Memory Matters’ explains the brain
March 13th 2010 23:39
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Written by Lois Alcosser
Friday, 12 March 2010 06:00
It won’t send you to the hospital, and so far there’s no pill to cure it, but memory loss causes much anxiety and can decrease self-confidence, especially for those in the so-called “Golden Years.” In the first meeting of a brand-new series at the Greens at Cannondale, called “Memory Matters,” Dr. Stephen Jones, director of the Outpatient Center at Greenwich Hospital, made difficult concepts of brain behavior understandable. The good news is that brain cells do regenerate, and that men and women of any age can adopt a lifestyle to empower the brain.
To simplify matters, Dr. Jones divided the brain into upper and lower segments, explaining that the upper brain is the source of acquired skills and the lower brain handles basic functions like breathing and digestion.
Fortunately, we have billions of brain cells (neurons) and trillions of branches (dendrites) that carry information from one group of brain cells to another. Memory is like a filing cabinet. Information is put in, retained, and then retrieved. To utilize information efficiently, attention is necessary. Memory requires focus. When we’re interested in something, we focus better.
Dendrite activity works best when the brain receives good circulation (through exercise), good nutrition (everybody knows what that means), enough sleep (seven hours is recommended), and consciously decreasing stress (not easy to do.)
“True,” Dr. Jones explained, “the body and the brain do change with age. There’s a slowing down and recall takes longer. But this is normal. Often, when older people can’t remember someone’s name, or where they parked the car, it’s a perfectly normal reaction to a tremendous amount of information in the filing cabinet. It’s not a sign of impending Alzheimer’s. People in their 20s lose keys, too.” Studies have shown that enough sleep, at any age, solidifies memory.
There were innumerable questions that Dr. Jones answered. His final words of advice: “Get regular check-ups, so you can catch a problem before it’s become too serious. Control your blood pressure, with medication, if necessary. Exercise your brain by doing new things. Change your routines; new experiences create new brain connections. Laugh. Children laugh 300 times a day, adults only 17. Don’t do things you hate because they’re supposed to be good for you. If you hate broccoli, try Brussels sprouts! Don’t live your life trying not to die. Because if living 10 extra years means you have to do things that make you miserable, what’s the point?”
The next “Memory Matters” session is on Tuesday, March 16, at 11. Nancy Salem, registered dietitian at Danbury Hospital, will speak. The program includes lunch, music, and art and is free to the public. RSVP to The Greens at Cannondale, 435 Danbury Road, 203-761-1191.
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