How to Improve Working Memory and Mental Performance as You Age

As we age, it’s natural for our cognitive abilities to shift. One of the most noticeable areas is in our working memory. Working memory enables us to carry out complex cognitive tasks. However, its limited capacity means we can only hold a certain amount of information at any given moment. 

The good news is we can adopt various strategies and techniques to enhance our working memory and maintain optimal mental performance as we age.

Let’s explore effective methods on how to improve working memory, boost cognitive abilities, and stay sharp. While we cannot control time and aging, we can control the daily habits and activities we decide to pursue. The medical team at DP World’s Aviv Clinics Dubai is here to get you on track for the journey.

What Is Working Memory? 

Working memory is a cognitive system that allows us to temporarily hold and manipulate information while performing mental tasks. It plays a crucial role in various cognitive processes, including: 

• Reasoning
• Problem-solving
• Language comprehension
• Learning
• Decision-making

Working memory is often seen as the “workspace” of the brain, where information is actively processed and manipulated. You can think of it as a “sticky note”—your brain holds new information in place so that it can link those details to other information. 

What Happens to Your Working Memory as You Age? 

As we age, the brain undergoes structural and functional changes that can affect working memory processes:

• The prefrontal cortex, responsible for working memory, experiences a decline in volume and connectivity. 
• Neurotransmitter systems essential for working memory, such as dopamine (a chemical messenger that allows you to feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation), may decrease with age. 
• Oxidative stress and cellular damage can impair neuronal function (the ability to carry information between brain cells).
• Vascular system shifts can limit the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to brain regions involved in working memory.

12 Cognitive Exercises to Enhance and Preserve Your Working Memory

Cognitive exercises specifically designed to target and preserve working memory can be valuable in enhancing your mental performance. 

Here are 12 effective exercises you can try:

1. N-Back Training: N-Back is a popular working memory exercise where you recall a sequence of stimuli. Start with a 2-back task, where you identify if the current stimulus matches the one presented two steps back in the sequence. As you improve, increase the difficulty to 3-back, 4-back, and so on.
2. Dual N-Back: This exercise combines the N-Back task with a second task, such as tracking visual or auditory patterns while remembering the sequence of stimuli.
3. Digit Span Test: Listen to a series of digits and try to repeat them in the correct order. Increase the length of the digit sequence as you improve.
4. Letter-Number Sequencing: Given a mixed sequence of letters and numbers, repeat the numbers in ascending order and then the letters in alphabetical order.
5. Spatial Memory Games: Play memory games that involve remembering the location of objects on a grid or in a scene.
6. Card Pairs Game: Play a classic card matching game where you need to remember the positions of cards and match pairs.
7. Sudoku: Solve Sudoku puzzles to challenge your working memory and concentration.
8. Chess or Strategy Games: Engage in chess or other strategy games that require you to plan ahead and remember previous moves.
9. Dual Tasking: Combine different tasks, such as listening to an audiobook while doing household chores. This exercise challenges your ability to multitask while still retaining important information.
10. Recite Backwards: Try to recite strings of numbers or letters backward. This exercise requires active manipulation of information in your working memory.
11. Memory Palace Technique: Practice the memory palace technique, also known as the method of loci, to remember lists of items by associating them with specific locations in your mind.
12. Verbal Memory Exercises: Read a paragraph or a short passage and then try to recall the key points or details without looking back.

Remember to start with exercises that match your current skill level and gradually increase the difficulty as you progress. Consistency is essential, so incorporate these exercises into your daily or weekly routine. 

A Unique Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Protocol that can Improve Memory Function

In addition to diet, quality sleep, and physical and cognitive exercises, scientific research shows that a specific hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) protocol can improve memory function. 

Participants in the study who received the HBOT process, which involved fluctuating oxygen levels according to evidence-based research, exhibited: 

• Better learning curves 

• Higher memory resilience

Watch Siham’s Story:

Take Proactive Measures for Brain Performance

As we age, it is crucial to prioritize the health of our working memory and cognitive abilities. While biological changes can affect working memory, the brain retains plasticity. Proactive measures can be taken to improve and maintain working memory and overall cognitive function. 

Learn more about enhancing your performance with DP World’s Aviv Clinics Dubai