James Baigrie
Healthy habits will help your mind and memory function better. If you’re prone to forgetfulness, be sure to…
Get enough sleep. Connections between neurons (nerve cells that make up the brain) strengthen while you sleep, solidifying memories.Exercise regularly. Physical activity helps neurons function better and keeps the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients
to the brain healthy.Ward off stress. When you’re under significant stress, the brain releases cortisol,
a hormone that, over time, can damage the brain cells in the
hippocampus, the brain’s short-term– memory center.Challenge yourself. Learning new things also strengthens the neural connections in your brain, says neuroscientist Daniel Amen, the author of Making
a Good Brain Great (Harmony, $24, www.amazon.com). “This helps you encode and store information with increasing efficiency.”
