Distractions Foil Memory as we Age
Why does memory weaken as we age? A brain scanning study, A Neural Mechanism Underlying Memory Failure in Older Adults recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience claims part of the answer lies in the fact that older brains are more easily distracted when learning. We fail to recall certain things because distractions kept us from encoding them in the first place.
Background noise like a ringing phone, iPod or other distractions can interfere with encoding new memories in older brains. We can improve memory by minimizing the distractions or focusing harder when learning new things. Now all we have to do is remember to do that.
