Our bodies change over time. From growing up to growing old, there are changes that everyone can expect to experience. For example, our brains change and develop over many years, with our peak cognition often occurring around age 30. From there, our brains start to lose their sharpness, leading to cognitive decline. Here are some common areas of age-related cognitive decline.

Memory

It’s typical for memory to worsen with age. Whether you subscribe to the philosophy of “losing space for new memories” or “the sponge is losing absorbency,” it’s normal to develop difficulties remembering information. Even word recall can become more challenging the older we get.

Focus

Another common demonstration of cognitive decline is trouble sustaining attention.As we age, our brains have a harder time focusing on one or more tasks.This lends itself to difficulties in multitasking, too.

Decision Making

Another aspect of cognition that can be impacted by age is decision making. This can surface as an overall slowness in thinking and general indecisiveness. While this doesn’t seem like a huge deal, slower decision making can have a detrimental impact on daily activities like driving.

Know the Differences

While some degree of cognitive decline is expected, it’s important to know which are signs of aging and which are indicators of something worse. Here’s how to differentiate:

Standard Aging

• Making poor decisions sporadically
• Missing one or two monthly payments
• Forgetting what day it is but remembering later
• Forgetting the wordyou’re trying to say

• Losing things from time to time

Cognition Concern

• Making consistently poor decisions
• Difficulties managing monthly expenses
• Losing track of the day or time of year
• Difficulty having a conversation
• Losing things often and not being able to find them

A Surprising Way to Support Brain Health

Did you know that what’s good for the eyes is also good for the brain? Dietary zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin), a critical antioxidant for healthy lasting vision, is found in the brain, too! In fact, studies have demonstrated that dietary zeaxanthin, when absorbed consistently in the right amounts (8 or more mg), can support brain functions like memory, focus, and decision making.

Learn more about dietary zeaxanthin’s impact on brain health.

Our brains are powerful, complex, and amazing, but they need our help to keep them sharp. Adding high-dose dietary zeaxanthin supplementation to your daily routine can help fortify your eyes and brain, setting them both up for a long, healthy future.