Memory

Memory: 1. The ability to recover information about past events or knowledge. 2. The process of recovering information about past events or knowledge. 3. Cognitive reconstruction. The brain engages in a remarkable reshuffling process in an attempt to extract what is general and what is particular about each passing moment.

Memory may be divided into short-term (also known as working or recent memory) and long-term memory. Short-term memory recovers memories of recent events, while long-term memory is concerned with recalling the more distant past.

Memory is a function of the body that you don't think about until you begin to lose it. Some blame their poor memory or loss of memory on aging, but in reality with proper diet and nutrition the memory should remain active well into one's eighties or nineties. Occasional memory lapses are normal at any age, but two of the reasons that they happen are insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain, and exposure to free radicals.

Poor memory can be the beginning of serious medical concerns and should be discussed with a physician if the condition is becoming more frequent.

Various drugs and classes of drugs are currently available for the treatment of memory loss related to several types of illnesses.

There are several herbs, vitamins, and supplements that may help boost memory and provide support for the brain. These work through various mechanisms: enhancing cerebral blood flow, increasing neurotransmitter levels, reducing free radicals, and restoring cell membrane fluidity.