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Here are tips to help you remember:

• Associate, or link, the word or thing you are trying to remember to something else. For example, if Alex introduces you to Patty, you might remember them as A and P.
• If you can't remember something at first, relax and try again.
• Make lists, either on paper or in your head.
• Read a lot if you have trouble remembering words. Keep a dictionary close by.
• Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcohol can make it hard to remember things.
• Repeat what you want to remember.
• Take part in activities that stimulate the mind, such as crossword puzzles and board games. This helps keep the nerve cells in the brain active, which is very important as you get older.
• Talk to your doctor about your medications. Certain drugs can affect your memory.
• Think of faces when trying to remember names.

See also:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Memory loss
• Multiple sclerosis

Memory aids

Verghese J, Lipton RB, Katz MJ. Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly. N Engl J Med. 2003;348(25):2508-2516.

Updated by: Daniel Kantor, MD, Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.