Memory what is it as we grow old?

A complete last minute ramble.……

Very happy memories from 2019

I think I may have written about memory before … or have I … I can’t remember 😁. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a real hike down the rabbit 🐇 warrens, foxes 🦊 den, badger 🦡 sets and otter 🦦 holts, so here goes. I started this post in October; looking through my research, I realise why it's lain dormant for so long. I will take a deep breath and dive down the various wardens, dens, sets & holts again. It is an interesting subject as I grow old.

There are several areas I could investigate; however, I’ll leave most for another day and start with the basics around memory and growing old.

Memory, what is it, and how does it change over time? Firstly, what is it? As usual, Wikipedia to the rescue

Memory is the faculty of the mind by which data or information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future action. If past events could not be remembered, it would be impossible for language, relationships, or personal identity to develop. Memory loss is usually described as forgetfulness or amnesia.

As outlined in the article What are the different types of memory? MST scientists believe there are four main types of memory:

1. Working memory is similar to short-term memory however it is working memory where a person manipulates information helping us remember details of their current task. Some behaviorsTrusted Sourcegives some examples:

   • solving a complex math problem where a person must remember several numbers

   • baking something, which requires a person to recall the ingredients they already added

   • participating in a debate, during which a person must remember the main arguments and the evidence each side uses

1. Sensory memory holds sensory information for very brief periods of time, usually 1 second or less. Theprocessing of memories and other information begins in this type of memory. Sensory memory holds sensory information for very brief periods of time, usually 1 second or less. The processing of memories and other information begins in this type of memory.

2. Short-term memory allows a person to recall a limited string of information for a short period. These memories disappear quickly, after about 30 seconds. Source. Short-term memory is not just memory that does not last long. Instead, it is a type of short-lived storage that can only hold a few pieces of information. Some examples of short-term memory include:

   • remembering a string of 5–7 words and repeating it back

   • remembering a phone number while getting a pen to jot it down

3. Long-term memory stores a wide range of memories and experiences. Most memories that people recall, especially those older than about 30 seconds, are part of long-term memory. Long-term memory is further broken down into categories such as explicit and semantic.

I am going to clamber out of the badger set as this point to start unpicking where we are with memory and getting old. I know it is something I worry about: forgetting names, words,

There are many valuable sites outlining what is normal and when you should worry, and improving your one such site comes with lots of advice. The article Age Related Memory Loss provides loads of information on what does not happen, what does happen to our memory, and why. We don't lose the wisdom we have learnt from our life experiences, common sense, or debating abilities. Something some younger people seem to question. Blood supply, hormonal changes and medication can affect our memories.

Not just age can affect our memories, as outlined in the 2013 Harvard article The Four Horsemen of Forgetfulness; I had to get that in. Somehow, I loved the title. The article defines the four horsemen as ‘Stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep deprivation are the four horsemen of forgetfulness in ageing brains.’ We could argue that as we grow old and retire, stress and anxiety reduce, ok, not all the time. However, as we grow old, we learn to deal with those horsemen more effectively. Open for debate.

What have I learnt from this article:

1. I need to get more organised with my Substack posts to write more interesting ones than this, and I need to remember not to leave them until the last minute.

2. Memory is incredibly complex, even though many articles try to simplify it.

3. Memory is an incredibly slippery beast, and we each have our own. This is important to remember for at least reasons

   1. To avoid rows amongst family and friends - accept all our memories are valid, even if they may be different

   2. Memories are good and bad. Our brains house memories that can provide reassurance, warm feelings, entertainment, and memories of the people we loved, like a bookshelf carries books. However, some memories can be challenging to manage and process and are best left in the dark recesses where they belong.

Prompts for you to do with as you wish.

Are there memories you wonder if they ever happened?

Describe what you did, where you went and how felt from one activity you did last week?

What is your favourite memory?

If you have enjoyed this extremely odd ramble and haven’t already please do subscribe to my Substack. My posts are free to all - except Keanu Reeves who seems to regularly sign up to my Substack 🙄