“Brain Clutter”

The June 19, 2016 issue of the England newspaper Daily Mail reports about the relationship of ‘senior moments’ or elderly forgetfulness with the brain’s storage of irrelevant information. In many studies conducted throughout the United Kingdom, it has been found that older people struggle to remember important details because their brains are unable to resist irrelevant ‘stuff’ that saturate their brain and fills up their subconscious mind. Storage of irrelevant information in the brain results to lapses in memory, forgetfulness, and decrease or loss of self-confidence in trusting one’s memory. The report refers to aforesaid unimportant details as ‘brain clutter’. Brain clutter that affects memory is most of the time mistaken as a case of senile dementia.

American studies on the subject have found the same results. Irrelevant information were found to confuse seniors that even when they have correct recollection of events or when their memory serves them right, their lack of self-confidence due to a ‘cluttered space filled’ subconscious mind make them forgetful.

“Cluttering the brain is one of the reasons why older people are susceptible to manipulation (Georgia Institute of Technology).”

“This memory clutter that’s causing low confidence would be a reason why older adults are often victims of financial scams (Dr. Audrey Duarte, Georgia Institute of Technology).”

In a similar research at the Concordia University, “…older individuals have reduced learning and memory because their minds tend to be cluttered with irrelevant information when performing tasks.” “Reduce clutter, if you don’t, you may not get anything done (Dr. Mervin Blair, Concordia University).”

Why do you store brain clutter?

As you age, your ‘timeframe’ to delete irrelevant information in your brain slows down. In analogy to the recycle bin or trash bin in an old computer, your brain works slower compared to a later or recent version. Why is this so? Older people tend to focus on the stressors rather than focusing purely on a task.

What can you do about it?

How do you empty your trash or recycle bin? Deleting unimportant information or brain clutter is the only solution. The timeframe in making your brain clutter-free can be enhanced. The process is called spring-cleaning your brain. The brain continues to function optimally into old age when it is spring-cleaned or de-cluttered.

Methods in spring-cleaning your brain

Relaxation exercises can help de-clutter your brain. Stimulation of the brain by playing a musical instrument, learning a new language, completing crossword puzzles, sodoku, memorizing poems, memorizing songs, listening to music, reading, movies, keeping an active social life, and exercising are ways to spring-clean the brain.

In a flat at Dean Street, London, I saw these words on the wall and they fit just right for this article, “Love beyond words. Laugh every day. Live every moment.”