Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory (Harvard Medical School Guides) [Paperback]

Aaron Nelson (Author), Susan Gilbert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2005 | Series: Harvard Medical School Guides

This is the latest, best information on how to make your memory the best it can be, from a leading doctor in the field. It covers how much lifestyle factors such as sleep, nutrition, and exercise, affect memory, how to tell if you need to see a doctor, and gives proven ways to build your memory power. It is written by a world-renowned authority at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's, consistently ranked as one of the leading hospitals in the U.S. It contains the latest, best, medical practices as well as what we know about alternative approaches, and a recommended lifestyle program. It covers the latest research on topics such as sleep's role in memory, what is "normal" memory as we age, and what to do about "senior moments." It contains boxed items sprinkled throughout, on topics such as "Medical Myths" and "Questions Patients Ask."

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

From a leading expert at one of the world's most respected medical schools--a complete program for achieving optimal memory, for life!

Ever find yourself walking into a room and forgetting why? Having trouble remembering that pesky password or your siblings' birthdays? Don't panic. Memory lapses like these are common, especially after age forty. But memory loss isn't inevitable or irreversible. You can achieve optimal memory at any age--and this book shows you how.

Dr. Aaron P. Nelson, a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty and a clinical neuropsychologist, has helped thousands of patients with memory and other cognitive problems. In his easy-to-understand guide you'll find:

• How to know if you've got a problem and how to have it evaluated
• How factors such as smoking, poor nutrition, and a sedentary lifestyle can hurt your memory
• A complete memory-optimizing program, including mental exercises, nutrition, tips for remembering important things, and more
• Current and future treatment options for serious memory impairment

About the Harvard Medical School health guide series

Each book from Harvard Medical School gives you the knowledge you need to understand and take control of your health. In every book, a world-renowned expert from Harvard Medical School provides you with the latest information on diagnosis, traditional and alternative treatments, home remedies, and lifestyle changes that can make a powerful difference in your health.

About the Author

Aaron P. Nelson, Ph.D., is Chief of Neuropsychology, Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and an assistant professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Susan Gilbert is a medical journalist who writes for the New York Times and other publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (March 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007144470X
• ISBN-13: 978-0071444705
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is a lot you can do to maintain your memory, May 12, 2006

By 

Gaetan Lion - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory (Harvard Medical School Guides) (Paperback)

If you are interested in this book, you are probably over 50 and are concerned whether your occasional memory lapses are normal or early symptoms of something serious. This book does an excellent job at fleshing out the difference between the two

However, the author explains there are two schools of thoughts. Some neurologists view memory deterioration on a continuum directly related to age. These view Dementia and Alzheimer's as almost inevitable if we were to live an extremely long life. A supporting statistic is that 47% of individuals 85 years or older do have Alzheimer's. Other neurologists do differentiate between normal aging and disease. They don't view Alzheimer's as inevitable.

The author advances many steps you can take to preserve your memory. Most of those are lifestyle driven to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system (eat fresh produce, avoid saturated and trans fats, take vitamin supplements, do lots of aerobic exercise). Indeed, what is good for the heart is very good for the brain. Brain fitness depends greatly on how well it is irrigated by blood vessels. The author also mentions behavioral steps to preserve memory. Those include becoming an active lifelong learner, remaining engaged in hobbies and community. He also mentions steps to improve your memory including using a PDA to log in daily schedule and using mnemonic techniques to remember grocery lists.

The book also reveals not so well known info. He shares a very long list of prescription drugs that do affect cognitive function. He also indicates that heart surgery, cancer, and cancer treatments can impact memory. He also indicates that vitamins C & E combined are as effective as prescription drugs in lowering the risk and managing early symptoms of Alzheimer's. He also does an excellent job at differentiating inherited risk vs genetic risk. It is not the same thing. You are at greater risk of getting Alzheimer's (AD) if your mother had it only if you also carry the gene Apolipoprotein e4.

Realize that there is much dissidence on the subject. We don't understand a whole lot about the brain. Experts have contradictory but equally well supported opinions. The author suggests that beyond doing all the right things you probably cannot delay onset of AD for long. Leading prescription drugs can manage and defer serious symptoms for just about 6 months to a year. Meanwhile, other specialists (Shankle & Amen authors of "Preventing Alzheimer's") maintain you can defer AD by as much as 6 years if you take care of symptoms early. Additionally, they contrary to this author, state that AD has a strong inherited risk component (this suggests that the inherited risk is correlated to the genetic risk).

Only by reading several books on the subject can you wrap your brain around it. Nevertheless, there is consensus that good living and learning is the best you can do for both your body and your brain. Besides the inevitable intellectual dissonance associated with this subject you still get confirmation of what to do to optimize your brain.

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An easy read, well written book, November 1, 2005

By 

DC (NY, USA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory (Harvard Medical School Guides) (Paperback)

This book is an easy read and is well written. I follow the research to a certain extent in this area and the book is very up to date. I read it in one day. The title can be misunderstood (Reason for 4* and not 5*). The author actually only provides little information on optimizing memory - I would suggest you read some other book like 'super power memory' if you are looking for that. This book will only give you an overview of training your memory and not specifics. However, if you want to learn how physiologically it happens and just learn about brain and memory in general this book is really good. You may want to omit chapters 7-8 if you are not really interested in learning about diseases/disorders affecting the brain.

72 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harvard Medical School Guide for Optimal Memory by Nelson, May 11, 2005

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory (Harvard Medical School Guides) (Paperback)

This book has classic methods for achieving optimal memory at
any age. The authors describe the following:
- how to control hypertension
- the benefits of a formal exercise program
- reducing alcohol to enhance memory
- optimal sleep
- managing stress
- Vitamins B and C and their role in memory management
- reduction of medications as a condition precedent to mental
wellness

This book contains important discussions on how to avoid or reduce classic Alzheimer and dementia-like scenarios in the later years. The volume is worth the price charged for the value of
the information contained. This book has optimal medicinal
and alternative medicine approaches to the subject of memory
management in mid-life and beyond.