My Memory Experiment Journey
Today I woke up and decided to test something I’ve heard a million times – “train your memory to fight off dementia.” Honestly? Sounded like those “drink kale juice to live forever” scams. But grandma’s forgetting names lately and it freaked me out. So I grabbed my coffee and dove in.
First step – research. I spent hours digging through articles while my phone buzzed with ignored texts. Found tons of screaming headlines like “DO THIS OR GET ALZHEIMERS!” Felt like being yelled at by fitness influencers. Took messy notes on a crumpled receipt:
- Flashy apps promising “brain gains” with daily puzzles
- People swearing by crossword binges
- Weird “memory diet” lists full of expensive fish and nuts
Tried one of those memory apps. Did matching games for a week straight – felt like babysitting a hyperactive toddler. Remembered where cartoon cats hid under cards? Great. But when I walked into the kitchen forgetting why? Zero improvement. Felt stupid tapping screens while my actual life slipped through mental cracks.
Changed tactics. Started memorizing grocery lists instead of using my phone. Standing in the cereal aisle muttering “milk, eggs, toilet paper…” like a crazy person. Managed to remember bread once. Celebrated with extra ice cream. Realized forcing recall just made me anxious about forgetting.
Went deeper. Asked my doctor aunt about dementia risks. Her reaction? “Stop stressing over games. Real prevention’s boring as hell.” She rattled off basics: move your body, sleep like it’s your job, don’t smoke, connect with actual humans. Noticed none involved memorizing poetry or playing Sudoku.
So I ditched the “memory training” circus. Now I’m doing this instead:
- 30-minute walks while actually noticing trees instead of counting steps
- Cooking new recipes (burnt a pan laughing with my sister – counts as “social engagement”)
- Sticking to a sleep schedule like my life depends on it (because honestly? It might)
Took grandma dancing last weekend. She stepped on my toes, forgot the song halfway through, and we both laughed harder than in years. That fuzzy feeling when she recognized my car afterward? Better than any “brain score” from some app.
Here’s the raw truth they don’t sell in “brain training” subscriptions: Dementia’s complicated. Forcing your memory like a muscle might even backfire when stress kicks in. What helps? Living like your brain’s part of your body – not some separate machine to grind with puzzles. Still doing crosswords sometimes? Sure, but only when it feels like fun, not fear. And hey, I still forget why I opened the fridge. Probably always will. And that’s okay.