Did you forget where you parked your car? Or do you lose
your keys on a daily basis? It happens to the best of us at some point.
Medical experts say some degree
of memory loss and a small decline in our general cognition is normal
as we age. It also gets harder for us to learn new things or recall familiar
information, and that doesn't necessarily indicate Alzheimer's.
There are a number of ways you can keep your mind sharp, according to the Mayo Clinic. A
strong body equals a strong mind, so definitely make sure you're getting plenty
of exercise. You should also be staying active socially, eating a nutritious
and balanced diet, and trying to find ways to stay organized.
But if you're committed, you can even try some
brain-training memory games. Studies have shown older adults can improve their memory with mental
exercises in addition to staying physically fit, The Huffington Post reported.
Here are some of our top picks for apps you can use to tease
and train your mind:
Like a workout for the mind, this trainer works to improve
your spatial and working memory. You'll be put through the paces, doing a
variety of "workouts" to tease your memory and improve your concentration.
You'll be asked to memorize and recall patterns, strings of numbers, and
complete puzzles. It also allows you to chart your progress, as consistency is
key, in your efforts to improve your memory. Plus, users say it's actually
pretty fun.
The neat thing about Lumosity is
that it allows you to tailor your training plan for what your goals are for
your memory, attention span, speed, flexibility, and problem solving. Also
available on desktop via its website, Lumosity provides you with a new set of
workouts every day of the week. For memory, you'll be tasked with spatial
tasks, recalling patterns, and even face-name recognition, so you'll never have
to play the guessing game next time you run into an old acquaintance. The app
also boasts being designed by neuroscientists and has 40 million users.
Allowing you to choose from three difficulty levels, this
app's memory game module helps you improve your short-term memory through
information recall. The pressure is on as you advance through the levels by
achieving score benchmarks during timed games. You'll be asked to memorize
sequences of numbers, letters, and pictures -- and then identify the missing
piece. If you bore of the memory games, the app also has concentration, problem
solving, and cognitive speed games for you to play.
With 4 different games, Brain Workout helps you tease your
memory, improve accuracy, and have faster mental agility. With a simple and
straightforward interface, this is probably one of the easiest apps to use.
Choose different difficulty levels as you improve to keep challenging
yourself and try working on other areas including mental focus and speed. And
to make it more fun, you can even compare your scores with those of friends or
post your score to the global scoreboard to be ranked.
If you always enjoyed playing Go Fish, then you'll love
this. It's just like the classic memory game, except instead of cards, you play
with music. Colored buttons light up and play a sound, creating a tune. After
each note is added, you try to recreate the pattern by tapping the buttons. The
best part is, it's free -- but it is highly addictive. You've been warned.
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