Finding Dory: Chiropractic and Memory Loss is No Fish Tale

By Sara Butler

If you’re a Disney junkie, or you have kids, you probably saw Finding Dory over the weekend, or you’re going to see it at some point over the next few weekends. I mean, who didn’t love Finding Nemo? And Dory is one of the most endearing characters in all of fishdom. With her short-term memory -- she can’t remember more than a few seconds -- she’s endearingly annoying.

Thinking of Dory got me to thinking about memory and memory loss. Since chiropractic has such a heavy focus on the central nervous system, is there hope for people through chiropractic to improve their memories? It turns out that yes, that may just be possible.

If you’re the forgetful sort, here’s how chiropractic care, and a few other things, may benefit your memory! Now where did I leave my notes?

Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic care is great for a lot of things, but one of the best benefits may be helping create more efficient brain function. Not only does chiropractic help to decrease musculoskeletal issues, it may also help increase your mental capacities, such as memory and creativity. When the joints in your spine are moving correctly, your nervous system is allowed to function as it was intended, resulting in improved communication from the brain to the body. To make the most of whatever you do, you want all your synapses sparking optimally, and having your body’s information superhighway free of roadblocks is a great start. Chiropractic seems to function as a kind of reset button for your brain, so feel free to press that button!

Fish Oil

This seems rather morbid since we’re talking about Finding Dory, but fish oil supplements that are high quality can also help to improve your memory and cognition. The DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is an omega-3 fatty acid that helps to boost brain health and function. It also happens to reduce inflammation, improve vision and reduce the incidents of heart attacks and ischemic strokes. So, at the very least, taking a high-quality fish oil supplement may just help you to remember where you put your keys. At best, it might save you from a heart attack or stroke. At worst, Pixar loses a few extras in its next fish movie.

Exercise

Hey, you knew this one would be on the list! Exercise is good for you, there are no two ways about it. It’s curious that Dory had such a terrible memory when she basically spent her entire life swimming, but as a human, aerobic exercise can help improve your memory. The reason for this is the improved blood flow to your brain as well as how your brain utilizes different hormones and neurotransmitters as you exercise. To reap these benefits, you can run, bike, row or do basically anything that gets your heart rate up. As Dory says, “Just keep swimming!”

If chiropractic care is not a part of your regular health and wellness lifestyle, you should consider starting! With chiropractic care, such as that provided at The Joint Chiropractic, you may never have to worry about losing your head if it’s not attached.