Happy & Healthy with Amy

Boosting Memory Part 2: How Your Brain Stores Memories

• Amy Lang • Season 1 • Episode 291

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Why do some memories last forever, while others vanish the moment you walk into a room? 

In this episode, we break down the neuroscience behind memory—how memories are created, stored, and retrieved—plus how menopause, stress, and sleep impact what you remember and forget.

What to Listen For:

  • [00:02:10] The 3 essential stages of memory: encoding, consolidation, and retrieval—and how they work
  • [00:03:45] Why multitasking and distraction destroy your ability to remember
  • [00:05:10] How your hippocampus acts like a Lego master when building memories
  • [00:07:00] Why poor sleep can sabotage your brain’s ability to store memories
  • [00:08:45] The surprising way every recall changes your memory (hint: it's not a replay)
  • [00:10:00] How estrogen supports your memory (and what happens when it drops)
  • [00:11:10] The four types of memory—and why working memory fails first in menopause
  • [00:13:00] How procedural memory explains why people with Alzheimer’s can still play piano
  • [00:14:30] Memory loss red flags: what's normal vs. what's not
  • [00:15:50] What science says you can do right now to support your brain through hormonal changes

Cognitive decline isn't inevitable. By understanding how your brain stores and retrieves memories—and how menopause can impact each stage—you can take meaningful steps to protect and improve your cognitive health.

 🎧 Listen now and share this episode with a friend who keeps losing track of her phone. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss Part 3 in the Memory 101 series.

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