Take our quiz to discover which parts of your brain need sharpening
Over half of Brits begin to notice memory loss in their 50s*, and it’s not surprising. The hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for memory), shrinks as we age. And the menopause can make it worse, too. When hormone levels – which promote blood flow to the brain, drop – it can cause memory problems, aka ‘brain fog’.
But don’t worry. ‘The brain is a muscle and, like any muscle, regular exercise can keep it performing,’ says consultant neuroradiologist Dr Emer MacSweeney**. Here’s how to keep yours in great shape...
Number boost
Most of us struggle to recall more than seven numbers in a row, research from as far back as the 1950s shows. And because we now rely on our mobile phones, we don’t get a lot of practice at memorising digits.
TRY IT
Look at the following groups of numbers for one minute. Then cover the numbers and jot down each group. The chances are you’ll remember one group well, but forget a lot from the other rows. Don’t worry, you can improve your recall with our tips.
8, 14, 23, 5 333762149 16-99-32-18-21-34
QUICK TRICK
Group numbers together. ‘Try “chunking”, where you collate longer numbers into chunks of five or six figures,’ says neuropsychologist Dr Joanna Iddon.
RHYME IT
If you have a specific date to recall, create a catchy phrase – for example, ‘In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.’
BE VISUAL
Link numbers with words that rhyme, then create an image using the words. For example, if you need to recall 1243, 1 = bun, two = chew, 4 = core, 3 = tea. Picture yourself chewing a bun with an apple core and tea in front of you.
Need a brain bolster?
1 SIP BEETROOT
Those who downed a glass of beetroot juice did better in memory tests than those who drank a placebo, found scientists at Northumbria University. The nitrates are thought to help improve blood flow to the brain.
2 FLOSS YOUR TEETH
People with gum disease tend to score lower in memory tests. This may be because infected gums release inflammatory by-products into the bloodstream that go to areas of the brain involved in recall, say researchers at the University of Central Lancashire.
3 GET ONLINE
Rarely use the internet? It’s time to log on, says US research. When comparing the br
