A very high proportion of adults of all ages would jump at the chance to improve memory, because their memory just isn't as good as they would like it to be, or as good as it was in the past. This is not a recent phenomenon, of course - it has always been true, though it used to be associated with aging. In the past, people believed that a person's mind could just get too 'crowded' as he or she grew older. Because the space in which information is stored was regarded as finite, the theory made sense - as you get older, your brain becomes more and more full of information, so there is no room to put in any more. This actually seems like a disincentive to improve memory!

Nowadays, we know that the human brain has an almost unlimited capacity to acquire and attain information. Of course, there are a finite number of brain cells, but there are so many that they might as well go on forever! In short, acquiring information is not the problem - it never has been. The problem is accessing information that we have aquired. That is what requires memory - something we don't always feel we have enough of. The good news is this - the more you exercise your memory by learning new information, and playing games and doing work that require some sort of intellectual skill, the more your memory will improve. It is not always true that memory deteriorates as you get older. Many older adults have found effective ways to improve memory.

You might feel that you have better and more important things to do than to take measures to improve memory - but have you considered how important memory is in all aspects of your life? A good memory can make work much quicker and more efficient. This leaves more time for leisure and rest - the latter being another good way to improve memory. All of us become more forgetful when we are tired, so getting enough sleep is essential to improving memory. In fact, studies show that even the hour of sleep lost when daylight saving time is implemented is enough to impair memory to some degree!

No matter what your age, it is always worth your while to try and improve memory. The payoff is great - even as an older adult, you will be able to participate in conversations, social life, and work. It is not inevitable that older people become forgetful - in fact, if you start now, you have an excellent chance of keeping this from happening to you.