Taking regular notes and writing out daily tasks can help us maintain our memory as we age. (PIc source: Shutterstock/ CBC News)
UBC's Teresa Liu-Ambrose underscores the ongoing adaptability of the brain, emphasizing its capacity for change over time.
Bill VanGorder, an 81-year-old Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) officer based in Halifax, remains mentally engaged despite his age, holding multiple volunteer board positions and assisting his wife's business endeavours.
According to Natasha Rajah, a psychology professor at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), memory retention often persists into old age, challenging the assumption of inevitable cognitive decline.
Rajah explains that while certain aspects of memory, like episodic memory tied to personal experiences, may be sensitive to aging, others, like semantic memory containing facts, may actually improve over time.
Rajah's research suggests that episodic memory begins to decline around midlife, challenging the notion of a steady cognitive decline throughout adulthood.
As individuals age, their brains undergo structural changes, including pruning and shrinkage of the hippocampus, a key region involved in memory formation.
Teresa Liu-Ambrose further emphasizes that the brain's capacity to adapt and change over time remains intact, despite age-related alterations in its structure and function.
Distinguishing between normative aging and dementia, Rajah points out the profound impact of memory loss on daily life in neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the need for early detection and intervention.
Rajah suggests that lifestyle factors such as education, socioeconomic status, diet, and exercise can influence memory retention, with higher education and physical activity correlating with better cognitive outcomes in old age.
She recommends utilizing tools like notebooks or smartphones and employing mnemonic devices to aid memory retention, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in maintaining cognitive health.
Liu-Ambrose underscores the critical role of physical activity in brain health, highlighting the interconnectedness of bodily health and cognitive function.
