A common aging-related memory change is decline in episodic memory; which strategy helps mitigate this change?

• A. Do nothing and hope for the best.
• B. External aids and repeated practice to strengthen retrieval.
• C. Rely on instinct and avoid checking memory.
• D. Sleep less to increase recall.

Answer: (B)

Declines in episodic memory—the ability to recall personal events and experiences—can be helped by using external aids and by practicing retrieval. External aids such as calendars, to-do lists, reminders, labels, and notes provide cues that trigger recall when you need to remember something, reducing the strain on memory and supporting independent functioning. Repeated retrieval practice, especially when spaced over time, strengthens the memory traces and makes recall more reliable in the long term. Together, these approaches both cue memory and reinforce the ability to retrieve it. The other options don’t offer reliable support: doing nothing misses helpful cues and practice; relying on instinct and not checking memory increases the likelihood of forgetting; and sleeping less impairs memory consolidation, which generally harms recall.