Let’s face it: Most of us probably get worried if we can’t remember an event, or forget someone’s name, or miss an important appointment because we forgot the date. While there are lots of reasons you could be experiencing memory problems that have nothing to do with the onset of cognitive impairment or dementia (everything from the medications you take to nutrients you lack), it’s reasonable to feel concerned if your memory problems feel ongoing and disruptive. In fact, Better Health While Aging’s founder, Dr. Leslie Kernisan, encourages you to follow up. As she states, “If you are worried about memory or thinking, then you should seek out some kind of medical evaluation.” 

Of course, it’s important to remember that your brain has not evolved in a way to record and recall everything you see, hear, or experience. According to a recent CNN post, the average American is exposed to an estimated 11.8 hours worth of information every day, or as described, “a firehose of information every waking minute.” It seems that the human brain is designed to selectively remember and to focus on what’s important, if possible. Remembering everything would be overwhelming, as described in a recent National Geographic post on memory, though at the same time, losing your memory can also be a distressing experience (though in the National Geographic article, an older adult who completely lost the ability to recall and make memories due to the herpes virus is so unaware of his memory loss that in fact, he experiences little angst or awareness of what he is missing). The article makes the point that there are good evolutionary reasons why we don’t retain and recall everything as though we have a vast filing system in our brain. However, as in other areas of medicine and health, several new companies are working on drugs to enhance our natural memory, especially for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Will these drugs then be used by those with normal memories to enhance their natural capabilities? That scenario is probably not too far off into the future. Also likely coming down the pike is an easy-to-measure new muscle test that examines muscles at the cellular level and is strongly correlated with an assessment of memory performance years before symptoms of memory loss may appear. Knowing you were likely to experience memory loss in the years to come would allow for early intervention to perhaps forestall or even prevent the deleterious effects of a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis. For more on this study, read here.

But right now, we also have new research that reports a strong correlation between better memory and one’s psychological well-being. Published in the journal Aging & Mental Health, this new study followed over 10,000 older adults for 16 years to assess the relationship between psychological well-being (such as feeling independent, in control, fulfilled, and experiencing pleasure on a daily basis) and preservation of memory. According to the research, those participants with a higher psychological well-being score performed better on memory tests (though better memory did not predict future psychological well-being). As one of the researchers stated, “Simply being happier and more satisfied with life might be one of the most powerful ways to keep your memory sharp as you age.” While this study found a correlation (but not necessarily causation), research scientists hypothesize that the findings of better memory could be because those with higher well-being take better care of themselves physically and emotionally. Furthermore, experts suggest that “well-being” strategies such as mindfulness might be a method to maintain your memory and mental functions as you get older. So calm your nerves, focus your mind, and read more about this new study here.