Helpful tips for an aging brain

MONTREAL ­ Since forgetting names and important dates and losing things are all common problems, clinical neuropsychologist Angela Troyer’s seminar at Toronto’s Baycrest geriatric and academic health science centre offers basic education and practical information when it comes to these matters. Visualizing, repeating, writing things down and making information meaningful (with a song or story) – these are painfully obvious memory tools that most people use to some degree. But when it comes to an aging brain, you must be painfully diligent about obvious things.

Remembering dates and future events. Write them down – but not on sticky notes all over your living space. Put them in a single book or in a digital organizer. “Everything in one place,” Troyer advises. If you are particularly scatterbrained or heavily booked, it might help to have both a book and a digital organizer, as long as you always duplicate the information in both.

Forgetting to turn off the stove or lock the door. These are typically the result of not paying a lot of attention. “So whenever you do these actions, you have to be mindful – focus attention on it, say it out loud and visualize it. See yourself doing it,” Troyer says.

Forgetting names. This is a common problem at every age, because it takes a lot of effort to commit names to memory. “Most people say it three or four times to themselves,” Troyer says, “but that’s not as useful as spaced repetition.” Spaced repetition involves repeating the name immediately, then a couple of minutes later, then again several minutes later. You can also help make information meaningful by putting it in a song, or relating it to a similar place or person. “So with names like Jonathan, you have to be more creative. Once you put time into it, it’s amazing how often you can do it.”

Where did I park the car? When you park it, remember to say where it is out loud. Repeat it and try to make the information meaningful. Then when looking for the car later, call upon your visual memory for a picture.

Panicking after you’ve forgotten something. It’s usually too late to try to find something after you lose it and freak out. “It’s best to identify problems and memory strategies before they happen,” Troyer says. So if you know you’re horrible at finding things or remembering appointments, try to find a logical solution for your specific problem.

Losing your belongings. Find a logical place to put each item. Put your slippers in the closet or by the front door. For glasses, get a string and leave them around your neck, Troyer says. “Again, these are about habits. They’re hard to make, but once you have them, they’re harder to break. And those are the best memory habits to have.”

Go easy on the distractions. And remember that hours spent watching TV are hours that could be spent on brain-friendlier activities.