As we go through life, we all hope we can maintain good physical and mental health as long as possible. There is not much pleasure in living a long life if our final years are spent in pain, and we lose our ability to think and remember. As much as we may dread suffering physical pain and illness in old age, many of us fear the possibility that we might lose our mental capacities even more, and end up completely helpless in a nursing home. Often the first hint that our memory is starting to lose its sharpness happens around the fifth decade of life. 

As people enter their middle years, they start to notice more and more frequent lapses of memory, particularly their short-term memory. They may enter a room to do something, and forget what it is. They may be unable to recall the name of someone who use to live next door. And they may start to worry that their forgetfulness is more than just a harmless incident, they worry that it might be the first hint of something far more sinister - perhaps the onset of Alzheimer's disease. 

Alzheimer's is the name given to a very serious brain disease in which the brain cells are killed by microscopic plaques and tangled fibers. The parts of the brain needed to form and access recent memories are usually destroyed first. Brain cell destruction spreads to other parts of the brain, causing a loss of function, and eventually death follows. Do you keep on forgetting things or cannot remember names of familiar faces? If this is happening to you, maybe you're having serious memory lapses. 

Memory lapses can happen at any age. Memory loss can be caused by brain injury, neurological or organic problems, and maybe because of the fact that you're getting old. As you age, you expect your bones, muscles, and entire body system to slowly get weak. You might lessen your physical activity because of some muscular strains or joint pains that will affect your daily movements. Along with your body, it is not surprising that your brain is also starting to experience a "senior moment." The thought of your mind deteriorating is scary. So as early as possible, it is important to preserve your mental abilities and reduce the risk of getting severe forgetfulness dementia. Here you will learn the routines and exercises you can do to keep your memory sharp without stress.