Don't worry about your memory, put it to good use.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—As we age, it’s perfectly natural for us to become a little forgetful. We’ve all drawn a blank here or there when it’s time to recall someone’s name, or when we’ve had to figure out where we put our keys. But a new study published in the journal Experimental Aging Research suggests that when healthy older adults worry about memory loss, they’re actually making their memory worse.

THE DETAILS: In the study, volunteers aged 60 years or older performed worse on memory tests if they had first been presented with the idea that memory fades with age. Worry interferes with memory performance by diverting brainpower away from the task of remembering, explains lead researcher Thomas Hess, PhD, lead author and professor of psychology at North Carolina State University. “Another possibility is that negative stereotypes may influence your beliefs about your own abilities,” Hess says. For example, a 70-year-old may accept societal stereotypes of failing memory and therefore minimize his involvement in situations that rely on memory. And his consequent lack of mental exercise will make his memory worse.

WHAT IT MEANS: Concern about mental decline as you age sets you up for the very thing you’re worried about. So stay as positive, active, and engaged as you can to preserve your acuity.

Here’s how to keep your mind sharp as a tack as you age:

• Stay upbeat. Don’t waste mental resources by worrying. “Maintain a realistic but positive attitude about your memory skills,” Hess suggests. “Our memory skills do change with age, but negative beliefs about ability may make things worse.”

• Challenge your memory. You might be afraid to take a memory test or to play brain games because you fear a low score. Don’t stress! Active engagement in activities like brain teasers and crossword puzzles, as well as broader activities like socializing with friends and volunteering, have been shown to keep older people’s brains in good shape.

• Start taking notes. Forgetting things now and then is no biggie. “If you are starting to notice some memory problems, it may require some adaptation on your part, such as relying on more external aids, like taking notes.” Sticky notes or other tools can shoulder some of your mental load. Or, you’re so inclined, try a using digital recorder or other electronic gadget to help you keep on track.