Do you have any memory lapses? Have you ever forgotten a name, a date, or an important appointment?

Memory loss is one of the concerns that most plagues society today. It happens more and more often that our ability to remember and concentrate fails when we need it most.

Why does this happen to us?

The often hectic lifestyle due to work, family, social commitments, etc., creates stress and psychophysical overload which, if prolonged over time, can cause memory problems and cognitive fatigue which leads to greater difficulty in maintaining attention in activity that require mental energy.

But what is stress?

Stress is a natural reaction of the body called “fight or flight” that occurs in response to a real or perceived threat from the environment around us. It is a primordial reaction governed by the most ancestral part of our brain that is triggered in dangerous situations. This even activates our memory and helps to fix the memory of that experience.
After the emergency, the body returns to a situation of equilibrium. The hectic lifestyle, on the other hand, causes our body to react as if it were always in a dangerous situation, generating a state of permanent stress.
The state of chronic stress causes a deterioration of memory and our cognitive abilities. This happens because our body reacts by producing high levels of cortisol due to an imbalance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.

What can we do to improve memory and concentration?

First of all, it is important to be aware that memory loss in these chronic stressful situations is not necessarily due to an underlying disease.
One of the first things we need to do is counter stress, here are some tips:

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle by choosing activities that can help us relax: for example, meditation, yoga, music and reading, a walk in the fresh air, can be of great help.
• Try to sleep well and for the right time, taking care of sleep hygiene appropriately, which means going to bed at the same time if possible, not using the computer and other electronic devices before going to bed.
• Adopt a correct diet , follow the Mediterranean diet, do not eat large meals and moderate alcohol consumption at dinner. It would also be desirable not to consume stimulants such as coffee before going to bed.
• Perform regular physical activity , both strength and endurance exercises, preferably done in company to socialize (long walks, aqua aerobics, gym). When done regularly, exercise produces substances that counteract stress such as endorphins. It is not recommended to do physical activity in the evening as the release of some endogenous substances can interfere with the quality of sleep.
• Train your memory , for example with reading, games or pastimes that require the use of cognitive skills (e.g. puzzle week), the study of a new language or a musical instrument.

Are there any natural solutions that help memory?

Yes, among the natural remedies, phytotherapy can be a valid help.
There are plants that act specifically on cognitive capacity, improving memory and concentration such as Bacopa monnieri .
Other plants, on the other hand, have adaptogenic properties, i.e. the ability to increase the body’s resistance to external stimuli and stress. This property is a unique feature of the plant kingdom. Among the adaptogenic plants we find Eleutherococcus senticosus and Rhodiola rosea .

Bacopa monnieri

Eleutherococcus senticosus

Rhodiola rosea

Memorens® tablets with Bacopa, Eleutherococcus and Equilmixin® – a phytocomplex created by our Research and Development Department to enrich and enhance the properties of the product – improves memory and cognitive functions.

Furthermore, its neuroprotective and tonic-adaptogenic properties increase the body’s resistance in moments of fatigue and weakness and when concentration and attention levels are lowered.

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References

• A Harvard Medical School Special Health Report – Kirk R. Daffner, MD, FAAN. Improving memory. Understanding age-related memory loss. (2019)
• Panossian, Wikman G. Evidence-Based efficacy of adaptogens in fatigue and molecular mechanisms related to their stress-protective activity. Curr. Clin. Pharmacol .; 4 (3): 98-219. (2009)