Brain Rules for Ageing Well

Book excerpt: How come I can never find my keys? Why don't I sleep as well? Why do my friends keep repeating the same stories? What can I do to keep my brain sharp? Scientists know. Brain Rules for Ageing Well, by developmental molecular biologist Dr. John Medina, gives you the facts - and the prescription to age well - in his engaging signature style. With so many discoveries over the years, science is literally changing our minds about the optimal care and feeding of the brain. All of it is captivating. A great deal of it is unexpected. In his New York Timesbestseller Brain Rules, Dr. Medina showed us how our brains really work - and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools to match. Now, in Brain Rules for Ageing Well, he shares how you can make the most of the years you have left. In a book destined to be a classic on ageing, Medina's fascinating stories and infectious sense of humour breathe life into the science. Brain Rules for Ageing Wellis organised into four sections, each laying out familiar problems with surprising solutions. First up, an overview- looking under the hood of an ageing brain as it motors through life. The second part focuses on the feeling brain, using topics ranging from relationships and stress to happiness and gullibility to illustrate how our emotions change with age. The third focuses on the thinking brain, explaining how various cognitive gadgets such as working memory and executive function change with time. Each section is sprinkled with practical advice- for example, a certain style of dancing may be better for your brain than eating fish. Medina explains not only how taking certain actions can improve your brain's performance, but also what is known about the brain science behind each intervention. The final section is about the future. Your future. It's filled with topics as joyful as retirement and as heartbreaking as Alzheimer's. Medina connects all of the chapters into a plan, checklist-style, for maintaining your brain health. You may already be experiencing the sometimes unpleasant effects of the ageing process. Or you may be deeply concerned about your loved ones who are. Either way, Brain Rules for Ageing Wellis for you.