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Why does memory get worse?
Biological explanations
- General physical decline
- Specific loss of neurons
- Brain shrinkage
- Slower transmission due to reduced blood flow
Social explanations
- Expectations
- Society "expects" older people to have bad memories, so you are actually more inclined to expect and accept your memory to fail.
- Decreased use of active strategies
- You don't use mental tricks to help you remember things as often as you used to.
- Fear of ‘memory’ tests
- Many people just assume they are going to fail memory tests.
- Negative stereotypes about aging
- Negative thinking about aging is not conducive to having a positive aging experience.
Cognitive explanations
- Some retired adults may have less routinue in their lives
- You no longer have to get up at 8 AM, drive to work to get there at 9 AM, have your lunch break at 12:30, back to the job at 1:00, work until 5:00, get home at 6, have dinner ready by 7, etc.
- More susceptibility to distraction
- Older adults tend not to focus as well as younger adults.
- Less practice
- Older adults may not be exercising their brain as much. Try doing brain teasers, puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, Simon Says, or memory card games!
