Staying Sharp For Dummies

by Timothy E. Parker

Insight and actionable information on keeping your brain sharp as you age Your brain controls who you are--how you think, feel, and act. As you age, it's not uncommon to want to remain as sharp and "with it" as you were in your younger years. Whether you want to hone your memory, manage stress and anxiety, or simply eat brain-healthy food, "Staying Sharp For Dummies" shows you how to keep your mind sharp, agile, and creative well into your golden years.

Research shows anyone can improve brain performance--and it's never too late to make changes to achieve your optimal brain health. While brain exercises certainly help, it's also vital to promote healthier living as a holistic way to support brain health. "Staying Sharp For Dummies" explains how keeping physically fit, eating right, managing stress, and even connecting with others helps give your brain the boost it needs to stay sharp--well into your golden years. Build a better brain through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and brain workouts Cope with a specific brain disorder, such as stroke, Dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's Stay sharp and improve memory and concentration Access an online bonus chapter from "Alzheimer's For Dummies" and "Dementia For Dummies"

If you or a loved one are looking for authoritative, accessible guidance on staying sharp, this essential guide endorsed by the American Geriatric Society and the American Geriatric Society Health in Aging Foundation covers the gamut of lifestyle and activity changes that can maximize brain function and health.

624 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 2016

Reviews

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. A lot of it was basic info though...doing puzzles, etc. I really wanted to get more out of remembering names and faces, but apparently it's just not my thing! I've been practicing and I still can't put faces and names together. I still forget why I've gone from one room to the next. I still can't remember what I pulled out my to-do list to put on it. My memory is no better, but I love doing puzzles and word games so I enjoyed that. I just do them a lot so it's not like I gained anything from that! I'm only 39, but on a lot if meds and have a lot of nutrition and health issues which definitely impacts my ability to think clearly a lot. My brain is showing signs of advanced atrophy for my age. l desperately want to keep my mind as sharp as I can for as long as I can. I do suffer from occasional spells of dementia related to neuro issues and other health issues and it's a scary thing. I have to set reminders, buzzers, alarms, for everything to keep me on track. Much of the time I'm not even fully aware of what season it is. Hopefully some if the info will come back to help me in time though.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This useful book follows the usual For Dummies format and is packed full of interesting information not just for those of us who are getting on in years but for those who want to keep both mind and body in the best possible condition for as long as possible. Readers need to bear in mind that the book has an American bias as it has been compiled by the American Geriatrics Society.

The book draws on the latest research into what keeps our brains and bodies in trim and suggests all sorts of ways you can improve memory skills and keep your brain active including completing puzzles, memory games, mnemonics to aid memory and practicing things like remembering your shopping list. There are sections on dealing with stress and on how the brain works as well as foods which are said to benefit both mind and body. This is where the American bias comes in as it mentions foods such as bison which are not available in the UK though it suggests venison, which is available, as having similar nutritional properties.

There are plenty of useful tips about making your home safer, taking moderate exercise and staying happy, healthy and contented into old age. This is a substantial book and contains a great deal of information and you might want to keep it by you to dip into. It would be impossible to put all its recommendations into action at once or to absorb everything in the book, but if you want to tackle any aspect of your life then the chances are this book has something in it which will be relevant. There is a index and a detailed contents list and suggestions throughout the text of where to go for further information. This could be said to be a handbook for life and will be of use and interest to people of all ages.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good look into all the aspects of aging and staying sharp as you get older.