Biohack your brain How to boost cognitive health, performance & power

Neurobiologist Willeumier debuts with a collection of proactive, accessible strategies for preserving and promoting cognitive health. Willeumeier has worked with NFL players whose brains have been damaged by concussions and with patients with Parkinson's and here shares methods for recovery she successfully road-tested with them. Willeumier suggests easily achievable activities--including writing with one's nondominant hand to force the brain outside its comfort zone and visualizing positive outcomes--as well as long-term lifestyle changes, such as eating a diet heavy on omega-3s, managing stress through exercise and mindfulness, journaling, and sleeping at least seven hours per night. One of the biggest brain drains, Willeumier explains, is prolonged stress, which can slow cerebral circulation by causing plaque buildup and increase one's cortisol levels, which often leads to weight gain, sleep disruptions, and memory problems. This smart take will help those seeking ideas on how to sharpen their mental performance. (Jan.)

Willeumier, a neuroscientist specializing in brain function, injury, and disorders, details her research at the Amen Clinics with NFL players and other patients experiencing brain health impairments. Within this text, she provides pervasive explanations of how nutrition, exercise, hydration, the power of positive thought, and cognitive training can improve brain functions. She emphasizes that the recommendations detailed throughout her book are beneficial to adults at any age and has written the book to be accessible to all. Diagnoses addressed include the most invasive neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's to everyday memory, concentration, and learning deficits. Each chapter is highlighted with real-life experiences of her patients and herself, the positive results of their therapy, and easily implemented dietary and activity changes to promote a brain-healthy lifestyle. She concludes with a motivating four-step starter process. A good complement to John Randolph's The Brain Health Book and Sabina Brennan's 100 Days to a Younger Brain. VERDICT A beneficial overview of the brain, what we know about it, and what we're still discovering.--Laura Lipke, Towson Univ., MD