Can lost memory be recovered?

Memory capacity is usually lost with age. However, the process may not be irreversible.

Some new techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, appear to be able to reverse memory loss. that sometimes accompanies aging. In fact, A study published by Robert MG Reinhart and John A. Nguyen has shown that this technique equates the memory of older people with that of young people. Below we will see it in more detail.

Worse memory with age

Many people complain that They are losing memory to retain names, dates or everyday aspects from a certain age.

One of the most common symptoms is the loss of working memory or working memory that we use daily. This type of memory is what is used to remember phone numbers for a few seconds, make calculations, make decisions “on the fly” and manage daily life situations. In short, that which allows us to temporarily store and manipulate information.

As the years go by, this capacity is reduced, which can be a problem for being effective and functioning normally on a day-to-day basis.

Neurons lose their tuning

Why do we lose this memory capacity without having a neurodegenerative disease? Currently, the question is unresolved.

One of the recently published observations has been to find that The synchronicity of neurons when they are stimulated is important for maintaining memory.

Neurons are cells that respond to stimuli and transmit them to other neurons. However, when they do it out of rhythm it would be the equivalent of an orchestra out of rhythm. The result would become a cacophony. Therefore, c When neurons lose synchronization, memory begins to fail.

Rescue memory in just 25 minutes

In the aforementioned study, published in the journal Nature, Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to stimulate neurons and try to recover memory.

Volunteers between 60 and 70 years old, and others 30 years younger, participated in this research. All of them They were stimulated in various areas of the brain related to memory activity for 25 minutes. At this time, it was observed a recovery of synchronization between neurons in these memory areas.

Surprisingly, after stimulation, older people regained mental agility at levels comparable to younger volunteers. However, this wonderful recovery stopped 50 minutes after the intervention and, after that time, the older people returned to their previous levels of memory capacity.

A hopeful therapy

Although nothing more than a momentary recovery of memory was achieved, the scientists comment that This experiment demonstrates that memory loss is not an irreversible phenomenon.

In fact, transcranial magnetic stimulation could be a promising therapy to improve symptoms of cognitive impairment of people with Alzheimer’s without the need for drugs.

beyond memory

In addition to stimulating neurons and improving memory, This therapy can also be applied to other health problems.

For example, It is being used to correct dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) as a result of injury. In this case, the cerebellum area is stimulated to stimulate the muscles of the esophagus and improve the ability to swallow.

That said, applications of this technique are likely increase as it is improved. In fact, it is possible that in the not too distant future we will have personalized stimulators to be used according to the needs of each case.

7 keys to improve memory

Now, while we wait for scientific advances to recover lost memory, we can start some simple strategies that will help us optimize memory. They are between them:

1. Keep your mind active

It involves carrying out activities that help keep our brain in shape. Some of them are: doing crossword puzzles, learning to play a musical instrument, reading every day, taking different routes when driving, learning a new language, etc.

2. Do physical exercise daily

Physical activity also helps us optimize memory by increasing blood flow throughout the body, including our brain. For most healthy adults, a weekly minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, such as walking, is recommended; or 75 minutes of intense aerobic activity, such as jogging.

3. Interact with other people

Isolation increases the chances of suffering from depression and anxiety, conditions that end up affecting memory in general. Therefore, it is advisable to socialize regularly with family and friends.

4. Maintain a balanced diet

A healthy diet helps maintain a healthy brain. Therefore, it is advisable to include fruits, vegetables, low-fat protein sources (such as fish and skinless chicken) and whole grains in your diet. Likewise, the consumption of alcohol and other toxic substances should be avoided.

5. Sleep well.

Getting a good night’s rest helps consolidate the new memories and learnings we gained during the day. Therefore, healthy sleep must be a priority if we want to optimize memory.

6. Manage chronic conditions

If you suffer from a medical condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or hearing loss, the ideal would be to follow your doctor’s recommendations and not neglect treatment.

7. Organization

The more organized we keep our responsibilities and tasks, the greater our ability to remember them. To do this, it is advisable to keep an agenda, carry out one task at a time, make lists of things to do and reserve places to store important items (such as keys, wallet, glasses, etc.).

Finally, we emphasize that if memory loss significantly affects your daily functioning or your ability to remember worsens over time, it is time to consult with a professional.

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