One of the harsh realizations as we get older is that our memory is likely to deteriorate over time; some studies suggest age 60 may be a key marker.
Fortunately, for most of us, it's not as though we wake up one morning with a notably worse memory than the previous day - the deterioration tends to be gradual.
There is a massive cohort of baby boomers who are now reaching their 60s (or have already done so) and this point is not lost on manufacturers.
It's therefore not surprising to see the wide number of products now available relating to memory loss but this does increase the challenge in choosing the best product.
Brain function and memory Like all of our vital organs, the brain degenerates over time.
A critical function of the brain is, of course, memory.
One of the challenges we face is the brain is an enormously complex organ which makes pinpointing treatments all the more difficult.
Whatever the science, a failing memory can have a dramatic impact on quality of life.
What would your life be like if you couldn't remember what you did yesterday, couldn't remember how to use the television, or started to forget even basic details of loved ones? This is a situation we all want to avoid.
Many people, therefore, are looking to protect or build up their memories with help from supplements and vitamins.
So how do these memory supplements and memory vitamins differ from each other? The names 'memory supplement' or 'memory vitamin' seem interchangeable but do differ subtly.
A supplement, as the name suggests, seeks to add to what is already there, or make it better.
A vitamin, on the other hand, is more fundamental - it is about replacing something that is missing.
One definition of vitamin notes that it relates to essential body operations.
A vitamin is not just an add-on.
So which should I choose? In reality, the names are one thing, but what really matters is what the products actually claim to do - and what testing the manufacturers have done to substantiate these claims.
The number of products available are vast and include all manner of ingredients.
A search on the internet relating to memory supplements and memory vitamins shows different categories of items: • prescription medications, often linked to particular medical conditions like dementia • memory products that are available without prescription, such as those containing vitamin E, fish oil, omega 3, krill oil, ginko and many others • processed foods, often high in sugar (I came across a packet of jelly beans once that claimed to help you remember better) • unprocessed foods such as dairy, grains and fruit You'll need to consult a medical practitioner before starting any prescription medication but for less serious conditions, or those of us seeking enhanced memory health, the other categories above provide a range of choices.
Changing your diet to include some of these memory foods is probably easiest to implement, but you may or may not notice any difference.
A memory supplement or memory vitamin, can provide an outcome that is perhaps more targeted at a relatively moderate cost.
Like so many things in life, you'll need to be your own judge to what extent you find these items working for you.
There is no one-size-fits-all.
Summary While none of us like to admit that our memories may not be what they once were, the marketplace presents us with more than a few choices to help maintain our memories.
For a number of people, memory supplements and memory vitamins provide a practical and affordable solution to boost memory.
This is beyond a change in diet, but avoids having to resort to prescription drugs.
Fortunately, for most of us, it's not as though we wake up one morning with a notably worse memory than the previous day - the deterioration tends to be gradual.
There is a massive cohort of baby boomers who are now reaching their 60s (or have already done so) and this point is not lost on manufacturers.
It's therefore not surprising to see the wide number of products now available relating to memory loss but this does increase the challenge in choosing the best product.
Brain function and memory Like all of our vital organs, the brain degenerates over time.
A critical function of the brain is, of course, memory.
One of the challenges we face is the brain is an enormously complex organ which makes pinpointing treatments all the more difficult.
Whatever the science, a failing memory can have a dramatic impact on quality of life.
What would your life be like if you couldn't remember what you did yesterday, couldn't remember how to use the television, or started to forget even basic details of loved ones? This is a situation we all want to avoid.
Many people, therefore, are looking to protect or build up their memories with help from supplements and vitamins.
So how do these memory supplements and memory vitamins differ from each other? The names 'memory supplement' or 'memory vitamin' seem interchangeable but do differ subtly.
A supplement, as the name suggests, seeks to add to what is already there, or make it better.
A vitamin, on the other hand, is more fundamental - it is about replacing something that is missing.
One definition of vitamin notes that it relates to essential body operations.
A vitamin is not just an add-on.
So which should I choose? In reality, the names are one thing, but what really matters is what the products actually claim to do - and what testing the manufacturers have done to substantiate these claims.
The number of products available are vast and include all manner of ingredients.
A search on the internet relating to memory supplements and memory vitamins shows different categories of items: • prescription medications, often linked to particular medical conditions like dementia • memory products that are available without prescription, such as those containing vitamin E, fish oil, omega 3, krill oil, ginko and many others • processed foods, often high in sugar (I came across a packet of jelly beans once that claimed to help you remember better) • unprocessed foods such as dairy, grains and fruit You'll need to consult a medical practitioner before starting any prescription medication but for less serious conditions, or those of us seeking enhanced memory health, the other categories above provide a range of choices.
Changing your diet to include some of these memory foods is probably easiest to implement, but you may or may not notice any difference.
A memory supplement or memory vitamin, can provide an outcome that is perhaps more targeted at a relatively moderate cost.
Like so many things in life, you'll need to be your own judge to what extent you find these items working for you.
There is no one-size-fits-all.
Summary While none of us like to admit that our memories may not be what they once were, the marketplace presents us with more than a few choices to help maintain our memories.
For a number of people, memory supplements and memory vitamins provide a practical and affordable solution to boost memory.
This is beyond a change in diet, but avoids having to resort to prescription drugs.
SHARE
