By:Al Wicklund
MONROE Did you ever forget where you parked the car at the mall or in a stadium parking lot?
In the familiar surroundings of your own home, have you searched for missing keys?
Everyone has memory lapses. Often, it’s because of a lack of focus.
You were in a hurry to get to the store at the mall or to get to your stadium seat before the game started and didn’t pay attention to where you parked the car. You were distracted by a phone call and just put the keys down without a thought.
Memory frequently is related to what else is going on in our lives, said Middlesex County Health Educator Teri J. Manes.
When people are over 50, these episodes can cause concerns that may be needless, she said.
"For older people forgetting things can be cause for worry. Lapses of memory can raise the specter of Alzheimer’s disease," Ms. Manes told an audience at the Monroe Township Senior Center on Monday.
She said research has shown memory slows as people age. It may take an older person a little longer to recall something, but forgetfulness occurs with people of all ages.
Ms. Manes said people should have a greater understanding of memory and of ways to help the remembering process.
"Focusing, paying closer attention to things can be a help," she said.
Memory can be affected by how people feel, she said. Anxiety, stress and fatigue can take their toll.
"We tend to take memory for granted.
"Memory can be helped by better use of the senses (particularly being more attentive to what we see and hear) when getting information we want to remember," she said.
Ms. Manes said good habits can help.
She said to keep the purse or wallet, eyeglasses and keys in one place, keep a calendar, keep a list of names, addresses and phone numbers, have a list by the door of things to take with you when you leave the house.
At one point, Ms. Manes gave each of the members of the audience a penny to hold.
She asked if, without looking, her audience could tell her which way Lincoln is facing, where the date is located, what slogan in on the penny and where it’s positioned.
Correct answers were few. She said that was because the information is not that important. Consequently, people don’t pay much attention to those details.
"What’s important is that we recognize the size, shape and copper color that tells us it’s a penny," Ms. Manes said.
She said good health helps in keeping an alert mind.
Ms. Manes said keys to good health are to eat a well-balanced diet, exercise and stay mentally active, take classes, do crossword puzzles and play games, such as chess or cards.
"Worrying about remembering only makes it more difficult to bring things out of your mental file," she said.
She emphasized that alcohol, depression, fatigue and stress are factors that can work against memory.
She told her audience that people retain 10 percent of what they read; 20 percent of what they hear; 30 percent of what they see; 50 percent of what they see and hear; 70 percent of what they say; and 90 percent of what they do and say.
