Older Memory

October 1, 2008

While older adults look for new ways to stay mentally sharp, from crossword puzzles to word games, a University of Florida study suggests confidence may hold the key to success.

Results suggest that placing a strong emphasis on boosting older adults’ confidence in their memory seems to help improve memory ability itself. So, researcher Robin West has developed a training program designed to keep older minds fit.

West: “You’ll think about every mistake and say ‘does this mean I have Alzheimer’s disease?’ and you will then be fearful about taking on memory challenges, which is the exact opposite of what you should do. People who maintain memory challenge perform better.”

Experts say you can’t focus on just one task to keep minds sharp. They suggest a variety of exercises ranging from simple word games and compiling lists, to the traditional crossword puzzle or sudoku game.

West: “What we’ve found in our research is that memory’s very complicated; it’s complex, and there are different aspects of memory and cognition and if you want to stay sharper overall, you need to challenge yourself in multiple ways.”

And with those challenges, people learn to test and trust their memory.