You forget names and misplace the car keys. Could you be losing your memory?
Probably not, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. For the majority of healthy women, there's very little change in thinking or memory before age 75. Even then, changes are minimal. Forgetfulness that women often report at midlife could be due to stress, depression, increased responsibilities, or just being out of practice at memorizing.
Experts suggest these ways to reduce mental decline:
* Maintain social contacts. Studies suggest that people with active lives are better protected against mental decline.
* Stay physically active. A recent study showed that older women who started a walking program showed lower levels of cognitive decline than sedentary women when tested six to eight years later.
* Challenge your mind. Take classes, learn a new skill or play chess.
* Limit alcohol intake.
* Stop smoking. Nicotine has a negative effect on cognition in some older adults.
* Manage stress. Cortisol, the hormone produced by your body in times of high stress, can interfere with your ability to remember words, phone numbers and other details.
* Get periodic health exams. Medical conditions such as coronary artery disease and diabetes may lead to dementia.
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.
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