04/23/2009 11:10 am

Life

Memory Worries Make Matters Worse

© Shutterstock

The proverbial "they" say the memory is the first to go, but that may be because people worry about it too much. Research out of North Carolina State University shows that people who stress about losing their memories did far worse on memory tests.

That’s because such negative thoughts redirect cognitive abilities from the brain’s memory centers to those responsible for worry. "In this study and previous ones, performance by seniors on standard memory tests, such as recalling a list of words, fell 10 to 15 percent when thoughts of the negative stereotypes were activated, [study leader Tom] Hess told LiveScience."

Hess goes on to suggest people stop worrying about losing their memories early on, because, "If negative stereotypes prevent older adults from using their memory skills, such skills may be adversely affected through disuse."

So, next time you forget where you parked your car, don’t be so hard on yourself, for such thinking could make matters worse.

4 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

JudyK
Anybody reading this is using their brains.  Computers can be great stimulus even if all one does is play the games.  I am so glad I was part of the computer age.  Now where did I put my keys?
By JudyK on 04/23/2009 12:23 pm
ChrisGlass

We forget things at every stage of life if it isn’t really important to us. How many times do kids forget homework or brushing their teeth with out reminders? Teenagers lose track of time on dates. Young women forget lunch with an old friend if a cute guy asks them out. This isn’t a senior problem sometimes it is selective thinking.

It is easier to have almost total recall when young because most people don’t have a lot of life experience. Once you begin working, get married and have children there is far more to remember. As our families grow and multiply and we care for aged parents memory slips are a normal part of life. Not because we have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease but because we are ever more busy.

By ChrisGlass on 04/23/2009 3:38 pm
IMLIZZIE
Everybody I know worries about losing their memories, As you age you do forget things, as you have a memory overload. Forgetting something at a younger age might not faze you at all, but when older it ignites that tiny spark of fear.."am I on the road to the big A?" Communicating with your friends who have similar things happen really eases one’s mind.
By IMLIZZIE on 04/23/2009 4:31 pm
DeeT
Thank heavens for post its! I slap those things on my dashboard, eyeglass case, wherever I know I’ll look to remind me of an errand or a "to do" thing. I think mainly we are on info. overload, both receptive and expressive. Having a mother with Alzheimer’s, I do wonder about developing it, but I refuse to stress over it. What will be, will be.
By DeeT on 04/23/2009 4:46 pm