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Save Your Brain: The 5 Things You Must Do to Keep Your Mind Young and Sharp
Expert advice on how to ward off memory loss and dementia Beginning with a diagnostic quiz to help you determine your overall brain health, and ending with meal plans and recipes for a brain boosting diet, Save Your Brain is an easy-to-follow comprehensive guide to getting the brain in the best shape possible, and keeping it there-for life! Doing the daily crossword puzzle and drinking Ginko Biloba may not be enough in fighting off mental decline. Alzeimers and Dementia are on the rise but clinical neuropsychologist David Nussbaum presents a comprehensive 5-part program for keeping brains operating at their best and fighting off these debilitating diseases. The author presents concrete, actionable tips to help you improve your:
224 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2010
24 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Paul David Nussbaum
9 books2 followersPaul David Nussbaum is an American clinical neuropsychologist and an adjunct associate professor in Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
He obtained his B.A. in Psychology in 1985 and his Master's degree in Clinical Psychology in 1987 at the University of Arizona. After completing his M.A., Nussbaum continued to the doctorate program and received his Ph.D in 1991. On the 45th Anniversary of University of Arizona, the university made Nussbaum an honorary alumnus of the class of 1991.
He was the co-founder of a company that launched Fit Brains in 2008
He obtained his B.A. in Psychology in 1985 and his Master's degree in Clinical Psychology in 1987 at the University of Arizona. After completing his M.A., Nussbaum continued to the doctorate program and received his Ph.D in 1991. On the 45th Anniversary of University of Arizona, the university made Nussbaum an honorary alumnus of the class of 1991.
He was the co-founder of a company that launched Fit Brains in 2008
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 27, 2022
So much to learn from this little book!!!
November 5, 2014
Nussbaum’s book offers certain prescriptions for helping one to see that one’s brain can retain plasticity as we grow older. The brain does not have to atrophy, as once was the common thinking. I found the book helpful for a number of reasons. One, the author distills some complex information into something we can all understand. Two, for each of the five things we must do, he offers simple but effective ways to increase our brain power as we age.
Nussbaum’s develops five critical areas: 1) Socialization 2) Physical Activity 3) Mental Stimulation 4) Spirituality and 5) Nutrition. He then tells how each one of these concepts is important and what we need to do to optimize each area. For example, he makes it clear under nutrition that the brain must have certain fats to thrive, and not the kind that comes from chips and fries. Under spirituality, he makes the case that regular meditation, prayer, or other types of mental rest and reflection help the brain to take a break from its rigors.
I wish I’d had this book when I was in my thirties; I might be much smarter now. Kidding. But I do think, from what Nussbaum says, that it’s never too late. One of his most important points is that taking care of the brain helps to build a mental reserve, which helps to fight off or delay dementia. Each one of the five areas is important and works in conjunction with the others. If you’re curious about how your brain works or how to stave off old age, this book may be a good place to begin.
One other point Nussbaum makes repeatedly is that we must continue to learn things that are “novel and complex” for us. For me, I ought to learn sign language because I’ve never done anything like that before. For others, it might be trying to learn a complex camera or studying a musical instrument. The task must be novel and complex for the individual. Take up knitting if you’re normally all thumbs!
Nussbaum’s develops five critical areas: 1) Socialization 2) Physical Activity 3) Mental Stimulation 4) Spirituality and 5) Nutrition. He then tells how each one of these concepts is important and what we need to do to optimize each area. For example, he makes it clear under nutrition that the brain must have certain fats to thrive, and not the kind that comes from chips and fries. Under spirituality, he makes the case that regular meditation, prayer, or other types of mental rest and reflection help the brain to take a break from its rigors.
I wish I’d had this book when I was in my thirties; I might be much smarter now. Kidding. But I do think, from what Nussbaum says, that it’s never too late. One of his most important points is that taking care of the brain helps to build a mental reserve, which helps to fight off or delay dementia. Each one of the five areas is important and works in conjunction with the others. If you’re curious about how your brain works or how to stave off old age, this book may be a good place to begin.
One other point Nussbaum makes repeatedly is that we must continue to learn things that are “novel and complex” for us. For me, I ought to learn sign language because I’ve never done anything like that before. For others, it might be trying to learn a complex camera or studying a musical instrument. The task must be novel and complex for the individual. Take up knitting if you’re normally all thumbs!
July 24, 2015
The author, Paul Nussbaum, is a clinical neuropsychologist. He's spent his career working with patients with brain disorders - depression, dementia, Alzheimers, etc. The focus of his book is on "brain health" and it is an interesting and hopeful book to read.
In the past, it was thought that the brain deteriorated with age. The author's position is that the brain is shaped by the environment and continues to be throughout our lives. He states "brain health recognizes the brain as a dynamic and malleable system that is shaped by environment across the entire life span."
There is a quiz in the book to see how you currently rate on 5 categories related to brain health: The good news is that the author believes that we can improve our brains by working on any category where we score low. He recommends changes that will improve our brain health in each category. The author's 5 categories related to brain health are: socialization, mental stimulation, physical activity, spirituality and nutrition.
The author feels that exposing ourselves to novel and complex stimulation throughout our lives - improves our brain health.
It's a good read. I learned a lot reading this book. It was also interesting to see where I personally scored high and where I could use some improvement. I plan to adopt his suggestions for improving my own brain health!
In the past, it was thought that the brain deteriorated with age. The author's position is that the brain is shaped by the environment and continues to be throughout our lives. He states "brain health recognizes the brain as a dynamic and malleable system that is shaped by environment across the entire life span."
There is a quiz in the book to see how you currently rate on 5 categories related to brain health: The good news is that the author believes that we can improve our brains by working on any category where we score low. He recommends changes that will improve our brain health in each category. The author's 5 categories related to brain health are: socialization, mental stimulation, physical activity, spirituality and nutrition.
The author feels that exposing ourselves to novel and complex stimulation throughout our lives - improves our brain health.
It's a good read. I learned a lot reading this book. It was also interesting to see where I personally scored high and where I could use some improvement. I plan to adopt his suggestions for improving my own brain health!
September 23, 2012
This was a good book for those looking to improve this specific area of health. There was a little pushing of a website in one section, but overall the ideas given were very helpful. There was a self evaluation given at the beginning but some of it seemed a bit odd. One thing of note asked how much you knitted in an average week. I don't knit, but probably do things which may be the equivalent of knitting so I got fewer points. I would also have liked to see how the 5 areas and suggestions made tied directly back into the survey. I did enjoy the book and do recommend it to others.
April 23, 2018
I could have written this as a zen koan in Chinese calligraphy with a brush held between my teeth whilst playing the cello.
A book for an older, stupider generation who did what they were told and did not know how to live well.
And that zen koan: 不打扰，除非你从来没有困扰
A book for an older, stupider generation who did what they were told and did not know how to live well.
And that zen koan: 不打扰，除非你从来没有困扰
July 1, 2012
Excellent! Don't let the brain health quiz scare you though.
November 3, 2012
Novel and complex! It makes sense to keep the gray matter in shape,a bit dry (technical) at times, but good information.
December 6, 2013
متن بسیار خسته کننده و تکراری و با بار علمی کم
June 5, 2016
redundant. no surprises.
February 15, 2018
Excellent...its never to late your brain keeps learning and developing, the best thing I learnt from the book was to keep learning choose things that are novel and complex....these are the things that you find hard to do but in doing them it engages your brain which develops brain reserves which help stave of Dementia etc....
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews