Memory

The human brain is an amazingly complex organ. One of it's many functions is to store memories, from facts which are read/studied to events from a past occasion. Short-term memory actives the pre-frontal lobe of the brain, which is the very front of the brain. Whereas long-term memory is stored elsewhere in the brain, the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the cortex and is located in the inner-fold of the temporal lobe. By repeating new facts we pass them through the hippocampus several times. The hippocampus strengthens the associations among the new elements enough times for the cortex to learn to associate the various properties. This is what we call a memory.

Alzheimer's is one of the most known diseases related to memory loss. It is more likely to happen in older people, and to those who have close blood relatives who have experienced Alzheimer's disease (AD). Late onset AD is the most common type of AD. It occurs in people 60 years of age or older. The other type of AD is less common, called early onset AD, and this occurs in people younger than the age of 60. Early onset AD tends to get worse faster.

It is not necessary though to have a disease in order to forget. As a university student, I know how hard it is sometimes to remember some things, such as a fact that I have studied for an exam. There are some tips that can help in improving memory. 

• Drink in moderation-There has been some evidence that light to moderate drinking can improve memory, but more needs to be done
• Seek treatment for depression-A main symptom for depression is the inability to concentrate. Depression causes the increase in cortisol in the bloodstream, which causes an increase in cortisol levels in the brain. Doctors used brain imaging devices to show how cortisol diminishes certain brain ares, including the hippocampus. There is even a study that showed that a person who was depressed, even if it was years ago, has had 12-15 percent loss in the hippocampus.
• Get moving-Obesity is a risk factor of Alzheimer's disease. Exercise will not only be beneficial to the body, but also to the mind. 
• Visualization and association-Turning a list of random words into images may help in remembering the words better.
• Pay attention-Eight seconds is the time needed to completely focus your attention upon anything to effectively transfer it from short-term to long-term memory. 
• The name game-Researchers have found that there is a 30 percent better chance of remembering someone's name by repeating it as soon as it is learned. 
• Chunking-Breaking up a large amount of information into manageable chunks so that there is less to remember. 
• Method of loci-This memory device of associating things with a place or location.
• Use your environment-Manipulating things in your environment can help you remember. For example, switching a ring or watch from one wrist onto the other.