Poor memory is a common complaint and really quite typical, I'm afraid, of increasing years.

The secret to a good memory is to keep your brain as active as possible.

Play more word games and aim to complete at least one crossword puzzle per day.

Regular exercise can also help; the more oxygen you get to the brain, the less likely you are to lose your memory. Simply taking a deep breath more regularly – every 20 minutes or so – can help to improve brain function.

A healthy diet is also important. Always eat breakfast; low-sugar cereal breakfasts such as muesli or porridge are good choices as they are rich in B vitamins which are important for healthy brain and memory function.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids, found in oily fish such as tuna, sardines, herring and mackerel, are also vital brain nutrients and the reason why we so often refer to fish as being 'brain food'.

Another reason why oily fish is good for the brain is because it is also a rich source of a lesser-known nutrient called dimethyl amino ethanol or DMAE for short.

DMAE converts to choline in the liver which is then used by the body to make 'acetylcholine', a very important brain chemical essential to functions such as learning, concentration and memory.

DMAE is not advisable in cases of manic depression, schizophrenia and epilepsy.

For further advice ask at your local health shop.

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