The 8 Types of Strategies Against Memory Loss

Although not all people suffer from them, worsening memory and other types of cognitive impairment are common consequences of aging, especially when it is pathological.

In this article we will describe eight types of strategies against memory loss which can be very useful to compensate for the typical deterioration of old age. We will divide them into three categories: external aid, internal strategies and environmental adaptations.

The decline of memory in old age

Scientific research suggests that we tend to overestimate the intensity of memory deterioration that occurs in old age, although it is true that some abilities are clearly affected. This happens especially in people with cognitive impairment, whether or not it is framed in the context of dementia.

According to studies, with aging, sensory memory suffers a slight deterioration that is not of great importance in practice. Working or operational memory is notably affected, especially from the age of 70; The deterioration in this type of memory is probably the most significant of all.

Regarding long-term memory, deficits appear more commonly in declarative memory than in procedural memory, so that skills are usually maintained. Recent episodic memory, which includes autobiographical memories from recent years, is more sensitive to deterioration than semantic memory (knowledge about facts).

These deteriorations have been attributed mainly to three reasons: the appearance of deficits in encoding complex information which makes memorization difficult, the worsening of the ability to recover memories, and a lower sense of control in cognitive tasks, which decreases the efficacy expectations of many older people.

Memory losses that appear in old age can be compensated through the use of cognitive, behavioral and environmental strategies. In cases where memory impairment is slight, these techniques are usually sufficient to nullify its effects; If the situation is more serious they can at least reduce the problems to a notable degree.

Strategies against memory loss based on external help

The use of external aids for the recovery of memories is the most important strategy to compensate for memory leaks that occur at advanced ages. Many people resort to these methods spontaneously.

1. External recovery

External retrieval strategies include taking notes in a notebook or diary, asking a close person to remind us of something, or using digital devices (for example, setting an alarm with text) to facilitate the recall of specific information. Recent technological advances have increased the usefulness and diversity of these strategies.

2. Internal recovery

Unlike external recovery strategies, in these cases a signal is used that something needs to be remembered, but what is not specified; changing a finger ring or making a small mark on your hand with a pen are two common external recovery techniques.

Internal or psychological strategies

Internal strategies to combat memory problems are based on the management of cognitions. They are considered the most specific intervention of Psychology in this field and are frequently included in training programs for older people with memory deficits.

1. Learned naturally

This subcategory includes all the cognitive strategies that people have naturally; They are part of the normal functioning of memory and do not require prior training.

2. Mnemonic rules

The mnemonic rules are artificial cognitive methods used to promote learning, organization and memory of information. Some of the best-known mnemonic strategies include the method of loci (or places), the method of hangers, the method of links and the method of rhymes, which are based on words and/or mental images.

Adaptations and environmental indications

These strategies consist of facilitate orientation and a sense of familiarity with the physical environment of the people who are in a certain place. In this sense we can talk about both the home itself and a broader context, for example a residence for the elderly and even a town.

1. Distal

Distal environmental indications are a type of adaptation that refers to the acclimatization of cities, streets or buildings to help people with memory problems find their way around them. In this set of aids we find the instructions on the doors on how to open them, the uniforms of the hospital staff, etc.

2. Proximal

Proximal aids are those that are framed in a more restricted environment, such as a room or a small apartment. They are based on the principle that the structuring and stability of people’s immediate environment with memory difficulties make it easier for them to orient themselves and reduce the probability of them having losses.

3. Personal

Personal environmental cues can be considered a type of external help, and therefore can depend on internal or external recovery; This means that they can be explicit, like leaving a note in a notebook, or simply function as signals that something specific needs to be remembered.

4. Reality Orientation Therapy

Reality Orientation Therapy was created by James Folsom in the 1950s. This psychological program focuses on teaching skills that allow the patient maintain personal, spatial and temporal orientation. Among the strategies it includes, external visual aids, sensory stimulation and verbal repetition stand out.