Ellen Campbell -Grizzle
WE KNOW that the brain is our most important working tool and the storehouse for our precious memories. A good memory is important to success at school or work. You may fear losing your memory because you frequently misplace keys, cannot remember names or the spot in the car park where you parked your vehicle. Students want to sharpen their memory so that they can excel. However, do not be surprised if your memory lets you down occasionally. Experts tell us that the normal brain has billions of things to remember each day and may falter.
Scientists have shown that, besides diseases that impair mental performance, nature has organised our brain so that we don't have to worry about mental decline until we are 80 years and over. Sufficient blood flow to the brain delivers oxygen and takes away waste material. Virtually all of the structural and functional requirements of our brain are supported by energy from oxidised glucose. If this irrigation is insufficient, mental performance drops and results in forgetfulness, reduced concentration time, slower reflexes and movements, vertigo and reduced powers of observation.
We reduce the irrigation of the brain by abusing alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, overeating fatty foods, succumbing to stress, lack of exercise and restorative rest. Hypertension, high serum cholesterol levels and diabetes are some of the factors that deprive the brain of sufficient blood supply.
It is important to keep our brain in good condition so that it can perform efficiently. The capacity to deliver oxygen to the brain is reduced when blood thickens. The dynamics of blood flow is affected when red blood cells clump together and increase the viscosity of blood. Plaques formed inside of arteries can lead to blood clots that narrow the passages through which blood flows. This process can continue until blood vessels are completely blocked. Ultimately, poor blood circulation results in diminished irrigation of the brain and, among other outcomes, reduced memory performance.
There are medicines and herbal remedies that reduce blood thickness and improve circulation to the brain. Many have been used with success. You need to talk with your pharmacists about potential interactions with other medication. Get the facts about drug-drug or drug-herb interactions before taking medication to enhance your memory.
KEEPING YOUR MEMORY TRIM
There are well tested techniques that help to keep memories in trim. First of all, thinking is good mental exercise. There is some truth to the statement, "if you don't use it, you may lose it". Experts advise that you rally all of your senses during the process of memorisation. Experience the thing that you wish to recall through seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and smelling. Students should avoid cramming information but practise organising and memorising in "digestible bites". Despite its huge storage capacity our brain will only register what is of interest and concern to us if the memory load becomes excessive at any time.
If you are enjoying good health, proper nourishment and organise information in a way that your memory can retain it, you should be in good shape. However, be alert for symptoms of failing memory or reduced concentration. Get medical help if your concentration span is failing and you are increasingly absent-minded, moody or having problems getting along with people.
Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists; director, Information and Research, National Council on Drug Abuse; email yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
