Do you ever find yourself at the grocery store struggling to remember what you came for? Are you forgetting birthdays and lunch dates?

If these situations sound familiar to you, you’re not alone. Forgetfulness is one of the most common complaints of those in middle age and beyond.

Memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease rank high on the list of senior fears.

According to researchers at John Hopkins, the good news is most memory loss has nothing to do with Alzheimer’s disease.

Nearly all of us, they say, take more time to learn and recall information as we age.

There are simple things that you can do in your everyday life to increase your ability to retain information and exercise your brain.

• Engage your brain. Mentally stimulating activities strengthen brain cells and the connection between them. You can keep those cells in shape by giving them a workout. Instead of passively watching TV, try something that engages your brain: reading, writing, taking a class, doing a crossword puzzle or even learning a new game to play with family members.

• Stay in touch. Loneliness is linked to depression, a risk factor for memory loss. Try to keep your social network strong by volunteering or simply helping a neighbor. Make a conscious effort to stay connected with friends and relatives by visiting with them or keeping in touch by phone or e-mail.

• Stay active.

Regular exercise can increase oxygen to the brain. It can lower the risk for diseases that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

For more topics of interest, visit www.bankers.com and click “Senior Resources.”