Forgot you had meeting? Time to train your memory

SOME adult Singaporeans have been making a beeline for courses to boost their flagging memories, but trainers say not enough of them are doing so.

Children dominate many of these courses, with seven in 10 students being children while the rest are adults.

Ironically, adults especially those above 30 are the ones who need such courses the most.

Trainers told my paper that everyone's memory begins to decline after they hit 30, down from its peak between the age 25 and 30.

However, more adults are flocking to memory-training centres, such as Memory Vision in Robinson Road.

When it opened three years ago, there were about 100 adult students a year. Last year, the number leapt to 300.

The founder of Memory Vision and world-record holder for memory, Mr Nishant Khasibhatla, 31, said: "In the first six months of this year, we have already seen close to 300 adult participants. Compared to when we started, there has definitely been an increase in the number of adults attending memory-training courses."

Other training centres also expect more adults to participate in these courses.

Dr Joanne Staunton, a cognitive psychologist at Singapore Baby and Child Centre, said: "There will be an increasing trend of adults (taking up such training) because much research is being done now to find ways of helping them to retain information...throughout their lives."

She added that from the age of 30, it will become increasingly difficult for adults to organise their thoughts and multi-task.

She said: "The brain begins producing smaller quantities of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) that relay information between nerve cells. This is why memories start to lag."

Mr Izan Ishak, 38, a sound engineer, is one person who is suffering from memory loss.

He said: "Sometimes at work, I forget that I have appointments and will remember them only after I see the person, or if he mentions it."

Mr Alan Yip, who is the 2007 record holder for memory power in the Singapore Book Of Records, said such memory loss is common among adults.

The 45-year-old said: "In a competitive working environment, it is important for people to absorb and retain information. This can increase productivity, which will put you ahead of your colleagues."

To strengthen the working memory, Singapore Baby and Child Centre, Mind Edge and Memory Vision will organise memory-training sessions costing between $200 and $600.

The exact price will differ for each individual because every case is unique, the trainers said.