The Aging Mind

As we enjoy the mid-life journey, aging is blamed for things that may have nothing to do with the number of years we have lived. Case in point, a neighbor recently complained that her aging mind was acting up. “I can’t concentrate,” she whined. “I have to keep rereading the same page if I don’t want to forget what the book I’m reading is all about.” The more we talked, the more it became clear that her choice of books had not of late been judicious, and she was finding them dull and boring. Her problem had nothing to do with age, but rather with her mind not being fully utilized.

Memory lapses may have nothing to do with aging. “I keep forgetting things,” people say. “That’s what happens when you get old.” Instead of simply thinking that we’re on our way to dementia, why not try to assess—and correct—why we might be forgetting things.

Here are some examples to consider:

-- Are we absent-minded because we’re still trying to do ten things at the same time and overloading our thought process?

-- Are we bored with our lives and a little depressed? Why not try to make small changes that will brighten our outlook.

-- Are we preoccupied by a personal problem? When the mind keeps wandering to something that’s upsetting, it limits its ability to function properly.

-- Are we angry? Spending too much time focusing on anger rather than on trying to relieve its cause scatters thoughts. 

-- Are we grieving? Grieving the loss of a spouse, a friend, a pet, a job, or facing an empty nest, can play havoc with our ability to remember things. Time and a friendly ear might be needed to accept a new reality. 

-- Are we lonely? If family and friends have scattered we might be wallowing in loneliness which might well affect memory. It might be time to make new friends by joining a group to meet people with the same interests.

-- Are we disorganized? Some people think they’ll be able to remember things without jotting anything down. We all need reminders of medical and dental appointments, for example, since many are made weeks if not months in advance and can be forgotten at any age. An agenda can keep track of things we must do—big things and small things as well.

           Now, what was I suppose to do this afternoon?