Learn a foreign language

Learn a foreign language
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Studies show that learning something new and complex over a long period of time can protect an ageing brain. Not only are listening and hearing exercises great mental stimulants, but learning a new language can also reduce your risk of cognitive decline.

Memory exercise: enrol in a foreign language course at your local college or online. If you’re strapped for time, Rosetta Stone or Duolingo will allow you to learn at your own pace.

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Increase your processing speed

Increase your processing speed
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Quick on your feet, or slow to the punch? If your answer is the latter, your brain might be in trouble. Learning to react and process things at a fast pace can ward off dementia, according to research published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

Memory exercise: try PQRST, a five-step method for processing lengthy written information quickly. The acronym stands for: Preview or skim the material, ask Questions about the document’s main points, Reread it, Study the answers to your questions, and Test yourself.

Repeat it out loud

Repeat it out loud
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Saying information out loud can increase your chances of remembering it later, research says. In a study published in the journal Memory, subjects who read written information out loud showed a five to 15 per cent boost in retention.

Memory exercise: to remember something you have just done, heard, or read, repeat it out loud; doing so will nail the memory down in your mind.

Don’t miss these health reasons your short-term memory is getting worse.

Conserve your mental energy

Conserve your mental energy
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Don’t waste valuable brainpower trying to remember where you put your keys or the time of your next doctor’s appointment. By removing unnecessary distractions, you can focus your energy on new information you actually want to remember, instead.

Memory exercise: keep a calendar or planner, and designate a space for items you often lose.

Here are 9 ways to never lose anything ever again.

Use visual cues

Use visual cues
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Last but certainly not least, there’s no harm in the occasional string around your finger to jog your memory.

Memory exercise: place Post-It notes on your computer keyboard, desk, or fridge to serve as reminders throughout the day. You can wear a bracelet or put an alarm on your phone, too.

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Source: RD.com

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