Memory: Myth vs Facts

Myth #1: Forgetfulness is Alzheimer’s
Fact: It’s normal to have memory slip-ups as you get older.
They do not necessarily signify that you have a serious medical problem like Alzheimer’s. If you’re concerned about your memory loss in terms of data and frequency, always check in with your doctor to determine the cause.

Myth #2: Doing puzzles can improve your memory
Fact: The benefits of doing puzzles are limited.
A puzzle will only strengthen the type of memory it uses. If you do crosswords, you’ll get better at crosswords. If you do sudoku, you’ll get better at sudoku. These won’t help you remember directions or people name’s better. The benefits only seem to last as long as you keep doing the puzzles; when you stop, whatever benefit you had could be lost.

Myth #3: Exercise doesn’t help boost your memory
Fact: Exercise can help maintain and improve your memory.
Exercise like walking and running, may keep your mind sharper. Research has shown that physical activity may lower your risk of dementia. Experts said that exercising can promote better blood flow to your brain. It also requires you to think, for example, learning new movements and keeping count of repetitions or interval times.

Myth #4: Fruits and vegetables can increase your brain cell count
Fact: A healthy diet can keep you mentally sharp.
Research has found that a Mediterranean diet may lower your risk of heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease while boosting your brain’s function. The diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, fish, grains, beans, nuts and olive oil while minimizing red meat and sugary sweets.

Myth #5: We only use 10% of our brain
Fact: We use almost all of our brains almost all the time.
The truth is that scientists only understand about 10% of how the human brain works.

Myth #6: Our memory banks are limitless
Fact: Our memory does have a limited amount of space to store data.
We’re only human. Our brains may be likened to machines, but they are still made of organic matter with built-in neural pathways. There are only so many facts and stats that our brain can handle before it reaches full capacity. This is why it’s essential to provide information in bite-sized doses to prevent cognitive overload.

Myth #7: Stored memories stay the same over time
Fact: Our memories are quite malleable, especially as time wears on.
Our memories are not set in stone. Even notable events that we think may be ingrained into our memory banks may change over the years. That is why it’s essential to reinforce key concepts and ideas during and after the learning experience.

The mind is not an impenetrable fortress that stores our memories with 100% accuracy for the rest of our lives. There are tips and tricks you can use to improve memory retention, such as reinforcing key concepts and periodically refreshing the memory banks with microlearning activities.