3 Tricks for a Better Memory, ways to improve your mental performance

1. Use it or lose it. The brain functions like a muscle - the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Learning new things, varying your routine, having ted debates, going on trips and playing an instrument - all help your brain to make new connections and function better.
2. Eat healthy carbohydrates to boost brain cells. A Canadian study found that older people whose diets contained the greatest percentage of kilojoules as carbohydrates did best on memory and task tests. However, make sure you're getting these carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables and wholegrain - these release glucose to the brain gradually. Sugary cakes or ice-cream may provide a quick fix, but are often followed by a slump and loss of concentration. Eating oil-rich fish once a week will also help the grey matter.
3. Develop strategies. Counter senior or fuzzy moments by doing one thing at a time - research finds that multitasking hinders memory and concentration. Stop for a second after an introduction and repeat the person's name out loud. Read or work in a quiet room - noise exposure can slow your ability to rehearse things in your mind, a way of building memory.

" WHAT THE HECK IS HIS NAME?"

Pay attention. When you're introduced to someone, really listen to the person's name. Then, to get a better grasp, picture the spelling. Ask, " Is that Kathy with a K or a C?" Make a remark about the name to help lock it in ("Oh, Laura - that was my childhood best friend's name" ), and use the name a few times during the conversation and when you say goodbye.


Source: Reader's digest, January 2015