Your memory and thinking skills

What's happening

The brain goes through changes as you age. These changes may have minor effects on memory or thinking skills. For example, healthy older adults may misplace items, have a harder time remembering information, take longer to learn new things or have a shorter attention span than they used to.

What you can do

You can help take care of your memory and thinking skills with the following steps:

• Move more during your day. Physical activity boosts blood flow to the whole body, including the brain. Studies suggest that regular exercise is linked with better brain function. Exercise also can ease stress and depression — factors that affect memory.
• Eat a healthy diet. A heart-healthy diet may be good for the brain. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose low-fat protein sources, such as fish, lean meat and skinless poultry. Too much alcohol can lead to confusion and memory loss.
• Stay mentally active. You can read, play word games, take up a new hobby, take classes or learn to play an instrument. Activities such as these may be good for the brain.
• Be social. Stay connected to your family and community. Spending time with people can help ward off depression and stress. Both depression and stress can play roles in memory loss. You could volunteer at a local school or nonprofit, get together with family and friends, or go to social events.
• Take care of heart health. Some conditions that raise the risk of heart disease also can raise the risk of declines in thinking-related skills. Work with your healthcare professional to manage conditions that can affect the heart and blood vessels, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
• Quit smoking. If you smoke, quitting smoking may help your memory and thinking skills.

If you're concerned about memory loss or other changes in your thinking skills, talk with your healthcare professional.