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Memory Loss on Your Mind?
The good news is that your occasional memory loss is probably nothing to worry about
It's an all-too-common scenario: You've lost your keys (again!), don't remember where you left your glasses, or, for
the life of you, can't recall the name of that darn movie. And your first reaction is "Sheesh — I must be getting old.
[5] I'm losing my memory!"
Well, the reassuring news is that these so-called senior moments have nothing to do with your brain getting old,
says Pierce J. Howard, Ph.D., director of research at the Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, North
Carolina, and the author of The Owner's Manual for the Brain. Chances are your (very normal) memory snafus are
associated not with age but with experience.
[10] Memory Rivalry
Try this brainteaser: Off the top of your head, name ten things that are the color red. Not as easy as it sounds, is
it? When you were 5 years old, you could probably have completed this task easily, but by the time you reach your
"seasoned" years, your brain is filled with some 6,000 objects that are red. And because we have so many things in
brain storage bins that fit the description — what scientists refer to as rivals — we struggle when we try to
[15] remember the name of a red object.
"Your mind will cycle through hundreds of candidates before you come up with the right ones," explains Howard.
"And it might take longer than you expect. That's not a memory lapse. It's simply trying to recall a memory that's in
storage." Ever notice your computer slowing down when the hard drive gets too full? It's akin to what happens with
the human mind — as it gets fuller, it takes more time to sift through everything. "Aging is a misnomer here," says
[20] Howard. "It's not getting old that causes the sluggishness of memory — it's simply a crowded memory bank. By
now, you've got so many associations that it's just a competition in your mind for the correct memory to surface."
[...]
In addition, certain substances can damage neurons, as can lifestyle choices and health problems, including the
following:
[25] Too much caffeine. A dehydrating agent, caffeine can, over time, make your neural membranes brittle. It's a double
whammy, too: It can affect your ability to recall because it encourages the production of excess cortisol, the stress
chemical that prepares you for "fight or flight." Too much cortisol can shrink the size of your hippocampus, which
is where memories are stored in the brain. Howard says it's best not to exceed one dose of caffeine every seven
hours. (A dose is one milligram per pound of body weight.) In such moderate amounts, however, some studies have
[30] shown that caffeine can, in fact, offer health benefits — just be sure not to overdo it!
Heavy alcohol consumption. Because alcohol is also a diuretic, it can cause dehydration, producing symptoms such
as confusion and memory problems. So for every ounce of alcohol you consume, drink a glass of water, says
Howard. Alcohol may also directly lead to neuronal degeneration.
A sedentary lifestyle and untreated high blood pressure. Both can make you susceptible to memory lapses. A rule
[35] of thumb worth following: Anything that's good for the heart is good for the mind. That's because mental activity is
dependent on blood flow (among other factors), which also supplies essential oxygen to the brain.
Prolonged stress and illness. Both of these can wreak havoc on mental as well as physical functioning.
Resting on your laurels. This is no time to be complacent or lazy. It's important to keep stimulating your mind to
learn new things and take on new challenges. Follow the slogan Use it or lose it!
[40] [...]
By JANENE MASCARELLA
(Source: https://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/mental-fitness/memory-loss.aspx retrieved on September9, 2019)
What does the expression “[a] rule of thumb” mean in lines 34 and 35?
