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Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Medical Program that Improves Your Mind and Memory
In the tradition of Andrew Weil's bestseller Spontaneous Healing, this is a physician's breakthrough medical program for the brain designed to diminish the effect of memory impairment caused by stress, aging, and Alzheimer's disease. As we grow older and experience the stresses of life, at about age 40 many of us begin to have trouble remembering things, concentrating, and generally staying mentally sharp. This book contains a four-part program including nutritional, stress-relieving, pharmacological, and mind-body exercise therapies to help people overcome the undesirable effects of normal brain "aging". By controlling cortisol, a hormone that is toxic to the brain and present in excessive levels as we age, Dr. Khalsa's plan can help improve memory and emotional zest. This is the first book Describe a program that may diminish age-associated memory impairment Feature a clinical method that can promote memory functioning impaired by Alzheimer's disease Detail the physical damage done to the brain by stress, how it adversely affects memory and our other mental abilities, and what can be done about it.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
35 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 21, 2020
Found some good information, though author could have shrunken it to about one thirds of its size
August 13, 2019
Exciting book, readable, full of information
While most of us are losing our minds (literally cell by cell), some people are razor sharp well into their nineties. Is this just heredity or good luck, or is there something we can do to keep our mind and memory from going the way of Alzheimer's? Dr. Khalsa thinks so. In fact he presents quite a program for rejuvenation. The question is, does he have the goods in this book to help YOU?
To be honest, I don't know, but I read the entire 454 pages with interest and mostly approval. Not being a brain scientist myself, nor a doctor of medicine, I can only offer a layman's reaction. Generally speaking, Khalsa sees the brain as another organ in the body that can benefit in the same way that the rest the body can benefit. He offers the exciting prospect (along with some evidence) that even old people can grow new dendrites, in effect increasing their brain power. Especially interesting to me were his memory tests (that you can take yourself) to determine whether it is likely you are on your way to Alzheimer's or dementia, or just having a bad day.
There are four elements of his "brain longevity program": exercise, nutritional therapy, stress management, and pharmacology.
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain that in turn increases nourishment to the brain and allows for better removal of waste products. Khalsa believes that exercise also increases the supply of the "nerve growth factor" (NGF) hormone to the brain while enhancing neuronal metabolism. (p. 324) He reports that brain cells may die because they do not receive enough NGF. Certainly if one follows a sedentary lifestyle it would not be surprising to learn that with reduced blood flow, the brain becomes undernourished. So exercise--YES!
Okay, what about "nutritional therapy"? Yes, that's the usual program of cut out the animal fats, eat less in general and eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Good for the body, good for the brain. He also recommends nutritional supplements like ginkgo biloba and ginseng. He is concerned about free radicals in the blood which he believes contribute to the ageing process, and shows us how to reduce their number. Obviously, being overweight is a health risk, but Khalsa believes that being overweight also impairs cerebral circulation and creates millions of free radicals which can damage cells everywhere in the body including in the brain.
What really hit me was the importance of "stress management." Khalsa believes that excessive and chronic production of cortisol (which the adrenal glands secret in reaction to danger and other stresses) is "so toxic to the brain that it kills and injures brain cells by the billions." (p. 8)
And then there's pharmacology. Khalsa likes to go natural first, but when the situation is acute, he is not opposed to prescribing medicine. He especially likes deprenyl which he calls "the memory drug." He has a lot to say about neurotransmitters and their function and how they break down. He sees a connection between depression and subpar brain function, and believes that curing depression can rejuvenate the brain by itself. He recommends DHEA for some of his patients who have low levels of that precursor hormone in their systems. Indeed, he notes that hormonal deficiencies can figure prominently in memory and cognitive loss.
What sets this book apart from others I have read on the subject of health and well-being is the completely holistic approach taken by Dr. Khalsa. He is both a medical doctor trained in Western medicine and an alternative physician trained in the ancient ways of the East. He acknowledges the lack of experimental proof for some Eastern practices, but still believes they can be effective even if we are not sure how they work. After all, what has worked for millions people for thousands of years must have something going for it.
The book is divided into three parts. First there is the story of his discovery of the brain longevity program. Then there is Part Two on "How the Brain Works," followed by Part Three, "Designing Your Own Brain Longevity Program." I can tell you that, skeptic that I am, I am nonetheless already at work on following Khalsa's guidance, and I am altering my lifestyle to incorporate parts of his program. One thing is clear to me: his program can't hurt, and there is a fine chance that it will do a lot of good.
But you judge for yourself. Even if you don't follow any of the program you will benefit from reading this excellent book because it includes so much information about health. Additionally, there is a lot of sound psychology and even some spiritual insight that Khalsa provides. Here are a couple of nuggets, the first is what one might expect, and the second an example of Khalsa's wide-ranging knowledge base:
"One quick word about the so-called Recommended Daily Allowances: NONSENSE! I believe they're just too low. These daily allowances, until recently, were called Minimum Daily Requirements." (p. 243)
"Visual sensory memory, called iconic memory, is employed by circus knife-throwers as they try to convince their audiences that they're actually throwing knives. In fact...the knives they 'throw'--which barely miss the person strapped to the target--are actually punched through the target from behind. However, when the audience watches a knife 'leave' the thrower's hand, they swivel their heads toward the target...In reality, all they see is the iconic afterimage of the knife." (p. 138)
I didn't know that, and there's a lot else I didn't know about how our brains work and don't work until I read this book. By the way, a good part of the credit for how well this book is written goes to professional health writer Cameron Stauth who worked with Khalsa.
--Dennis Littrell, author of “The World Is Not as We Think It Is”
While most of us are losing our minds (literally cell by cell), some people are razor sharp well into their nineties. Is this just heredity or good luck, or is there something we can do to keep our mind and memory from going the way of Alzheimer's? Dr. Khalsa thinks so. In fact he presents quite a program for rejuvenation. The question is, does he have the goods in this book to help YOU?
To be honest, I don't know, but I read the entire 454 pages with interest and mostly approval. Not being a brain scientist myself, nor a doctor of medicine, I can only offer a layman's reaction. Generally speaking, Khalsa sees the brain as another organ in the body that can benefit in the same way that the rest the body can benefit. He offers the exciting prospect (along with some evidence) that even old people can grow new dendrites, in effect increasing their brain power. Especially interesting to me were his memory tests (that you can take yourself) to determine whether it is likely you are on your way to Alzheimer's or dementia, or just having a bad day.
There are four elements of his "brain longevity program": exercise, nutritional therapy, stress management, and pharmacology.
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain that in turn increases nourishment to the brain and allows for better removal of waste products. Khalsa believes that exercise also increases the supply of the "nerve growth factor" (NGF) hormone to the brain while enhancing neuronal metabolism. (p. 324) He reports that brain cells may die because they do not receive enough NGF. Certainly if one follows a sedentary lifestyle it would not be surprising to learn that with reduced blood flow, the brain becomes undernourished. So exercise--YES!
Okay, what about "nutritional therapy"? Yes, that's the usual program of cut out the animal fats, eat less in general and eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Good for the body, good for the brain. He also recommends nutritional supplements like ginkgo biloba and ginseng. He is concerned about free radicals in the blood which he believes contribute to the ageing process, and shows us how to reduce their number. Obviously, being overweight is a health risk, but Khalsa believes that being overweight also impairs cerebral circulation and creates millions of free radicals which can damage cells everywhere in the body including in the brain.
What really hit me was the importance of "stress management." Khalsa believes that excessive and chronic production of cortisol (which the adrenal glands secret in reaction to danger and other stresses) is "so toxic to the brain that it kills and injures brain cells by the billions." (p. 8)
And then there's pharmacology. Khalsa likes to go natural first, but when the situation is acute, he is not opposed to prescribing medicine. He especially likes deprenyl which he calls "the memory drug." He has a lot to say about neurotransmitters and their function and how they break down. He sees a connection between depression and subpar brain function, and believes that curing depression can rejuvenate the brain by itself. He recommends DHEA for some of his patients who have low levels of that precursor hormone in their systems. Indeed, he notes that hormonal deficiencies can figure prominently in memory and cognitive loss.
What sets this book apart from others I have read on the subject of health and well-being is the completely holistic approach taken by Dr. Khalsa. He is both a medical doctor trained in Western medicine and an alternative physician trained in the ancient ways of the East. He acknowledges the lack of experimental proof for some Eastern practices, but still believes they can be effective even if we are not sure how they work. After all, what has worked for millions people for thousands of years must have something going for it.
The book is divided into three parts. First there is the story of his discovery of the brain longevity program. Then there is Part Two on "How the Brain Works," followed by Part Three, "Designing Your Own Brain Longevity Program." I can tell you that, skeptic that I am, I am nonetheless already at work on following Khalsa's guidance, and I am altering my lifestyle to incorporate parts of his program. One thing is clear to me: his program can't hurt, and there is a fine chance that it will do a lot of good.
But you judge for yourself. Even if you don't follow any of the program you will benefit from reading this excellent book because it includes so much information about health. Additionally, there is a lot of sound psychology and even some spiritual insight that Khalsa provides. Here are a couple of nuggets, the first is what one might expect, and the second an example of Khalsa's wide-ranging knowledge base:
"One quick word about the so-called Recommended Daily Allowances: NONSENSE! I believe they're just too low. These daily allowances, until recently, were called Minimum Daily Requirements." (p. 243)
"Visual sensory memory, called iconic memory, is employed by circus knife-throwers as they try to convince their audiences that they're actually throwing knives. In fact...the knives they 'throw'--which barely miss the person strapped to the target--are actually punched through the target from behind. However, when the audience watches a knife 'leave' the thrower's hand, they swivel their heads toward the target...In reality, all they see is the iconic afterimage of the knife." (p. 138)
I didn't know that, and there's a lot else I didn't know about how our brains work and don't work until I read this book. By the way, a good part of the credit for how well this book is written goes to professional health writer Cameron Stauth who worked with Khalsa.
--Dennis Littrell, author of “The World Is Not as We Think It Is”
September 13, 2020
Currently Reading this Books and I am Enjoying The knowledge this Books have
March 19, 2021
RE: supplements chapter, you really need to see and discuss with your own FM doctor what would be best for your body, because every body is different, and one size does not fit all.
September 22, 2014
"Brain Longevity" is both a Western and Eastern Holistic approach to the improvement of your mind and memory. Included is a four prong plan of nutritional therapy, stress management, exercise therapy and pharmacology. There is a wealth of valuable information that can be somewhat overwhelming; however, the author provides a clear and simple approach to his program. On page 426 the author includes a basic individual treatment protocol and emphasizes that one need not be doomed to age related loss of memory, Alzheimer's disease and the deterioration of other mental functioning. I would highly recommend this book.
March 28, 2012
i'm giving this 5 stars even though it's a bit out of date...luckily, both piracetam and tryphtophan are now legal in the US, unlike when it was written.
for anyone with Alzeimer's or dementia in their family or friend pool, this is a crucial read.
the crucial piece of take-away info: STRESS IS THE WORST THING FOR YOUR BRAIN. and can actually lead to the states of "aging" and dementia that most Americans think are normal.
i've been on many of the vitamin recommendations for years and highly recommend his strategies.
for anyone with Alzeimer's or dementia in their family or friend pool, this is a crucial read.
the crucial piece of take-away info: STRESS IS THE WORST THING FOR YOUR BRAIN. and can actually lead to the states of "aging" and dementia that most Americans think are normal.
i've been on many of the vitamin recommendations for years and highly recommend his strategies.
September 10, 2012
Dr. Khalsa presents up to date information that is still relevant today even though the book is a few years old. With all the stressors in our lives, it may not seem as important to read books about how to maintain our health, but without our brain, where would we be? If you have any concerns, this is a great book filled with, not just information and research (that's there too), but practical things you can do to improve your brain power and keep your brain healthy throughout your life. --Deanna
August 9, 2007
i wanted to learn how memory works.. why i remember unimportant things like a conversations light years away with a childhood friend but i can't remember crucial things like where i keep the ATM card. So i read this book and now i can't even remember what i learned from it... sob :-( (it goes with age, i guess) so i'm giving it two stars because it's basically quite thorough in walking us through the brain dept...
February 28, 2008
An eye opener. It was also recommended by Shaykh Nuh Keller.
I really enjoyed reading this book because of the approach the author takes on health. He focuses a lot on spirit, health, and not just fighting symptoms. It's a complete outlook on the human body. This is the beauty of Eastern medicine; it tries to pinpoint the cause so that none of those symptoms will continue to occur.
A must read.
I really enjoyed reading this book because of the approach the author takes on health. He focuses a lot on spirit, health, and not just fighting symptoms. It's a complete outlook on the human body. This is the beauty of Eastern medicine; it tries to pinpoint the cause so that none of those symptoms will continue to occur.
A must read.
August 24, 2009
Basically what I already knew - eat right, avoid processed foods, exercise your body and brain, do strength training, reduce stress with meditation and or yoga. I'm looking into meditation and yoga. I'm doing the rest and I still can't remember anything so maybe they will help. :-)
June 1, 2008
all you need to know about keeping your brain in good fettle..?
June 20, 2009
Nonsense
November 9, 2009
Good for brain health
October 31, 2018
La mejor alternativa para conocer el funcionamiento de tu cerebro y cuidados preventivos mediante una explicación muy simple
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2011
This book gives a lot of practical advice on how to take care of your brain.
April 11, 2013
Might be worth trying some of the suggestions to strengthen the brain connections.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews