Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano

Everyone experiences times in their life in which they get very busy, and in the midst of that, keys and wallets and everyday items are lost. Unless it happens frequently or appears to be progressing, it shouldn’t concern you. For some, this is a more common problem and begins to affect their daily lives when they start to miss appointments, forget the birthdays of relatives, and forget recent events until reminded by others.

The brain is similar to a processor of a computer and stores short term and long term memory in complex ways that involve several different areas of the brain, even for a single item like a phone number or the facial features of a new acquaintance.  As the brain absorbs the constant flow of information, it filters memories and makes a decision about the importance of that memory and the need for it to be stored or discarded.  For example, the sounds and conversations of a busy sidewalk in the downtown area of a large city might be acknowledged by the brain, considered, and then discarded.  Conversely, a phone conversation between a father with his son would be considered and then stored as short-term memory, and eventually as long-term memory.  This is especially true of memories that are associated with strong emotions such as happiness, anger, or sadness.

Here are several ways to maintain memory as you go through life from Christopher Duntsch, M.D., neurosurgeon on the Baylor Plano medical staff.

1.    Sleep well. Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night. This is critical and most individuals cannot efficiently acquire and store long term memories without rest.  Memories are processed and begin the conversion process from short term to long term while we sleep. This occurs primarily during rapid eye movement phases of sleep (REM).  The REM phase of sleep occurs every 60 – 90 minutes.  So sustained, uninterrupted sleep is critical for one to be able to maintain short term memories and process and store long term memories.

2.    Eat healthy. Balanced meals containing the right vitamins and minerals will help the metabolism of the brain remain intact and active.  The formation of neurons, neurotransmitters, and general brain function rely on the absorption of vitamins.

3.    Exercise often. Exercise several times during the week.  Physical activity is proven to relieve stress, release endorphins and other molecules that have a positive effect on the brain.

4.    Limit alcohol. Alcohol destabilizes the tissue of neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry communication between nerves. This causes the neurons to be less efficient at processing memories.  In addition, alcohol interferes with the ability of the brain to enter REM sleep, thus restricting the amount of memory that can be processed.  Heavy alcohol consumption can damage the brain, especially the back part of the brain.

5.    Challenge your mind.  Studies have shown that keeping your mind active is a very important tool for improving memory.  So pick up a good book, crossword puzzle or Sudoku.

6.    Associate. We tend to remember things much better if we associate something with the memory. For example, when meeting new people, learn something interesting about them that you can associate with their name.

7.    Pay attention. When it is time to learn something new, give it your all and avoid the tendency to multitask.

8.    Get organized. Always return things to their designated place when you’re finished using them. For example, instead of throwing your keys on the counter when you get home, place them in your purse or next to your wallet.

After you’ve implemented all these tips, relax! Everyone has moments of memory loss, and that is normal.  Unless the problem progresses to a point where you’re struggling with your work or family responsibilities, then there’s usually not a reason to be worried.

If you are experiencing significant memory loss, consider seeing a doctor. For a referral to a neuroscience physician on the Baylor Plano medical staff, click here or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.