What do you think?
Rate this book
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2021
"Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for more than half the cases of dementia, gets nearly all the attention, and as a result, the terms dementia and Alzheimer's are often used interchangeably. They shouldn't be. The word dementia, however, is steeped in our common vernacular, and so is the association with Alzheimer's disease. I use both terms with the hope that the conversation, and the words we use to describe the broad condition of cognitive decline, will shift in the future."
鈥淭he brain can be continuously and consistently enriched throughout your life no matter your age or access to resources.鈥�
鈥淒on鈥檛 try to inspire people with fear. It doesn鈥檛 work well, and it doesn鈥檛 last long.鈥�
鈥淔ear-based messaging will never lead to a long-term effective strategy because it is not the way we are wired.鈥�
鈥淭he gap between brain science and good therapeutics in drug discovery for brain disorders has been called the 'valley of death.'"
"A resilient brain can withstand ongoing trauma, think differently, stave off brain-related illnesses including depression, and retain cognitive memory for peak performance. Moreover, possessing a resilient brain is what separates strategic, visionary thinkers from more average ones. It is not necessarily IQ or even educational level. It is the ability to improve the brain from challenging experiences instead of shrinking it."
"Clean living can slash your risk of developing a serious mind-destroying disorder, including Alzheimer's disease, even if you carry genetic risk factors. No matter what your DNA says, a good diet, regular exercise, not smoking, limiting alcohol, and some other surprising lifestyle decisions, can change that destiny."
"Chronic sleep deprivation, for example, can lead to a staggering amount of memory loss that can even appear like the onset of dementia. Sleeping well is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your brain functions and your ability to learn and remember new knowledge (it improves every system in the body). Sleep deprivation can also disrupt the movement of memories from short to long term."
"Your brain is roughly 73 percent water (same for your heart), and that is why it takes only 2 percent dehydration to affect your attention, memory, and other cognitive skills, so drinking just a few ounces of water can reverse that."
"How you pay attention to incoming data, however, maybe the most important factor in how much of that information you remember. I should point out that forgetting does have significant value. As I mentioned, if you remembered everything that comes into your brain, your brain would not work properly and your ability to creatively think and imagine would be diminished. Everyday life would be difficult; sure, you'd be able to recall long lists and cite elegiac love poems, but you'd struggle to grasp abstract concepts and even to recognize faces. There's a group of neurons that are charged with helping the brain to forget, and that are most active at night during sleep when the brain is reorganizing itself and preparing for the next day of incoming information. Scientists discovered these "forgetting" neurons in 2019, which helps us further understand the importance of sleep鈥攁nd the merits of forgetting. It's a beautiful paradox: In order to remember, we have to forget to some degree."
"Alzheimer's disease could be another potential side effect of a sugary Western diet. People with type 2 diabetes may be at least twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, and those with prediabetes or metabolic syndrome may have an increased risk for having predementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). If the risk for Alzheimer's disease goes up with metabolic disorders, then it makes sense that the risk also rises with unhealthy weight gain that has metabolic consequences. The science now speaks to this fact. Carrying extra weight around the abdomen has been shown to be particularly harmful to the brain."
"A 2014 study from the University of Texas at Dallas tells us that picking up a new hobby, like painting or digital photography, or even learning a new piece of software or language can strengthen the brain. Doing something new can even be seeing a 3D movie, joining a new club, or even using your nondominant hand to brush your teeth."
"Weightlifting is important, but not enough on its own. Pumping iron does confer cognitive benefits, as some studies show among older people who just lifted weights for a year. But to gain the most benefits, and which most studies prove, you have to get aerobic through activities like jogging, swimming, bicycling, dancing, hiking, or brisk walking at least five days a week for at least twenty to thirty minutes. Don't forget to engage in strength training two to three days this week, avoiding back-to-back strength training days so you give your muscles time to recover."
"The evidence on whether naps are beneficial to brain health in older adults is still unclear. If you must, limit napping to thirty minutes in the early afternoon. Longer naps later in the day can disrupt nighttime sleep."
"The term superfood has no medical meaning whatsoever. Although it implies that a food provides health benefits, it's a marketing term the food industry uses to sell more product."
鈥淪: Slash the Sugar and Stick to Your ABCs
H: Hydrate Smartly
A: Add More Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Dietary Sources
R: Reduce Portions
P: Plan Ahead (plan your main meals once or twice a week in advance)"
鈥淭he percentage I strive to eat is 70 percent carbs (unrefined and unprocessed), 15 percent fat, and 15 percent protein.鈥�
"Contrary to reports in the media, we have no good proof that eating organic foods provides any more nutrition than conventionally grown foods. Most people concerned about organic versus conventional are thinking about how pesticides, herbicides, and trace amounts of hormones and antibiotics can potentially have adverse health effects, even if that has not been adequately proven. When people ask me if it's ideal to eat purely organic, I say that given the current science, in general it's not necessary."
鈥淩esearchers at Michigan State University found that married people are less likely to experience dementia as they age, and divorcees are about twice as likely as married people to develop dementia (widowed and never-married people have risk profiles in between the married and divorced groups).鈥�
鈥淓ngaging socially in a larger group, particularly when centered around some sort of challenging activity, seems to be the most protective against Alzheimer's disease.鈥�
"Caregivers of spouses with dementia are up to six times more likely to develop dementia than people in the general population. These people are called the "invisible second patients."
鈥淔lossing鈥攁nd brushing鈥攜our teeth twice daily removes food debris and bacteria buildup that can ultimately lead to gum disease and increased risk of stroke.鈥�
"Unfortunately, crossword puzzles flex only a portion of your brain, mostly its word finding ability (also called fluency). So while they might help you excel at that, they won't necessarily keep your brain sharp in any general, overall sense."
鈥淎 body in motion tends to stay in motion. And, if you have not been exercising, starting today can significantly protect your brain later. It鈥檚 never too late!鈥�