As more people in our society are living well into their golden years there will be a rise in severe memory loss. The lifestyle choices people are making in their younger years are going to have an impact on the quality of their brain function as they age. Unless we all work a bit more proactively on ensuring our long term mental health we'll all suffer for it.

Severe memory loss doesn't have to be a given as we age despite how many people think that it is inevitable. Research is discovering that much of what we took for granted as just the process of getting older really is more a side effect from how well we took care of our minds before we hit old age. Chronic memory loss is not inevitable barring actually physical damage to the brain. We can make choices now that can help protect our minds in the coming years.

Much of what scientists are learning about the brain and memory is helping connect the dots on how lifestyle impacts mental health. The effects of diet, exercise, mental activity and the like have all been looked at closely over the last couple decades and much of it shows that these external factors play a huge role in how well our mind works as it ages.

The big three of diet, exercise and mental activity each have their role in preventing or delaying chronic memory loss due to aging. Working on each of these areas can drastically help not only in protecting your brain's function but possibly even enhance it.

Severe memory loss due to exercise is probably the easiest to understand and rectify. As we age the heart and circulatory system can become increasingly inefficient, especially if we have not been taking care of it through regular exercise. The brain is one of the largest users of oxygen and glucose among the organs of the body. As a result it depends heavily on a strong blood flow. Memory loss and reduction in function can occur as we get older simply because the brain is getting less oxygen and glucose due to a decreased blood flow. Getting regular exercise can address this issue.

How mental activity affects chronic memory loss and brain function has only more recently become understood. Studies have shown that people who regularly challenge their brain have better recall well into their later years than those that don't. The trick is that you have to keep pushing your brain to work such as when you do a crossword or logic puzzle or learn a new skill. The more you actively work memory and other functions the better you will retain them. It is truly a use it or lose it system.

The area of severe memory loss that is probably still in infancy is how diet affects brain function as we age. Still, studies here have shown that deficiencies in various nutrients can negatively impact brain function. Also, research is beginning to link the protective power of antioxidants to a reduced risk of diseases like Alzheimer's. Also, research into Omega 3 fatty acids has demonstrated that they are not only good for your heart, but also protect memory function, build stronger brain cells and increase brain function.

In order to get these benefits we need to adjust our diet to eat more fish (for the Omega 3's) and decrease bad fats. We also need more fruits and vegetables for the vitamins and the antioxidants they provide. Since this is often difficult for us in today's fast paced life, it may be necessary to use natural supplements to provide some of these nutrients.

Whatever it is you need to address, be it diet, exercise, mental activity or all three it is important to start early. The sooner you address these things the better your chances are of avoiding severe memory loss and decreased brain function as you age. The cost of not dealing with this is high for both you and your loved ones. Start now.

J. Wall has an avid interest in natural remedies for the treatment of memory loss. He is a regular contributor to the Memory Loss Remedies section of http://www.memory-enhancement-guide.com, a site dedicated to improving mental ability and cognitive function.

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