You are here

Senior Moments: Workshop to address maintaining a healthy brain

Laurie Durmaz
By: 
Pat Moulton

Do any of the following comments sound familiar to you? Has anyone seen my car keys? Now why did I just come into the kitchen? What’s his name again? Starts with an “R” – Robert, Roger? And have you ever said to yourself, “People are moving my things!”

Everyone experiences memory changes, and many of us worry about what is normal and what is not. Although it may seem obvious, memory is formed within our brains. Improving memory and maintaining a healthy brain is easier than it sounds. Most of us think of memory as something static and unchanging. It is not. One can improve one’s memory just as one can improve math or foreign language skills.

There are two kinds of memory; short term and long term. Short-term memory is the kind of memory the brain uses to store small pieces of information needed right away, like someone’s name when meeting for the first time. Research has shown that short-term memory’s capacity is about seven pieces of information. After that, something has to go. And that “something” might be your ability to remember where you put your car keys or your cell phone.

Long term memory is for things that don’t have to be remembered that very instant. A memorable moment, events with family and friends, and other similar situations are the kinds of recollections stored in long term memory.

Anything that generally improves brain health may have a positive impact on memory. Physical exercise and engaging in novel brain-stimulating activities, such as the crossword puzzle or Sudoku, are two proven methods for helping to maintain a healthy brain. And there are many more strategies.

To learn more about keeping your brain healthy and your mind sharp, join us at the Senior Ministries convention workshop, Mind Matters: Maintaining a Healthy Brain, scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, January 30. The speaker, Laurie Durmaz, an occupational therapist and certified brain injury specialist, is a key member of the Kessler Institute multidisciplinary Cognitive Rehabilitation Program. She is an expert in the field of cognitive therapy and makes frequent presentations to professionals and community groups on strategies that will enhance a healthy brain.