesia, the victim can recall events that occurred after a trauma but can not remember previously familiar information.
3. Transient Global Amnesia: This type of amnesia has no consistently identifiable cause but researchers have suggested that migraines or ischemic attacks may be the trigger.
Childhood or infantile amnesia refers to person’s inability to remember specific events from childhood and infancy, typically prior to the age of four. Famed psychoanalyst sigmund freud believed that childhood amnesia was a response to sexual repression. It has been hypothesized that memories need to be stored conceptually and associated with words and meanings that people don’t attain until about the age of four. It is also possible that young child’s brain does not have sufficient development to properly store memories.
Infant and childhood stress have been linked to memory decline at an early age. A 2005 study by the UC Irvine School of Medicine suggests that associated with parental loss, abuse or neglect may contribute to the type of memory loss during middle age years.
Causes of Memory loss:
1. Alcohol abuse
2. Alzheimer’s disease
3. Brain Tumor
4. Dementia
5. Depression
6. Drug Abuse
7. Encephalitis & meningitis
8. Epilepsy
9. Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV)
10. Parkinson’s Disease
11. Stroke
12. Lowy body disease
13. Malnutrition
14. Sleep disorders
15. Vitamin Deficiencies
16. Stress and anxiety. etc
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My elder brother is a regular smoker. Despite of all the warnings against this habit from friends Famiy, newspaper and TV, it had never occurred to quit him smoking. Actually he never cared about all the warnings. However,Things changed, after an encounter from his little grand daughter. One day, while he was smoking in front of her( Parsa), and my brother cuddleing Parsa and kissed her on her cheek. Instead of being the cuddleing she gave my brother a very stern look and said “grand father ,I don’t like the smell, Why do you smoke? Can’t you quit the habit?”
My elder brother was flabbergasted. A lot of people, including his friends and family members have tried their best to get me to quit smoking, but he was hardly ever bothered.
However, after this incident, he think he will try to kick the bad habit. Finally, He quit smoking.
To those who smoke, I would like to requet you to quit as well. If you can’t, at least try not to smoke in front of children.
To reduce the impact of age related memory loss, it is important to stay healthy and fit. A well balanced diet which is low in fat and contains ample source of vitamin B12 and foliate will help to protect the nervous system. Getting plenty of rest (8 hours per night), not smoking or using other tobacco products, engaging aerobic and anaerobic exercise and practicing stress reduction strategies will also beneficially affect memory. Alcohol consumption should be strictly limited and illegal drugs should not be used.
