Memory is a natural ability, as natural as breathing. Memory lapses are annoying in themselves, but worse is the anxiety that comes along with the association that they may be a symptom of some other problem.

While it is usually during middle age that the powers of recall begin to diminish, age may have little to no bearing on one's ability to recollect information. Occasional memory lapses can be a part of any age, however, and maintaining proper diet and nutrition will encourage the memory to remain sharp and active during our advanced years.

Types Of Memory

Memory can be broken down into two types: short term and long term.

Short-term memory, also known as working memory, stores information that you need to remember in the following seconds, minutes or hours. An example would be a telephone message that you are given and must remember until you pass it on.

Long-term memory stores information that your brain retains because it is important to you. Information of this type includes names of family and friends, your address, as well as information on how to do certain activities and tasks. Long-term memory can be further divided into explicit, implicit and semantic memory.

Memories are facts that you make a conscious effort to learn and that you can remember at will, information that you draw on automatically in order to perform tasks, and facts that are so deeply ingrained that they require no effort to recall. Examples of this are walking, tying your shoes, riding a bike and so on. Thing you had to learn but no take for granted because you memorized how to do them.

Reasons for Memory Loss:

One big reason people suffer from memory loss is an insufficient supply of necessary nutrients to the brain. The life support of the body is carried in the blood. It literally feeds and nourishes every cell of the body. The brain is surrounded with a protective brain-blood barrier, which allows only certain nutrients and substances to pass from the bloodstream into the brain. Blood thick with cholesterol and triglycerides reduces the amount of nutrient rich blood that can cross the brain-blood barrier. Over time this can result in the brain becoming malnourished.

Proper brain function depends upon the substances known as neurotransmitters. These are the brain chemicals that act as electrical transmitters in the brain, and allow chemical messages to travel through the nervous system for body function to take place. An inadequate supply of neurotransmitters or the nutrients from which to make them, can result in a biochemical "power failure", or "short circuit" in the brain. If your mind goes blank when you are attempting to recall a specific fact or piece of information, it is likely that a "short circuit" in obtaining the information has occurred.

Nutritional deficiencies, amino acid deficiencies and exposure to free radical damage all contribute to the lack of biochemical transmitters and the possible misfiring of messages from the nervous system through the brain. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can play a role in memory loss, as well as allergies, candidiasis, stress, poor circulation and thyroid disorders.

Alcoholics and drug addicts often suffer from a great deal of memory loss, with "blackouts" the result of significant memory gaps that occur, even though they are conscious.

Symptoms of memory loss may range from a normal memory loss, to a mild cognitive impairment, to the more severe memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease. Individuals who have normal memory loss associated with poor nutrition, inadequate protein intake, or early free radical damage sometimes misplace an item, forget someone's name, or forget to pick something up at the store.

People with mild cognitive impairment, however, have more difficulty in specific areas. These areas include memory and behavioral patterns such as becoming lost traveling to a familiar location, having more-than-usual trouble recalling names, finding the right word, or completing sentences, retaining little information after reading a book or magazine, showing difficulty in understanding the news or plots of movies and television shows, loose or misplace objects of value, become upset or have other difficulties in familiar social or work settings, rely more on written reminders than in the past and experience trouble in handling familiar activities, such as card games or hobbies.

In the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, new or recent memory is impaired, and the patient finds it hard to learn and retain new information. Eventually, older or distant memory also is lost and it becomes difficult to remember people and events from childhood, youth or middle age. Next, other symptoms may appear, including aphasia (difficulty in expressing thoughts as spoken words), apraxia (difficulty in carrying out simple, directed acts) and agnosia (difficulty in interpreting familiar faces or other well known objects).

Lifestyle which support memory function and a healthy mind include:

• Exercise-physical and mental fitness go hand in hand. Some form of physical activity should be part of your daily routine.
  
  Learning has been proven to maintain mental function in later years. Challenging yourself, reading regularly and keeping up with current affairs. Learn a new hobby or language or play challenging games that exercise your mind.
  
  Don't smoke. It alters oxygen to the brain.
  
  Eat a healthy diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Choose a diet with plenty of grains, fruits and vegetables and raw foods. Consume foods that are low in saturated fats and cholesterol. Consume sugars and salt in moderation. Use alcohol in moderation or not at all.
  
  Consider having a hair analysis done to rule out heavy metal toxicity or problems with absorption.
  

A good Amino Acid complex has been know to help with memory problems.

Also try Ginkgo Biloba or Royal Jelly both are said to rebuild memory and help with concentration.

Always drink plenty of water to help flush out any impurities that may be causing health problems. As always, don't drink tap water if you use a public water system. Buy bottled water, it's safer.