Wisdom

Many of us have concerns about our memory and concentration. Recalling names and recent events can become increasingly difficult and can make us worry about dementia.

Raise the topic of ADHD in the past would likely bring to mind images of fidgety, impulsive children with poor attentions spans in the classroom, but perception is rightly changing and evolving.

If you want to lift flagging spirits, make today the day you get up and out doing something you love! Dancing, cycling, running or just a spot of walking – they all produce feel good endorphins and serotonin which makes us smile.

After all the difficulties of the last year or so many of us are feeling a little low. Some reports suggest that 1 in 5 adults now suffer from moderate to severe depression, a number that has doubled since March 2020.

We are all facing a prolonged period of time at home with little normal social interaction. We all deal with things differently and I know some will relish the opportunity to step off the treadmill. However many of us will find this a huge challenge mentally.

Mental health is no longer the taboo it once was. Common mental health disorders are wide-ranging and can include generalized anxiety, depression, panic disorder and phobias.

It’s normal for children to have occasional fears and worries, but some children find dealing with feelings and pressures particularly difficult.

Derived from Greek and simply meaning mind bending or mind turning, nootropic is used to describe both drugs and natural substances which optimise brain performance or cognition.

There is much we don’t yet understand about memory and learning. The complexity of the brain is mind boggling stuff and yet supporting good cognitive function is vital for more than eight million school pupils and over two million university students in education this year, many of whom will be sitting tests or exams.

As we age, we may worry about the state of our brain and our mental health. For many of us, ‘senior moments’ are a feature of ageing and a reflection of the increasing demands on our brains from our hectic lifestyles. For others, they may herald the onset of dementia. Sadly, dementia is an increasing problem for our society with 850,000 people diagnosed in the UK, affecting 1 in 14 of the over 65s.

As your memories of that sun-drenched beach start to fade and the humdrum of the nine-to-five rudely beckons, you’d be forgiven for wanting to dive deeper under the duvet.

Work that grey matter! The old adage 'use it or lose it' is true.