To maintain normal function, the brain must receive a certain combination of nutrients and oxygen in order to serve you properly, and that includes general health down to remembering where you left your keys.

But the brain needs more than that to maintain your memory. It also needs neurotransmitters and the nutrients that help them function and as well as protection from a variety of environmental toxins.

Specifically, in order to maintain proper brain health and a good memory, you must have enough B vitamins and amino acids.

Even if you take supplements, if you have a high amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood, then you lose the benefits of these nutrients.

These are blockers to blood flow and the blood is the only way for your nutrients to get to the brain. When your brain is deprived the blood and nutrients it needs, the health of your memory suffers.

Have you ever been in the middle of a sentence and had the word you were about to say escape you? This could be your brain giving you a hint that it needs more nutrients.

These nutrients directly support the neurotransmitters that are like electrical connections in the brain, helping you pass impulses and information back and forth to where they need to be.

Aging, also, affects memory loss, but there are other conditions that may speed up aging, which in turn, debilitates your memory and may include diseases such as Alzheimer's and forms of dementia.

Health issues like allergies, candidiasis, stress, thyroid problems, hypoglycemia, and diabetes affect aging and memory loss directly.

Alcohol, drugs, environmental toxins like free radicals contribute to these conditions and can also affect memory loss directly as well.

The following ten questions form part of a common test as they cover both the short and the long term memory and also test for orientation as well.

How old are you?

What is your date of birth?

What day is it today?

What month are we in?

What year is it?

When was the first world war?

What is the name of the President / Prime Minister?

Where are you now?

Can you please count backwards from 20 to 1?

Tell them an address, then ask them to repeat it back to you after five minutes.

Although the test is deceptively easy it is also very useful as it's quick, cheap, non-evasive and helps diagnose Alzheimer's disease or dementia and gives an indication of the areas in the patient's memory that may be affected.

To combat memory loss, eat well and drink lots of water. Rest, exercise, and avoid smoking, drugs, and excessive amounts alcohol. Stay away from stress and if your memory loss continues, consult a doctor.