The fact is, when it comes to our memories, we are our toughest critics. We seem to forget the countless facts we recall every day and focus on the few we`ve forgotten. We need to stop browbeating ourselves and start complimenting ourselves for what we remember.

Many factors determine how well something is remembered. Familiarity, sights, smells and sounds play a key role in what we remember. It is the connection by association to what we already know that assists us in our faculty of remembering. This connection is called "elaborative encoding."

The brain stores memory in a variety of areas. However, it is the frontal lobe that retrieves them and puts them to work. Many variables affect the memory. Stress, distractions, medications and illness are a few. Have you noticed when under pressure you can`t seem to concentrate or remember? It is because anxiety is a villain to memory. When you are sick or tired, you can`t concentrate, and concentration is the key to a good memory.

The 10 most common reversible causes of memory loss are depression, malnutrition, low blood sugar, anemia, fluid imbalance, head injuries, small strokes, poor blood circulation, hypothyroidism and drug overdose.

Remember that everyone forgets, regardless of their age. So try a little cognitive restructuring. Instead of saying "I forgot," substitute "I can`t think of it now."

~ Nancy Viviano-Piatek
8/10/2012