Do you ever find yourself half way out to the car and then remember that you forgot the car keys, or worse yet, park your car, do some shopping and then come out and can’t remember where you left the car, or even try to get into the wrong car? Do you ever walk into a room and then stand there feeling like a dummy because you can’t seem to remember what you went there for?

What makes things seem even worse, especially if you are in your senior years, is the thought that maybe just maybe, you are experiencing the first signs of senility or the dreaded Alzheimer’s Disease. If this seems like you or someone you know, most likely you can relax. These are very normal memory lapses and generally can easily be accounted for. People with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder that affects 10 percent of the population over age sixty-five, have much more serious memory deficits, such as forgetting their children’s names; or getting lost on the street where they live. For the rest of us, our brains simply show the normal signs of aging, in a manner similar to when our aging bodies accumulate wrinkles, aches and pains; not so surprising when you consider that our brains are also part of the body.

Younger people, as well as seasoned citizens, are susceptible to forgetfulness and memory lapses. They may have just as much trouble remembering someone’s name ten minutes after having been introduced. Generally though, younger people don’t worry about it, in fact, they often think it is funny and even joke about it. But as people get older, the tendency to worry about it creeps in and that alone can contribute to the problem becoming worse. Sometimes this is known as “anticipatory anxiety” which means when someone worries intensely about something, they often cause that something to occur. Stuttering is a good example of that. Fearing he will stutter and become embarrassed in a particular situation, the individual is much more likely to stutter. So it can be, if people worry too much about memory loss.

What could be more reassuring about the commonness of memory lapses, than to simply observe in magazines, TV, and elsewhere the ever increasing glut of memory courses and systems. However, maintaining and improving mental acuity can be accomplished in several ways, some of which actually are in direct relation to a cause. For instance, keeping the old adage in mind that says, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Nothing could be truer, and this applies to many folks, especially retirees, who let themselves go and become mentally inactive or lazy.

One remedy for that is plain old common sense; put the brain back to work. Take it out of retirement. Give it tasks to do. Give the mind stimulation by taking interesting classes, such as art and music. Volunteer for community charitable organizations and projects. Take on some new responsibilities that demand that you sharpen your memory. In concert with this, most experts also agree that as physical health improves through exercise, memory may also be improved.

An important aid to sharpening memory includes jotting notes, making lists or keeping a diary. The very act of writing things down helps to reinforce them in memory. A joke in our family involves my wife who makes very good notes and lists before shopping. Sometimes she has a memory lapse and forgets to bring the list with her, but because she wrote everything down she can recall exactly what she needed, plus a few other things not on the list.

If improving memory is your goal, another important step to take is to practice focusing your attention on things that you really want to remember. Too often we are distracted and do not pay very good attention when its needed. There is no more universal example of this than in the business of remembering names when being introduced to others. In and of itself, there is no reason why names can’t be remembered when we pay good attention. When hearing a new name, repeat it as often as possible, i.e. “Glad to meet you, Mrs. Jones”

As with many other mental performances, good memory can also be related to good habits. Develop the conscious habit of focusing, paying attention, making notes or lists, and the habit of positive self talk which says, “I have a wonderful memory and an uncanny ability to recall things as needed.” Plug in some self image ideas that remind you daily that you are a person that has a sharp mind and an excellent memory.

Remember this: “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. But, when you do use it, you renews it!”

Now that you have decided to exercise your memory and sharpen your recall, you too can sing along with Bob Hope, “Thanks for the memories!”

James G. Bennett, MSW, DCH is a psychotherapist, counselor and author in the field of Mental Health, He may be reached at 1(509)656-3016 email: namaskar@ezpc.com.