By guest expert Dr. Cynthia Green, Ph.D., a nationally recognized expert in brain health and president of Memory Arts LLC.
“Why am I having trouble remembering?” “Is there a special diet to boost my brain power?” We asked and you delivered. Thanks to everyone who wrote in with questions for the new “Ask the Expert” column. I’ll be covering the topics you’ve raised in these first few entries.
As an expert in memory and brain function, I have found that there are some commonly held misconceptions out there about memory. Holding onto these “memory myths” gets in the way when we want to boost our brain power. So, as a “kick off” for our conversation on brain health, lets debunk some of these fallacies, starting with a few of my favorites*:
- The “Secret Handshake” Fallacy. What does it take to have a great memory? Some folks believe that folks who have a great memory have been given access to a great secret, much like those folks in the Masons, who proved their membership through a “secret handshake.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone can improve their memory performance. How? Simply by practicing healthy brain habits.
- The “Memory Cure” Fallacy. Perhaps you’ve heard that caffeine is good for your memory. Or estrogen, vitamin E, gingko biloba, choline, or even phosphatidylserine (ok that last one is fairly esoteric). Guess what – there is NO cure for your memory. Why? Because, if you are the average healthy adult without a diagnosis of a major memory disorder, your memory isn’t sick. What your brain really needs is a good workout, not a pill. And don’t let them tell you otherwise.
- The “If It’s Broke, You Can’t Fix It” Fallacy. “I have a terrible memory.” “I’ve never been able to remember names.” I hear this kind of negative memory talk all the time. Your memory isn’t broken. And all of us (in the absence, again, of a major memory disorder) can improve our memory just by practicing better brain health habits.
So what does it take to improve your recall and gain better brain health? Better brain health habits. Yes, it’s that simple. And that’s no secret. So what are those better brain habits? That’s what we’ll be focusing on here, so stay tuned.
Dr. Green
*For a complete list of my Favorite Fallacies about memory, see Step 1 in Total Memory Workout: 8 Easy Steps to Maximum Memory Fitness (Bantam Dell).
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