Your Mind is a Terrible Thing to Lose

Everyone has memory lapses from time to time. We don’t remember where we left our wallet or keys or forget someone’s name. We don’t worry about this when we’re young, but as we grow older we may worry that something is going wrong with our brain. However, losing memory and cognitive power is not an inevitable part of the aging process. We are capable of producing new brain cells at any age, so there is no reason why our mental abilities have to decline as we grow older.

Memory lapses that do not adversely affect your daily performance and ability to do what you want are not a cause for concern, but when there is a persistent, disabling decline in intellectual abilities a person may be starting to develop Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. 

There are several things that cause mental decline in aging. One is a deterioration of the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in the formation and retrieval of memories. The hormones and proteins that protect and repair brain cells that help new brain cells to develop can also cause the brain to deteriorate as we grow older. Finally, older people often have problems with circulation which decrease blood flow to the brain. This can also impair memory and result in changes in cognitive abilities.

In this month’s Sunshine Sharing hour, we’ll discuss how to care for the health of our brain and keep our mind and memory sharp as we grow older. Join us in learning how herbs, nutritional supplements and other natural methods can be used to keep you from “losing” your mind.