Forgetting Names and Misplacing Keys? What Researchers Are Learning About Everyday Memory

You walk into the kitchen and stop. Why did you come in here? A familiar name sits on the tip of your tongue and refuses to come out. Most of us shrug these moments off — until they start happening more often.

Some change in memory is a normal part of getting older. Processing speed tends to slow, and it can take a little longer to retrieve names and words. But memory isn’t set in stone, and researchers are learning more every year about the everyday factors that help keep it sharp.

The everyday habits that matter most

When it comes to memory, the basics carry more weight than most people think:

• Sleep. During deep sleep, the brain’s glymphatic system helps clear away waste products that build up during the day. Consistently short nights make it harder to form new memories.
• Movement. Regular aerobic activity — even a brisk daily walk — is linked to healthier blood flow to the brain and better scores on memory tests.
• Learning and connection. Picking up a new skill and staying socially active keep giving the brain fresh challenges.
• Heart health. Blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol affect the brain’s blood vessels just as much as the heart’s.

A newer question: the plastic in our daily lives

Microplastics — tiny fragments shed by packaging, bottles, synthetic fabrics and countless household products — have turned up almost everywhere scientists look, from drinking water to the air inside our homes.

In 2025, a study published in Nature Medicine reported measurable micro- and nanoplastics in samples of human brain tissue, with higher levels in more recent samples than in older ones. The researchers were careful to point out that their findings don’t show that plastics cause memory problems. Still, the study has many people rethinking how much plastic they eat, drink and breathe every day.

A few easy swaps help: heat food in glass or ceramic instead of plastic, filter your tap water, choose fresh foods over heavily packaged ones, and keep indoor air moving.

Nutrients more adults are adding to their routines

Alongside healthy habits, a handful of nutrients and botanicals have drawn research interest for their role in memory and focus. The evidence varies — some are backed by several clinical trials, others by early studies — but these four come up again and again:

Phosphatidylserine

A fatty compound that’s a natural part of every brain cell’s membrane, found in soy foods such as Japanese natto. It’s one of the few nutrients with an FDA qualified health claim related to cognitive function in older adults — though the FDA notes the supporting research is limited and preliminary.

Lion’s Mane

A shaggy white mushroom long used in East Asian cooking. In a small Japanese trial, adults aged 50 to 80 with mild cognitive decline who took it for 16 weeks scored better on cognitive tests than those on a placebo — and the difference faded after they stopped.

Bacopa Monnieri

A creeping herb used for centuries in Ayurvedic tradition, and one of the most-studied botanicals for memory. A review of randomized trials found it may improve some measures of cognition, such as attention speed, usually after several weeks of daily use.

1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol)

The compound behind the cool, familiar scent of eucalyptus — the same one found in many vapor rubs. In a small 2012 study, people with higher blood levels of 1,8-cineole after exposure to rosemary aroma performed better on mental tasks.

One formula that brings them together

Taking four separate supplements every day isn’t practical for most people. That’s the idea behind MindWake, a cognitive support formula that, according to the manufacturer, combines phosphatidylserine, lion’s mane, bacopa monnieri and eucalyptol in one daily capsule.

MindWake Cognitive Support Formula

• One capsule a day, 30 capsules per bottle
• Made in the USA in a facility that follows current Good Manufacturing Practices
• Non-GMO and gluten-free
• Covered by a 60-day money-back guarantee

2 Bottles

60-day supply

$79 / bottle

3 Bottles

90-day supply

$69 / bottle

Best value

6 Bottles

180-day supply

$49 / bottle

Prices listed on the official website at the time of writing. Free shipping on all packages.

Check Availability on the Official Website

Every order is backed by a 60-day satisfaction promise: if you’re not happy, contact the company within 60 days of purchase for a refund.

The bottom line

There’s no single fix for memory. Sleep, movement, a varied diet, staying connected and keeping an eye on your heart health remain the foundation — and cutting back on everyday plastic is an easy addition. For people who also want nutritional support, formulas like MindWake bring several of the most-studied nutrients together in one place.

As with any supplement, check with your doctor first, especially if you take medication or have a health condition.

You’ll be taken to the official MindWake website.