How the memories of over-70s can change along with the seasons

FOR people of a certain age, the cryptic crossword may be just about to get easier.

Over-70s can expect to be at the top of their game for remembering things when the autumn equinox comes at the end of the month.

the effect is like being almost five years younger, a study has found, and appears to last from late september to early October.

scientists made the discovery after finding that memory and problem- solving skills change throughout the year.

the study, led by researchers at the university of toronto, involved more than 3,300 older people taking extensive memory tests. It found performance peaked in late summer and early autumn before slowly declining and hitting rock bottom in late winter and early spring.

levels of genes and proteins linked to alzheimer’s disease followed the same pattern. the bad news for the over-70s is that their memory may be at its worst in late March and early april – when they are almost a third more likely to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, according to the study.

In some cases this could cause older people to be misdiagnosed with memory problems, only to see the issues reverse by autumn.

researchers suggest the cold and the dark may make people live more unhealthily during winter, affecting the brain and causing thinking skills to decline. dr andrew lim, the study’s lead author, said: ‘Our suspicion is that changes in seasons, in light, temperature and social schedules, may see people getting less physical activity, eating more poorly or changing sleeping patterns.

‘this may affect the way genes and proteins are expressed in the brain, causing the difference in how someone’s memory works. Vitamin d may also be important.’

Participants who had an average age of 77 were given a series of memory tests and their performance was compared across the seasons of the year.

results changed most for ‘working memory’, involving recall of strings of numbers, and ‘executive function’, which entailed decoding symbols linked to numbers.

adults both with and without dementia showed the same memory patterns throughout the year.

dr lim said: ‘this study has implications for clinicians as we could advise people to get more exercise, eat better or take vitamin d at certain times of year to boost memories.’

the study was published in the journal PlOs Medicine.