Few of us need a reminder that as we get older, our memory may not work as well as it used to. A less-than-sharp memory can cause worry and anxiety, as we can forget everything, from where we last saw our keys to what our mother’s maiden name was. And while virtually none of us escape an occasional forgetful lapse, there’s a big difference between once in a while not remembering something versus realizing that you’re regularly unable to recall items or events. A deteriorating memory is not an inevitable fact of aging but it can be a symptom or sign of dementia or some other cognitive problem taking hold. The challenge, as always, is to pro-actively try to keep your mind sharp or take action if you have a sense that something is wrong. For a list of past agebuzz posts and resources on all aspects of memory, concentrate your mind and click here.

The good news is that there are innumerable ongoing studies trying to better understand how memory works in the brain and what factors can support or maintain a good memory. For example, a few new studies have recently reported on the benefits of education for keeping our memories sharp. In one new study, out of Georgetown University and published in Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, researchers found that especially in older women, the more years of early education the less memory loss was experienced by these women. Another study found that higher levels of education seem to help preserve memory despite the accumulation of age-related brain pathology and white matter damage in the brain. So open that college textbook and read more here.

Stanford University also recently published studies illuminating aspects of memory and how it works, in an effort to better develop strategies for preserving memory in aging adults. One widely reported study, recently published in eLife, examines why some older adults seem to have a better memory than others. Using advanced imaging techniques and data analysis, researchers gained an understanding of brain activity and how it relates to better memory. The ultimate goal of this research is to create earlier and more precise tests to determine when memory failures are directly related to a higher risk of dementia. You can read more about this research here. And also out of Stanford is new research that shows a connection between stress and our ability to plan, due to a disruption of retrieved memories. It seems that those who experience stress may be less well prepared to prospectively plan because they’re unable to call upon previous memories that could inform their thinking. If you can’t draw upon memory, you’re likely to be at a disadvantage when problem-solving for the future. Find out more by clicking here.