What happens to memory as you grow old?

Answer 1

While growing old you can get Alzheimer's and all those things, because your memory doesn't work as well as it used to. For example, old people can't walk as fast as old people because their muscles don't work as well as they used to. It's the same with your memory.

Answer 2

If you are a physically and mentally active person, then you will find (as I am finding) that apart from not being able to run 100 metres in 14 secs as in your teenage years, there is no need to let advancing years affect your memory (or mental facilities in general) in any great way. Research shows that an exercised brain (i.e., one that continues to be taxed as its owner gets older, e.g., through such things as crosswords, writing, reading, etc.,) loses very little of its ability to remember.
If it reassures you (perhaps you are worried about geting old yourself one day, or you know some one whom you see as old), I have an elderly aunt (88) who is mentally very alert, with both long and short term memory in excellent order. Her sister (died at 94) was just same. My mother-in-law is now 86 but still plays bridge at a good standard (she also plays a full round of golf at least once a week!). She, too, is cogent and logical, whether discussing current political issues, or the weather.
You can deduce from the above that my teenage years are long past ( by around half a century!), but I can assure you that in terms of logical thought and argument - whether it be mastering the latest piece of computer software, completing a cryptic prize crossword, writing the occasional article, planning a light aircraft flight, or just discussing the latest piece of political stupidity - I feel no lowering of my own mental abilities. Heck, I've even been able to write this answer without too much difficulty - and I don't use a spell checker either, so I'm not so brain dead that I can't remember how to spell and type at the same time!
So assuming you do not suffer the misfortune of a brain disease in your later years, there is no need to fear getting old. Your brain has an enormous number of cells - more than enough to last your lifetime. As long as you don't sit around like the archetypal 'couch potato', and if you keep your brain active by doing something that requires mental exercise, then you should be able to enter middle and old age without worrying whether you'll end up forgetting where you live, or you own name!
PS Two excellent examples of why entering your 60's does not condemn you to being mentally or physically 'past it' are the RAF flying instructor who was still instructing on Harriers at age 62, and Robin Knox-Johnson who is currently sailing around the world singlehanded at the age of 67.
So remember, if you think yourself old, you will become old - and then you will act old. I'm now going for a long ride on my bike - if I can remember where I left the thing. (Joke, joke!) :- )

Answer 3

I've had a dissociative (spacing out) disorder and a brain injury. I notice that my comprehension and memory are very much affected by my emotional state. If I'm happy, I can remember memorized texts. If I'm disturbed, sometimes I don't even know where I am.

I've observed senile people. And, they look like their experiencing a similar phenomena. I wonder if they responded often to traumatic experiences in their lives by spacing out. And, maybe past habits become constant experiences in old age. Kinda scary, yes?

But, I do think that affirmative practices of mind discipline can reverse this and other "karma." So, I have faith in potential.

Answer 4

i have your answer:
the memory is using 2 different blocks from your brain.
one is for concentrate and the second is for resting.
the first is running when you have special activities like reading and the second when you think normally about you , your future etc.
at the young people the alternation of those 2 blocks is working good.
but when you grow old this alternation drops off and the old person is starting to use mostly the second block, it will be difficult to memorize because the first block is limited.
that's way we say that the old people , most of them are conservatory.

this resumes on this affirmation:
they lose the ability to eliminate the useless information.

Answer 5

It sucks. You might can remember things when you were young but as you get older you cant remember your children or grand children. I know i am going through this with my mother-in law and she doesn't even know me or her son whom I married. To me i had rather DIE than to lose my memory. If you don't have sense of mind to remember those close around you ..you might as well die of some other thing. Alzheimer's plays a big factor in the mind also. We need a fix on how to repair our minds to keep from getting this gosh awful mind altering disease.

Answer 6

Well you do loose brain mass and tissue so that could be a factor when it comes to memory loss.

Answer 7

It does 2 things; it becomes sharper and it becomes softer..we remember the really great things, and the really bad things tend to change perspective..
sweet dreams

Answer 8

I'm 55 and >>>what was the question ????

Answer 9

you lose it and go crazy have a good day :)

Answer 10

what:;was the queation