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Memory Rescue: Supercharge Your Brain, Reverse Memory Loss, and Remember What Matters Most

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A proven program from #1 New York Times bestselling author and brain researcher Dr. Daniel Amen to help you change your brain and improve your memory today!
Brain imaging research demonstrates that memory loss actually starts in the brain decades before you have any symptoms. Learn the actions you can take to help not just prevent memory loss later in life . . . but to begin restoring the memory you may have already lost.

Expert physician Dr. Amen reveals how a multipronged strategy--including dietary changes, physical and mental exercises, and spiritual practices--can improve your brain health, enhance your memory, and reduce the likelihood that you'll develop Alzheimer's and other memory loss-related conditions.

Keeping your brain healthy isn't just a medical issue; it's a God-given capacity and an essential building block for physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Take action against the fast-increasing memory crisis that threatens this crucial part of who you are--and help your brain, body, and soul stay strong for the rest of your life.

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2017

818 people are currently reading
2816 people want to read

About the author

Daniel G. Amen

193 books1,443 followers
The Washington Post called Dr. Daniel Amen the most popular psychiatrist in America and Sharecare.com named him the web's most influential expert and advocate on mental health.
Daniel Amen is a life-long Christian and graduate of Oral Roberts University School of Medicine. He is a double board-certified psychiatrist and multiple NY Times bestselling author, with such blockbuster books as Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Healing ADD, Change Your Brain, Change Your Body, and The Daniel Plan, co-authored by Pastor Rick Warren and Dr. Mark Hyman. In November 2016, he and his wife Tana published The Brain Warrior's Way.
Dr. Amen is the founder of Amen Clinics, which has 6 locations across the United States. Amen Clinics has the world's largest database of brain scans related to behavior, totaling more than 125,000 SPECT scans on patients from 111 countries.
Dr. Amen's research team has published more than 70 scientific articles on a wide variety of topics related to brain health. He is the lead researcher on the largest brain imaging study on active and retired NFL players and was a consultant on the movie Concussion starring Will Smith. In 2016, Discover Magazine named his brain imaging work for psychiatric diagnoses as one of the top 100 stories in all of science.
Dr. Amen has also hosted 11 national public television shows about the brain, which have aired more than 80,000 times across North America and raised more than 75 million dollars for stations.

You can connect with Dr. Amen on Facebook and Twitter

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Amora.
214 reviews187 followers
June 22, 2020
While I may only be eighteen and don’t actually suffer from dementia, I found the advice in this book to be quite helpful. This book gave me a long list of foods I should avoid and activities I should be doing to reduce my chances of developing Alzheimer’s Disease in the distant future. I do think this book could’ve been better with at least a hundred pages taken out that weren’t necessary.
Profile Image for Angela Gentile.
Author 9 books13 followers
October 28, 2018
Learn all about the Amen Clinics Memory Rescue Program and a little about improving memory skills

I am a geriatric mental health clinician, and frequently I am asked: “How can I improve my memory skills?” The usual recommendations from doctors are, “Exercise and learn new things.” I have been on a quest to find some other tips and tools that people can use to help improve or maintain their brain and memory functions as they age. This need has led me to try to find the perfect book to recommend to those who are looking for more information. "Memory Rescue" has some useful information but it's not the book I was looking for.

I purchased a copy (Amazon) of psychiatrist Dr. Amen’s book “Memory Rescue: Supercharge your brain, reverse memory loss, and remember what matters most” which has a second subtitle, “The official program of the Amen Clinics.” The Amen Clinics are found all over the USA, and the services and programs offered there are to help people with various mental health and brain health concerns (such as memory loss, ADD, and traumatic brain injury).

This book starts out with 20 testimonials and reviews which is very impressive until I realized they were all from men. The male-dominated view about memory problems and the Amen Clinic program was very strong. The only female presence I felt was from Dr. Amen’s wife, Tana, which was very sparse. There were also a handful of case studies that were about females. As a woman reader and professional, I wish there had been a more balanced perspective.

The overall takeaway of this book, for me, was that this was a big advertisement for his Memory Rescue Program that he offers through his Amen Clinics and the MyBrainFitLife.com website. There were case examples of how his clinics help people, and there were lots of “SPECT” (single photon emission computed tomography) scan photos to “prove” it. Even after looking at numerous SPECT images, I still wasn’t 100% sure what I was looking for. I felt these images were a bit overkill.

Here in Canada, we don’t have access to Amen Clinics, and SPECT scans are reserved for those exceptional cases (which I am still not sure what those cases are.) We tend to favour CT, MRI and PET scans.

Ultimately I was looking for concrete tips on “how to improve memory skills” and “how to improve memory problems.” Amen’s program is intended to enhance your mood and memory skills using the BRIGHT MINDS risk factor approach, with each letter standing for a component of the “ultimate memory formula.” Blood Flow, Retirement and Aging, Inflammation, Genetics, Head Trauma, Toxins, Mental Health, Immunity/Infection Issues, Neurohormone Deficiencies, Diabesity, and Sleep Issues. There was quite a lot of repetition throughout the book, with the main recommendations being: Exercise, Nutrition, Nutraceuticals (and supplements).

On pages 28-30, you can take the “Amen Clinics’ Early Warning Signs Questionnaire.” Your score will provide you with a risk of “significant memory issues,” from low to high. Amen states, if you are at moderate to high risk, it is important to get a thorough medical evaluation.

This book brought up some new terms and concerns. Those including my need for nutraceuticals (which Amen sells on his BrainMD website), getting tested for the APOE gene (related to Alzheimer’s disease), an integrative medicine doctor (but doesn’t say where I can find one). He was heavy on the recommendation of Gingko Biloba (a natural supplement that has limited research evidence to help prevent memory problems, see GEM study). He was anti-marijuana use and wasn’t that clear on what the recommendation was for alcohol use (was it 2-4 servings a week or only 2?).  He suggests coconut oil is good for our brains, but I have read that it is not good for our bodies. There is a lot of reference to the Memory Rescue Diet, but it is not discussed until chapter 16. There are a lot of references to the Bible, which surprised me. He also suggested that "praying to release your worries and to rejoice over the good things around you can help reduce your risk of mental health problems" (p. 337).

Ultimately, as I mentioned earlier, I was looking for specific tips and techniques to help people improve their memory skills. The most helpful part of the book in this regard is found in Chapter 17 “Sharpen Your Memory––Brain Workouts for a Richer Life.” He provides a lot of suggestions of what activities can help strengthen the different areas of the brain such as playing Scrabble, completing crossword puzzles, and learning to play a new musical instrument. He suggests engaging in “map reading” without a GPS device. He’s a big fan of table tennis and other coordination activities, such as dancing, yoga, and tai chi. He says we should travel to new and interesting places and develop relationships with smart people. Music, especially classical, can enhance memory and cognitive function. Surprisingly, I didn’t find the instruction to “pay attention” to what we are doing, which I believe is an essential tip for being able to remember things in the first place. He doesn’t speak to word-finding difficulties, either, which is one thing a lot of older folks are initially concerned about.

The book is well-referenced, and he claims to walk the talk. The index is sub-par, and it could have been enhanced to make finding things a lot easier to find. Some of the reviews online of Amen Clinics state it is a very costly program. There is no mention of costs, but there is mention that the process of improving cognition or mental health often takes months. It’s assumed the program costs thousands of dollars. The MyBrainFitLife.com online program also has a cost, a yearly fee of USD 99. There are some free Brain Assessments (which I completed) which can help one decide on the level of risk one is at. If someone already has memory impairment, a caregiver or loved one will need to read this book as it tends to have some jargon and technical language, and there is lots to read and learn about.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Amen Clinic Memory Rescue Program. For specific information on brain health and tips for improving memory skills, Chapter 17 is where you want to start. If you believe in God or a higher power, this will also confirm your faith in how prayer and scripture can support your mental health. The book is somewhat repetitive, however, it drives home the main message––that having a healthy body means better chances for a healthy brain.

I'll leave you with this: Amen provides hope––“Yet new research suggests that a 'memory rescue' program, like the one presented in this book, can dramatically improve memory and can prevent and sometimes even reverse some forms of dementia. Given how most doctors approach this issue, however, you cannot count on traditional medicine to rescue your memory.” (p. 4).

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW (Specialist in Aging)
Profile Image for Shirley.
472 reviews46 followers
November 14, 2017
This review of Memory Rescue is based upon an advance reader copy that was unedited and for promotional purposes only.

The book focuses on memory loss, its many causes, and preventative measures. Daniel G. Amen, M.D. offers a program that not only detects factors contributing to memory loss through different testing but also offers possible remedial measures through diet, exercise, and supplements. See Doctor Amen's descriptions of SPECT imaging as well as QEEG testing on page 33. It was encouraging to read that those with Alzheimer's and dementia have hope of improvement through the program. The typical medical response to memory issues is a prescription from the doctor and a prophecy of decline and degeneration.

The book is a medical encyclopedia in a very readable format. Because of the prevalence of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's Disease in aging friends, I frequently read books concerning these medical issues to better understand what is going on in the body as well as to know how to give support to those who are challenged with the debilitating effects. Dr. Amen's book is the most informative of any I have read. I have marked passages all through the book with information that is new to me, facts that are more detailed than what I have read in the past, and passages that give hope to those dealing with these diseases.

I live in a small, rural community but even we have an Alzheimer's support group. I plan to share my copy with the leader of this group. She has given me copies of several books on these subjects and has even written a book herself because both her mother and sister died of Alzheimer's. She has never been willing to allow me to pay her for the books but suggests that I may make a donation to one of the local charities. I know that she gives copies of books to those in her support group as well as to anyone else who shows an interest in these subjects. It is my hope that the group will decide to purchase an abundant supply of Memory Rescue to carry on the tradition of giving support to others.

I don't want to hide the entire review because of spoilers, but if potential readers do not want any advance exposure to the contents of the book, you may stop reading here. I just want to offer some examples of why I found this book so valuable.

Memory Rescue is a method designed to sharpen the mind, reverse brain aging, and prevent Alzheimer's. The program's purpose is to prevent, eliminate, and treat risk factors. The mnemonic BRIGHT MINDS is used to help readers accomplish these goals. (Blood flow problems, Retirement/Aging, Inflammation, Genetics, Head Trauma, Toxins. Mental Health Issues, Immunity/Infection, Neurohormone deficiencies, Diabesity, Sleep Issues) (xii-xiii) I refer to the book as an encyclopedia because it covers such a wide range of health issues. Readers can honestly benefit by reading this book whether their focus is on memory issues or not.

On pages 28-30, Dr. Amen offers a questionnaire to help readers access the early signs of decline in their mental health.

Page 36 offers excellent descriptions of three different types of dementia. That page also shares one of many personal examples of how Dr. Amen and his teams at the Amen Clinics evaluate and treat those who are suffering from memory issues. These "stories" of actual patients are another factor that contributes positively to the readability of this book. The book also shares numerous examples of SPECT scans that demonstrate why the brain is malfunctioning.

On page 53, Dr. Amen gives supplements that should be included as a daily regimen for brain health. On page 56, he gives examples of medications that can interfere with the effectiveness of those supplements. I was fascinated to read that ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory, can interfere with the the body's ability to process B6, C, D, K, calcium, zinc, iron, and folate. There were so many "AHA!" moments for me while reading this book.

Did you know that ". . . the faster we walk as we age, the longer we live and the sharper we think."? Dr. Amen offers data comparing walking speed to longevity in eighty and ninety-year-olds. (Page 47) He follows this up with facts on balance and gives a way to evaluate one's balance based on age. (Page 71)

On page 82, the doctor describes the silver lining to working beyond the typical retirement age. A study of 500,000 people found that with each extra year of work, chances of dementia were decreased by 3.2%. The physical, social, and mental factors that are involved in working stimulate brain health.

Whole books are now written on the healthy gut factor. Dr. Amen has a chapter entitle "I Is For Inflammation." (Pages 95-108) Every chapter has a starred list at its end that gives the reader a quick review of its content. Chapters correlated with the BRIGHT MINDS mnemonic offer lists of changes that readers can use to pick one new habit to incorporate into their lives to start on the road to improving brain health.

I enjoyed playing twenty questions on pages 141 and 142. This set of questions allows the reader to evaluate their exposure to toxins in our food and environment.

Being an animal lover, I enjoyed learning about the doctor's family dog named Aslan. The doctor's very insightful statement at the end of the story was "Food is medicine...or is it poison!" (page 271) One of our beloved Golden Retrievers had digestive issues similar to Aslan's. Diet was a major factor in eliminating problems.

On page 271, Dr. Amen describes how Americans eat approximately 140 pounds of sugar per year. I was amazed. REALLY! Sugar is one of my vices. A friend once told me that she equates sugar with poison.

I rarely write reviews of this extent. I hope I have piqued readers' interest and not revealed too much. There is so much more to this book that I haven't shared. I highly recommend Memory Rescue and suggest that it be read with sticky-notes in hand. It is a great reference that you will undoubtedly want to revisit.
Profile Image for Trisha.
342 reviews
April 16, 2018
This is a great book for those wishing to keep their memory intact. There are many case studies of his patients and how he uses the acronym to diagnosis and treat the memory problem. Also talks about nutrition needs.
Profile Image for Tracy.
2,768 reviews19 followers
July 28, 2018
I read this because my friend wanted to do it for our August book club. I had checked out quite a few books from our library at the same time, so this one was at the bottom of the stack. I found it surprisingly easy to read and understand. (You don't expect a book with so much medical and health information to be so readable.) The personal stories in each chapter added to my understanding of the different areas of the risk factors for Alzheimer's, which are remembered by the mnemonic BRIGHT MINDS.
This book isn't just for Alzheimer's. It is for everyone. We can all use help with improving our memories, our brain health and physical health. If you follow the steps in this book, you can do all these things. I doubt that I will do everything listed in the book, but I am taking a look at my diet and seeing where I can make improvements. Even if you do nothing new from the book, just knowing what puts you at risk for Alzheimer's and other diseases will make you aware that your actions do have health consequences and that you have more control than you may realize.
244 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2017
Once again, Dr. Amen provides a wealth of information in an incredibly useful (and readable) format.

Don't let the title fool you -- although it IS about repairing and recharging your brain, your whole body is the target. Aging, meet Amen!
Profile Image for Rick.
371 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2024
This is an excellent book for those who want to ensure their brain is in functioning order. After reading the book you can contact the author to get focused details about your concerns.
Profile Image for Edward.
123 reviews
June 16, 2018
This book contains useful information about our brains and how to keep our brains in top shape throughout our lives. While the book seems to be written for people who might have already showing signs of memory loss as they age, in my opinion, it is applicable to everyone at all ages. There are numerous interventions that can help one avoid memory loss down the road. Take the case of Alzheimer's disease, which is affecting a large portion of the aging population in the United States. According to Dr. Amen, changes in the function of the brain happen years before any noticeable symptoms appear. It is never too early to pay attention and keep good care of your brain.

There has been so much written on the prevention of other chronic diseases (such as metabolic syndrome, cholesterol, diabetes), but yet no much on the slow deterioration of the brain, particular memory. Society seems to accept the fact that as people age, they start to lose their memory function. However, according to Dr. Amen, a lot of these early memory loss can be prevented and managed and everyone has control. According to the book, a large part of how to prevent the slow memory loss is simply changing one's life style (right diet, manage stress, sleep, right supplements, etc.). As described in the book, there are some other more advanced interventions, such as neurofeedback and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help rehabilitate head trauma.

Dr Amen argues that the brain is the most important organ in the human body. He questions the fact that while everyone is measuring their cholesterol level every year or for older adults, elect for colonoscopy , yet very few people is paying attention and measuring their cognitive ability and signs of decline. One can go to do the SPECT scan (single photon emission computed tomography) to get a full image of their brain, or at least do a cognitive test regularly to measure any signs of decline.

I see similar contents and themes with Dave Asprey's book Head Strong, except that Head Strong focuses more on increasing one's brain performance (as Dave said, to get an unfair advantage over others) while this book focuses on maintaining brain function (particularly memory) as one grows into old age so that we can live a high quality life throughout our lives.

There are many good tips from the book. Along with other books (I am name a few, such as Head Strong by Dave Asprey, The Plant Paradox by Dr. Gundry and Why we Sleep by Matthew Walker), this book helps me be informed on what's good for my health and drive my many daily decisions. For example, one of the key points of maintaining a highly functioning brain and prevent memory loss is having good blood flow to the brain and maintaining an efficient mechanism of cleansing toxic waste in the brain. So, limiting caffeine in-take (as caffeine is known to restrict blood flow) and adequate sleep (as a major function of deep sleep is cleaning metabolic waste from your day's neural activity).
Profile Image for Yvonne Glasgow.
Author 17 books69 followers
November 13, 2017
Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, Memory Rescue by Daniel G. Amen, MD. I found it a very comprehensive guide to memory loss and memory building. It covers points we all should already know about but also introduces some other reasons for memory loss and ways to save or regain memory that you may not have already heard about. It's not the easiest read (it's long and full of a ton of information), but it's laid out well and explains things in understandable terms.
37 reviews
January 2, 2020
The author mentions anecdotes about his successes but does not mention his failures. He is against caffeine that other sources recommend.
Profile Image for Mary Lou.
1,086 reviews24 followers
October 27, 2021
Okay.... I'm having a lot more of those moments when I forget why I came into a room or can't recall people's names. My Jeopardy game has just gotten embarrassing. The information is all up there somewhere, but I just can't seem to access it anymore. And now I have some idea why.

Dr. Amen's book is chock-full of case studies, scientific research (lots of bran scan photos, if you're into that sort of thing), whys, and hows. Why, that is, your brain may not be functioning well, and how to fix it, or at least slow the deterioration. Full disclosure - I didn't read this book word-for-word, but skimmed through and took a LOT of notes on those parts I found pertinent (because, let's face it, I won't remember what was said). More than just the typical "diet and exercise" advice, Dr. Amen specified what types of exercise (ping pong, surprisingly!), what foods, what supplements, and what other habits (like flossing daily) are important for optimum brain health, and why. Pretty interesting stuff.

Fred Astaire once said, "Old age is like anything else. To make a success of it you have to start young." I think he would fully endorse reading Dr. Amen's book, and the sooner the better.
213 reviews4 followers
August 19, 2023
In these times of increasing mass shootings, suicides, and declining mental health, it is becoming increasingly obvious that we are harming our bodies and brains( just another organ), with our increasingly poor diets, stress and lack of exercise.
Dr Amens will show you how to make and keep your brain healthy, as well as the rest of your body.
Profile Image for Francheska.
36 reviews3 followers
April 1, 2021
It’s a nice to know book especially if you are thinking long term about your brain health. As a person who wants to reach 100 years old with my wit and sanity still intact (why not?); this book gave me some pointers on where to start or modify my routine/ habits.

I had a head trauma last year from a vehicular accident. I just want to know if that can be a factor. Spoiler alert: it is!

The writing was a little bit redundant for me. He could have just allotted one chapter about the diet and supplementation for each factors.
Overall, it was a good read.
Profile Image for Alexis.
126 reviews
June 7, 2025
Although the narrator of the audio book is a fantastic reader, the writing style is not engaging. It seems as though this book is one long advertisement for the author’s employer. The writing certainly was not neutral.
Profile Image for CTBookGirl.
154 reviews6 followers
January 8, 2018
I was not sure where to rate this book. I found the information very useful, relevant and important however for me, I didn't find all of it necessarily all new information. I feel like "you are what you eat" is old news but this did have an updated relevancy. Overall the book was well written and I would recommend it to those not as educated in the food/body/mind arena.
I received this book from Goodreads through a giveaway.
Profile Image for Debbie.
984 reviews
March 14, 2018
This book serves as a guideline to identify risk factors for memory problems and gives specific suggestions how to improve memory. Exercise, sleeping, eating, and more are included. Well documented.
Profile Image for Teresa.
531 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2018
The problem I have with this book is that people will begin to use all of the supplements lauded by the book without checking with their doctors to find out if these supplements will be okay to use with their prescription medications and what are some the side effects of these supplements.
Profile Image for Anjar Priandoyo.
309 reviews14 followers
June 1, 2018
As the purpose of this book is for brain health, this book is a good one. It explains a way to maintain memory, the most important part of our humanity.
306 reviews4 followers
May 1, 2018
Many brain SPECT examples, before and after treatment, however, that doesn't really tell us how to read them...yep! that 'after' sure looked good. 👍


"The official program of the Amen Clinics."
Bibliog. Includes bibliographical references (pages 353-407) and index
Contents MEMORY IS LIFE: A breakthrough approach to memory issues, aging, and Alzheimer's -- How the brain works: learn about the most important part of you -- What trouble looks like: how brain imaging changes everything -- BRIGHT MINDS: THE ULTIMATE MEMORY FORMULA. B=Blood flow -- R=Retirement and aging -- I=Inflammation -- G=Genetics -- H=Head trauma -- T=Toxins -- M=Mental health -- I=Immunity/Infection issues -- N-Neurohormone deficiencies -- D=Diabesity -- S=Sleep issues -- DAILY FOOD, HABITS, AND MORE TO BOOST YOUR MEMORY: The memory rescue diet -- Sharpen y our memory with brain workouts for a richer life -- Memory medications: when and what to consider -- Brain-enhancement therapies: innovative ways to strengthen your memory -- Memory rescue made easy: 20 short stories of the Seahorse twins, Scarlett and Sam -- How to start your personal memory rescue plan
Summary "Brain imaging research demonstrates that memory loss actually starts in the brain decades before you have any symptoms. Learn the actions you can take to help not just prevent memory loss later in life . . . but to begin restoring the memory you may have already lost."--
Profile Image for Joy.
352 reviews37 followers
November 9, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up.

First off: the title led me to expect a book about mnemonic devices or other brain-strengthening techniques first and foremost. It does contain some of that, but only in one chapter near the end. The rest is Amen's approach to brain health and fighting/preventing brain diseases or conditions (particularly Alzheimer's disease).

This approach follows the BRIGHT MINDS mnemonic; to maintain brain health, one must address the following factors: Blood Flow, Retirement/Aging, Inflammation, Genetics, Head Trauma, Toxins, Mental Health, Immunity/Infection Issues, Neurohormone Deficiencies, Diabesity, and Sleep Issues.

This multi-factor approach, and all the cases studies used as examples, reminded me strongly of The End of Alzheimer's (though I believe this book, going through each case study step by step, tended to repeat itself more).

Like Bredesen, Amen leaves me grasping for a more succinct summary of life changes to adopt. His lists of factors to test and "nutraceuticals" to take are expansive, such that I already need to go back and reread them. I get the sense that, were I to follow it all to the letter, the costs would quickly become prohibitive.

On the whole, I think I'd recommend Bredesen more than Amen, but I want to reread The End of Alzheimer's to see if the overlap of factors is complete.
Profile Image for Joan.
4,303 reviews111 followers
January 20, 2018
Memory problems for older people are a big problem. While no medication has been found to come to the rescue, there is much we can do to improve our memory and even prevent some forms of dementia. Amen lays out the risk factors and what we can do to reduce or eliminate them.

Amen writes, “...your brain does not have to deteriorate. With a little forethought, you can slow or even reverse the aging process in the brain.” (82) He gives tons of information on the factors that affect brain health. He writes about the food we eat. He advises us to stop complaining. “It rewires your brain to see the negative far too often.” (176) Another suggestion is to journal feelings. My favorite of his suggestions is to always be learning. And then there are all the toxins and minerals to consider.

I was feeling overwhelmed with all the information contained in the book when I came to the final chapters. Amen does a great job of reviewing the major points. He also has a very good chapter with information condensed for readers to develop their own plan.

Amen encourages us to be brain warriors, people who work at restoring mental and brain health. There is a wealth of information in this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to grow old with a healthy brain and mind.
Profile Image for Robert Sutherland.
312 reviews16 followers
February 5, 2025
Amen presents several case studies of people with brain problems.
He introduced me to the SPECT brain scan, a functional evaluation of our most important organ.

Then using the acrostic BRIGHT MINDS, he describes risk/mitigation strategies to combat the problems.
B-Blood flow (reduce blood pressure)
R-Retirement/Aging (stay engaged, learn new things)
I- Inflammation (diet, exercise)
G- Genetics (not much you can do other than make good choices)
H-Head trauma (you might need a hyperbaric chamber for this one)
T-Toxins (don't smoke, breathe bad air, or use toxic hygiene products)
M-Mental health (treat your depression, anxiety, ADD, etc)
I-Immune system (especially protect your gut)
N-Neurohormones (don't suffer from Low T)
D-Diabesity (my favorite term of the book--keep weight and sugar under control)
S-Sleep (clears out the brain trash)

It was a long commercial for his brain center but there are plenty of actionable takeaways to make the book worthwhile.
Profile Image for Michelle Arredondo.
501 reviews60 followers
December 16, 2017
Charge your brain and improve your memory....I need that in my life. I've been at this book since November. I decided to take my time reading this one instead of getting at it all at once. It's an interesting read with many absorbing tidbits and good information. I don't know about reversing memory loss....but for the most part I am still quite intrigued by what I am reading and will continue to do so.......

Until I am completely finished and can form a strong opinion about this book...I'll come back to this review and delve further into my thoughts on it. In the meantime...I still recommend this book because again, so far it's pretty interesting. And from what I gather...Dr. Amen has quite the reputation for knowing his stuff.

Thanks as always to the peeps of goodreads for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.
Profile Image for Paul Manytravels.
361 reviews33 followers
February 14, 2018
This book tells you everything you could want to know about how to avoid memory loss. While there is a certain amount of memory loss that will occur no matter what, there is also a lot that can be done to minimize the severity of the loss.
This book offers interventions from every direction: changes in diet, specific vitamins and supplements, activities, changes in behaviors and routines and the list goes on. Not only does the book offer lots of suggestions, it explains the science behind them.
This is a great reference book and helpful in many ways. It is probably not necessary to read it cover to cover, as I did, but to see it as a reference book instead. No matter how the reader approaches the book, he will be likely to find many things he can apply to his daily living and to protecting himself from memory loss.
Profile Image for TK Youssef.
10 reviews
May 27, 2025
Calling Memory Rescue life-changing feels like an understatement. From the moment I started reading, I began making changes, small at first, but powerful. By the time I finished the last page, I was no longer the same person. I feel transformed, not only for myself but for my family too.

Dr. Amen’s authenticity, the wealth of research he shares, and the real-life patient stories made this book deeply impactful. It’s not just science, it’s human. It opened my eyes to the many ways we can heal and protect our brains, no matter our past choices.

One sentence will forever stay with me: “You are not stuck with the brain you have, even if you've been bad to it, you can make it better.” That message alone gave me hope, and the tools in this book gave me direction. Highly recommend it to anyone ready to take their brain and life seriously.
Profile Image for Joan Magill.
1 review1 follower
December 30, 2017
Everything I Forgot and Intellectually Knew in One Place

Sixty-six is quickly becoming a reality next month. I am always interested in learning more techniques to increase memory. I have read an abundance of self help, personal development and diet books, none of which has inspired me to truly look at my whole health and fitness.

This book is the best book I have read to date that incorporates a realistic assessment on how the choices we make everyday affect the positive and negative operation of the brain to reflect the way we feel emotionally and physically. Much of this information is not new, however, the information is presented in an undeniable truth, one would be a fool to ignore and not follow.
Profile Image for Kris.
409 reviews60 followers
Want to read
November 21, 2019
"Memory Workouts by Brain Region:

Prefrontal Cortex:
- Language games, such as Scrabble, Boggle, and Words With Friends; crossword puzzles; speech and debate classes in college; strategy games, such as chess, Rail Baron, Axis & Allies, and Blokus

Temporal Lobe:
- Memory games; memorization of poetry and prose (increases hippocampal size)

Parietal Lobe:
- Math games like sudoku; juggling (occipital lobs and cerebellum); golf, even for novices; map reading without a GPS device

Basal Ganglia:
- Balancing, synchronizing arm and leg movements, and manipulating props like ropes and balls

Cerebellum:
- Coordination games like table tennis (also involves PFC), dancing (learning new dance steps), yoga, tai chi, and basketball"
Profile Image for Yen.
55 reviews2 followers
June 9, 2024
Not sure what I was expecting, but this came off to me as a very narrow-minded approach to "rescuing one's memory." Essentially one has to maintain a strict diet of organic foods, avoid pollution, never paint one's nails, etc. so that one can avoid ever getting Alzheimers disease. This paints Alzheimers to be a scary, painful, dire condition, rather than something we can live with or appease symptoms for. It also makes you feel very shitty if you can't avoid some of these toxins or circumstances that supposedly increase your chances of getting Alzheimers. The brain scan proposed, which looks at blood flow and not only at functionality, by Amen clinics seems to be helpful, but there wasn't anything I particularly "learned."
198 reviews5 followers
December 10, 2017
I received a free copy of "Memory Rescue" by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. through the "Good Reads First Reads Giveaway."

This is a sincere, science based and informative book. We have an aging population concerned about memory loss.

Although this book is more valuable as a reference, it does motivate the reader to take better care of their brain. It concentrates on different additives and exercises, which should benefit all of us. Despite the name of this book, "I will have difficulty remembering many of its recommendations." I consider it a valuable asset to my library.

This book will help many readers improve their lives.
Profile Image for Mary Casey.
36 reviews
August 24, 2018
Interesting with many facts and tips but drawbacks

I borrowed this book after seeing Dr. A men's program on a PBS fundraiser. I found the live presentation interesting and informative. The book started to get on my nerves after a while. It's very detailed, which is both good and bad. The information is valuable, but it just got to be too much. The bottom line is eat right, exercise, watch your weight, and other basics.

Too much of the book was a plug for his clinics (which appear to be expensive and require up front payment - the patient is then responsible to submit for insurance reimbursement, if any) and online self- evaluations for a not insignificant cost.
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