If you think this might be a problem for you, talk with your doctor. Maybe a switch in medication or a change in dosage will help. In addition, a lack of certain B vitamins, thiamin, and calcium can cause memory loss and sluggishness. And, if your brain does not get enough glucose, the delivery of nerve messages can be slowed. If you suspect you aren't getting enough necessary nutrients in your diet, check with your doctor for appropriate diet changes or supplements.
Physical exercise helps increase mental abilities.
Psychologist Alan A. Hartley of Scripps College in Claremont, California, and his colleague, Louise Clarkson-Smith, studied the exercise habits and test scores of 300 people, aged 55 to 91. The subjects ranged from people who did no exercise to those who ran six miles a day. The researchers found that the more the people in the study exercised, the better their performance in reasoning, memory, and reaction-time tests. In fact, significant differences were found between those who did no exercise and those who did as little as thirty minutes total a day which could include a 10-minute walk and then just regular daily tasks. In addition to physical exercise, mental exercise is necessary to help maintain mental alertness.