My favourite memory excercise is one that can be adapted for all ages and types of people.

You simply place a number of items on a tray or behind a screen and then reveal them for about a minute then hide the items and you have to list the items you have seen.

And to help you remember what they are you connect them with something that makes them stand out in your mind.

For example: If you had a tray of items that included a plate, a knife, a pencil and a carrot you can try the following techniques or a version that works for you.

1. Imagine drawing a plate with a carrot on it using the pencil and then cutting it up with the knife.

2. Peter plate, kevin knife, penelope pencil, cathy carrot

3. Plate is standing on its edge spinning, the pencil is running off down the street leaving a line behind it, the knife if vibrating as it is struck into a tree and the carrot is dancing on it green top.

All of these techniques work because it is easier to remember images than it is to remember words or just lists. Anyone who remembers lists like this has some sort of technique so work out what works for you and then use it. As you practice it will come more easily and you will be amazed at what you can remember.

It will certainly seem a bit clumsy at first and you will feel like you are wasting a lot of time coming up with memorable scenarios but it is worth persevering.

Another part of memory is keeping the brain active and agile in general so do things that will ensure this happens. One game we used to play in the car as kids was to add up all the numbers of car number plates down to a single digit - I still do it now when in traffic jams.

You can also help your brain by making sure you have a good healthy diet and I have put a link in this hub of a woman who has written some books on this as she had real memory problems through Chronic fatigue but has fought back through excercise and nutrition - it seems there is a thing such as brain food!

www.cfs-fm.com