What if getting older doesn’t have to mean losing your memory? Learn how neuroplasticity, healthy habits, and simple memory exercises can help keep your brain strong at any age.

Summary: We often assume that getting older means our memory and brain function will inevitably decline—but emerging science tells a more hopeful story. On this episode of The Science of Happiness, we’ll explore how neuroplasticity, along with practices like memory exercises, stress reduction, sleep, exercise, and finding a sense of purpose, can support brain health as we age.

How to Remember Where You Parked:

Pause before you walk away: Take a moment to look at your car and notice your surroundings.
Identify your location: Pay attention to the floor, row, section, level, or nearby landmarks.
Create a funny image: Turn the location into a memorable mental picture. For example, if you’re parked in section 4B, imagine four bears sitting inside your car.
Make it vivid: The sillier, stranger, or more ridiculous the image, the better. Let yourself have fun with it.
Take a mental snapshot: As you walk away, look back at your car and surroundings and imagine the funny scene there.
Use the image to find your car: When it’s time to leave, bring the funny image back to mind and use it to recall your section, floor, or location.

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.

Today’s Guests:

CRYSTAL LEWIS works with high school students in Washington State, supporting them both in and out of the classroom.

DR. MAJID FOTUHI is a neuroscientist, author, and professor at the Johns Hopkins Mind Brain Institute.

Learn more about Dr. Majid Fotuhi: https://drfotuhi.com/

Related Science of Happiness episodes:

What To Do When Stress Takes Over: https://tinyurl.com/yxf3jawn

Are You Remembering the Good Times: https://tinyurl.com/ysbwrnr4

The Contagious Power of Compassion: https://tinyurl.com/y6bpvbv5

Related Happiness Break episodes:

The Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/rrtpje2x

A Meditation on the Uniqueness of Your Own Voice: https://tinyurl.com/36x3fbk7

The Unexpected Joy of Slow Looking: https://tinyurl.com/4uudwwc2

Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at

happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

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Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/547b3ax4

How to Protect Your Brain as You Age

The Science of Happiness

How to Protect Your Brain as You Age