Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Dr Sanjay Gupta, Hachette Australia, $32.99.
If you are on the lookout for simplistic strategies to improve brain function and memory then you should look elsewhere, because Dr Gupta subscribes to the notion that what is “good for the heart is good for the brain”.
It’s a logical assertion, but neurosurgeon and the CNN chief medical correspondent advises that in order to best take care of your body, you have to first take care of your mind.
In that case, you should be able to keep your brain young, healthy and sharp with this science-driven guide to protecting your mind from decline. His all-inclusive approach includes exercise, getting enough sleep and a healthy diet, alongside maintaining a social life and trying new things.
With many references to medical studies, he thoroughly debunks common myths about the brain, such as that languages become harder to learn as one ages, and explains the processes of various neurological functions, such as creating memories.
The author’s primary concern is to nurture a resilient brain that propagates new cells, makes the ones you have work more efficiently and is continuously enriched throughout life. In particular, he wishes to stave off age-related brain illnesses classified under dementia, with Alzheimer’s at the fore.
Keep Sharp debunks common myths about ageing and cognitive decline, explores whether there’s a “best” diet or exercise regimen for the brain, explains whether it’s healthier to play video games that test memory and processing speed or to engage in more social interaction.
Keep Sharp includes a 12-week brain-training program.
Dr Gupta didn’t grow up with a deep-seated desire to be a doctor, let alone a brain surgeon. He chose medicine at 13 years of age after his grandfather suffered a stroke. “Those early explorations into the world of brain biology were at once demystifying and magical.”
