Brain Boosters

As our mind gets creakier and rustier with age, social functions and other events can become stressful. With the current Baby Boomer population spending millions on their physical bodies to fight off age, the next step is assuming control over brain power. Are there truly trite little lists called, "Brain Boosters" or "Seven Ways to Remember Names" which speak the truth? What helps forming those memories and then being able to recall information in a timely and socially acceptable way? Can Sudoku and chess and reading out loud really work??? A recently compiled list details seven ways to aid memory. Of course the biggies such as sleep, exercise, and a rainbow diet of vegetables help but did you know red wine makes the list?

• Exercise
• Sleep
• A Rainbow Diet of Vegatables
• Red Wine
• Mental Games
• Don't Multi-task
• Learning New Memory Tricks

Many of these lists seem redundant or childish, but when a person seriously reflects on personal habits, can you honestly say you hit everything on the list? Doubtful. So the challenge is on by ACCFamily: Eat a rainbow diet this week. And play a game of chess while you're at it.

A Taste Down Memory Lane

Aroma. Taste. The sublime amalgamation of flavors sitting on your tongue, permeating your olfactory senses, and transporting you to a memory of decades past. A tomato sending you back to your mothers garden? A frankfurter that represents the first baseball game with your father? Or perhaps penny candy with a taste that reminds you of certain friends?

I stumbled across an article this week from CNN Health called "Taste: It's in your nose and memories" which proceeds to outline misperceptions regarding taste and then outlining lessons from science that prod people to think about eating in new ways. A thorough list follows, with bullet points including titles such as:

"You Like What Your Mother Ate."

"Your Tongue Map is Not exactly Right."

"Nostalgia While Eating Refers to Smell."

Intrigued? Wondering how ACCfamily intersects with the article content? ACCFamily provides caregivers who cook for your loved one.  Although not as good as your mom used to do it, ACCfamily caregivers make sure your loved one keeps the memories coming by cooking the meals they enjoy.  Meanwhile, I'm headed to the grocery store to take a walk down memory lane.