On the television cartoon “The Simpsons,” Grampa Simpson once said, "You know, you remind me of a poem I can't remember." He has something in common with actress Patty Duke, who once said, "I can't tell you what I had for breakfast, but I can sing every single word of rock and roll."

Ah memory. It’s fickle, for sure.

Special: Do You Have These Alzheimer's Warning Signs? Rate Your Memory Now.

But you can protect your memory if you take care of your brain. More than anything, that means maintaining a healthy weight.

A new study out of the United Kingdom shows that kids who are overweight or obese have damaged episodic memory; they are less able to recall past episodes of their life. And we know that overweight adults are at increased risk for dementia, the ultimate form of memory loss.

Close to 30 percent of kids and 70 percent of American adults are overweight or obese. If, as the evidence suggests, excess weight results in cognitive deficits, that means most Americans are or will become cognitively impaired. That's horrifying.

So what can you do to make sure you're not in that number?

1. Keep sugary drinks out of the hands of your children, and out of your hands too.
2. Read ingredients labels and stay away from any added sugars and syrups.
3. Eliminate all trans fats and most saturated fats from your diet.
4. Eat 5-9 servings daily of fruits and veggies.
5. Walk 10,000 steps a day (no excuses).

If you remember to do all that, you'll continue to remember (and love) your rock 'n' roll!

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