Well researched, informative and practical. ( )

This book tells you everything you could want to know about how to avoid memory loss. While there is a certain amount of memory loss that will occur no matter what, there is also a lot that can be done to minimize the severity of the loss.
This book offers interventions from every direction: changes in diet, specific vitamins and supplements, activities, changes in behaviors and routines and the list goes on. Not only does the book offer lots of suggestions, it explains the science behind them.
This is a great reference book and helpful in many ways. It is probably not necessary to read it cover to cover, as I did, but to see it as a reference book instead. No matter how the reader approaches the book, he will be likely to find many things he can apply to his daily living and to protecting himself from memory loss. ( )

This book tells you everything you could want to know about how to avoid memory loss. While there is a certain amount of memory loss that will occur no matter what, there is also a lot that can be done to minimize the severity of the loss.
This book offers interventions from every direction: changes in diet, specific vitamins and supplements, activities, changes in behaviors and routines and the list goes on. Not only does the book offer lots of suggestions, it explains the science behind them.
This is a great reference book and helpful in many ways. It is probably not necessary to read it cover to cover, as I did, but to see it as a reference book instead. No matter how the reader approaches the book, he will be likely to find many things he can apply to his daily living and to protecting himself from memory loss. ( )

This book tells you everything you could want to know about how to avoid memory loss. While there is a certain amount of memory loss that will occur no matter what, there is also a lot that can be done to minimize the severity of the loss.
This book offers interventions from every direction: changes in diet, specific vitamins and supplements, activities, changes in behaviors and routines and the list goes on. Not only does the book offer lots of suggestions, it explains the science behind them.
This is a great reference book and helpful in many ways. It is probably not necessary to read it cover to cover, as I did, but to see it as a reference book instead. No matter how the reader approaches the book, he will be likely to find many things he can apply to his daily living and to protecting himself from memory loss. ( )

This review of Memory Rescue is based upon an advance reader copy that was unedited and for promotional purposes only.

The book focuses on memory loss, its many causes, and preventative measures. Daniel G. Amen, M.D. offers a program that not only detects factors contributing to memory loss through different testing but also offers possible remedial measures through diet, exercise, and supplements. See Doctor Amen's descriptions of SPECT imaging as well as QEEG testing on page 33. It was encouraging to read that those with Alzheimer's and dementia have hope of improvement through the program. The typical medical response to memory issues is a prescription from the doctor and a prophecy of decline and degeneration.

The book is a medical encyclopedia in a very readable format. Because of the prevalence of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's Disease in aging friends, I frequently read books concerning these medical issues to better understand what is going on in the body as well as to know how to give support to those who are challenged with the debilitating effects. Dr. Amen's book is the most informative of any I have read. I have marked passages all through the book with information that is new to me, facts that are more detailed than what I have read in the past, and passages that give hope to those dealing with these diseases.

I live in a small, rural community but even we have an Alzheimer's support group. I plan to share my copy with the leader of this group. She has given me copies of several books on these subjects and has even written a book herself because both her mother and sister died of Alzheimer's. She has never been willing to allow me to pay her for the books but suggests that I may make a donation to one of the local charities. I know that she gives copies of books to those in her support group as well as to anyone else who shows an interest in these subjects. It is my hope that the group will decide to purchase an abundant supply of Memory Rescue to carry on the tradition of giving support to others.

I don't want to hide the entire review because of spoilers, but if potential readers do not want any advance exposure to the contents of the book, you may stop reading here. I just want to offer some examples of why I found this book so valuable.

Memory Rescue is a method designed to sharpen the mind, reverse brain aging, and prevent Alzheimer's. The program's purpose is to prevent, eliminate, and treat risk factors. The mnemonic BRIGHT MINDS is used to help readers accomplish these goals. (Blood flow problems, Retirement/Aging, Inflammation, Genetics, Head Trauma, Toxins. Mental Health Issues, Immunity/Infection, Neurohormone deficiencies, Diabesity, Sleep Issues) (xii-xiii) I refer to the book as an encyclopedia because it covers such a wide range of health issues. Readers can honestly benefit by reading this book whether their focus is on memory issues or not.

On pages 28-30, Dr. Amen offers a questionnaire to help readers access the early signs of decline in their mental health.

Page 36 offers excellent descriptions of three different types of dementia. That page also shares one of many personal examples of how Dr. Amen and his teams at the Amen Clinics evaluate and treat those who are suffering from memory issues. These "stories" of actual patients are another factor that contributes positively to the readability of this book. The book also shares numerous examples of SPECT scans that demonstrate why the brain is malfunctioning.

On page 53, Dr. Amen gives supplements that should be included as a daily regimen for brain health. On page 56, he gives examples of medications that can interfere with the effectiveness of those supplements. I was fascinated to read that ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory, can interfere with the the body's ability to process B6, C, D, K, calcium, zinc, iron, and folate. There were so many "AHA!" moments for me while reading this book.

Did you know that ". . . the faster we walk as we age, the longer we live and the sharper we think."? Dr. Amen offers data comparing walking speed to longevity in eighty and ninety-year-olds. (Page 47) He follows this up with facts on balance and gives a way to evaluate one's balance based on age. (Page 71)

On page 82, the doctor describes the silver lining to working beyond the typical retirement age. A study of 500,000 people found that with each extra year of work, chances of dementia were decreased by 3.2%. The physical, social, and mental factors that are involved in working stimulate brain health.

Whole books are now written on the healthy gut factor. Dr. Amen has a chapter entitle "I Is For Inflammation." (Pages 95-108) Every chapter has a starred list at its end that gives the reader a quick review of its content. Chapters correlated with the BRIGHT MINDS mnemonic offer lists of changes that readers can use to pick one new habit to incorporate into their lives to start on the road to improving brain health.

I enjoyed playing twenty questions on pages 141 and 142. This set of questions allows the reader to evaluate their exposure to toxins in our food and environment.

Being an animal lover, I enjoyed learning about the doctor's family dog named Aslan. The doctor's very insightful statement at the end of the story was "Food is medicine...or is it poison!" (page 271) One of our beloved Golden Retrievers had digestive issues similar to Aslan's. Diet was a major factor in eliminating problems.

On page 271, Dr. Amen describes how Americans eat approximately 140 pounds of sugar per year. I was amazed. REALLY! Sugar is one of my vices. A friend once told me that she equates sugar with poison.

I rarely write reviews of this extent. I hope I have piqued readers' interest and not revealed too much. There is so much more to this book that I haven't shared. I highly recommend Memory Rescue and suggest that it be read with sticky-notes in hand. It is a great reference that you will undoubtedly want to revisit. ( )