Brain Power 101 How to Boost Your Memory & Stay Brain Healthy at Any Age

by Richard Isaacson

Unknown Binding

Published April 18, 2019

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was completely fascinated by Isaacson's number one way to maintain a healthy brain. The number one way is physical exercise. Not just a simple walk or jog everyday but focusing on aerobic activity and muscle strengthening. He also talks about the importance of nutrition (encouraging the Mediterranean diet), learning new skills, managing stress and getting enough sleep.

I wondered what kinds of activities he would encourage for brain stimulation as I have started to do Sudoko, thinking it would help my brain somehow. He said that the more you do Sudoku the better you get at...Sudoko. Ha! Now that I have started Sudoku and enjoy it I will keep at it, just because it is fun.

[Chris Esposo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but well made set of lectures on brain-health, which seems to be delivered for those who have entered their 'silver' years, to help educate those who are experiencing changes that are happening to their memory and overall brain health. Topics covered include nutrition, what kind of foods are good or bad with respect to brain health, what is the average progression of brain health as we age, normal signs of age-based memory loss and abnormal age-based memory loss, and what some symptoms that may indicate onset of dementia, how exercise and physical activity improves mental health and may delay the onset dementia, as well as a few other topics.

Interesting facts here are the value of some foods including blueberries and possibly turmeric which have found to be propitious for mental health in well-powered statistical studies (this is for blueberries and less turmeric). Some discussion on black coffee's role to supporting mental health (though the exact mechanism as of these lectures were still unknown), and the exact kind of exercise (those designed to build muscle such as spin activities) that can benefit brain health, as well as the inverse relationship between the increase in fat % in a body and the decrease in memory efficiency.

The content was good, and the material was delivered in a very no nonsense, informative manner, superior to many nonfiction health books. There are two big issues I had with the text 1. Though many studies are referenced with the author indicating that statistically significant results were found to show this or that, he did not report any practical effects of these studies 2. The material was short

Had the two above were corrected, I'd give this book 5-stars for what it is, which is a introductory manual on how to get a grip on brain/mental health, especially useful for older readers, though one is never too early to start these good habits. It may also be helpful for caretakers/family of elderly people so that they can be vigilante to pick up signals which may indicate the need to inform the primary care provider for further investigation (as the book mentions, it's good to diagnose and treat these things as soon as possible, like with many medical conditions). Recommended for the above audiences.

[Elisha Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

The surprising thing about this book is that it's mainly about exercise, sleep, and healthy eating. The health of the brain is interconnected with the health of the entire body. Many of the tips for brain health are similar to what is good for your body. Sleep is invaluable as we need it to code memories. Healthy eating is about what you'd expect. Certain foods are brain drains for sure--high sugar, high fat. And the right balance is crucial. With exercise what stuck out most is that you really have to put yourself under some strain to see benefits. 10,000 steps won't do your brain much good. You need cardio or hiit workouts that push your body to its limits. This improves blood flow and thus brain function.

[Osman Raidhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has given me a push to better brain health. The book is easy to understand and the narrator who is also the author is excellent in speaking, I could sit in his lectures for hours! If I could summarise it'll be exercise, eat healthy, keep learning, sleep well, reduce stress. Not difficult at all if you ask me!

[Jaime Grande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information. At times some what technical but overall useful advice and facts for better cognitive health.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an audiobook in a lecture style. It gives a lot of good information but often left me wanting a better explanation or more information. It clearly wasn’t scripted and his repetition of the word “so” or grasping for the right word kind of got on my nerves. A good book if you know nothing about how to keep your brain (and body) healthy.