Do you have trouble remembering things? Now that I’m closer to 60 than 50, I feel like my mind is slipping on a more regular basis. Questions: Why did I come into this room? Who told me that important thing that I can’t remember right now? And that old classic, where did I set down my phone? I know that some cognitive abilities go through, shall we say, a transformation as the brain ages. I also know that times of great stress — pandemic, check! — impact us not only physically and emotionally but mentally as well. But it’s too easy to blame my memory gaps on age and a pandemic, and then not do anything about it.
Now, what was I writing about? Oh, right — memory loss. This is one of the reasons I am totally obsessed with a word game I play on my smartphone (the other reason is that I am a wordaholic, so I might need treatment for that, too). I figure that if I play my word game every day, I can ward off potential memory thieves like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Performing daily mental jumping jacks should be good for something, right?
Online brain games are great, but there are also lots of books written about how to improve memory, so I’ve selected a handful of titles to get you started. While searching the library’s catalog, I came across brain games for cats and dogs, and I thought, sure, all brains could use a little boost. If you want to include your four-legged kids in your quest for better mental clarity, be sure to check out “Brain Games for Cats” and “Brain Games for Dogs” by Claire Arrowsmith.
- “Mastering Memory: Techniques to Turn Your Brain from a Sieve to a Sponge” by Chester Santos.
- “The Mind Diet: A Scientific Approach to Enhancing Brain Function and Helping Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia” by Maggie Moon.
- “Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything” by Joshua Foer.
- “Supercharge Your Brain: How to Maintain a Healthy Brain Throughout Your Life” by James Goodwin.
- “Ultimate Memory Magic: The Transformative Program for Sharper Memory, Mental Clarity, and Greater Focus … at Any Age!” by Jim Carol.
