The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: 18 Interviews with Scientists, Practical Advice, and Product Reviews [Kindle Edition]

Alvaro Fernandez (Author), Elkhonon Goldberg (Author), Gloria Cavanaugh (Author)

Book Description

Named by AARP a Best Book on Brain Fitness (September 2011 AARP Best Books list), The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness is an invaluable guide that helps readers navigate growing brain research and identify the lifestyle factors and products that contribute to brain fitness. By gathering eighteen of the top scientists and offering insight, tools, and detailed descriptions of over twenty products, this text is an essential guide to the field of neuroplasticity and cognitive health. An accessible and thought-provoking read, this book also engages readers on emerging trends and forecasts of what the future will hold. While most of us have heard the phrase "use it or lose it," very few understand what "it" means, or how to properly "use it" in order to maintain brain function and fitness. The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness is designed to fill this gap.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Finally, an insightful and complete overview of the science, products and trends to debunk old myths and help us all maintain our brains in top shape. A must-read for everyone with a brain." --Gloria Cavanaugh, former President of the American Society on Aging

"Kudos for an excellent resource! This SharpBrains Guide is full of top notch information, provides practical tips and helps separate hype from hope in the brain health arena." -- Elizabeth Edgerly, Ph.D., Chief Program Officer, Alzheimer's Association

"A masterful guide to the brain training revolution. Promises to stimulate a much needed conversation that will nudge society to build a new brain fitness culture on solid, research-based, foundations." -- P. Murali Doraiswamy MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Duke University an
Co-author of The Alzheimer's Action Plan

"This is the only book that I know of that seamlessly integrates latest information about cognitive health across the lifespan. Very useful to anyone interested in brain care." -- Arthur Kramer, Professor of Psychology at University of Illinois

"The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness is a much-needed new resource to help us better understand our brains and minds and how to nourish them through life." -- Susan E. Hoffman, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC Berkeley

About the Author

Alvaro Fernandez is co-founder and CEO of SharpBrains (http://www.sharpbrains.com/), a leading market research firm covering applications of neuroscience and cognitive science in education and healthcare. He received masters' in education and business from Stanford University, and teaches at UC-Berkeley Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. A member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Councils, he has been quoted in The New York Times, CNN, and more.

Alvaro Fernandez is co-founder and CEO of SharpBrains (http://www.sharpbrains.com/), a leading market research firm covering applications of neuroscience and cognitive science in education and healthcare. He received masters' in education and business from Stanford University, and teaches at UC-Berkeley Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. A member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Councils, he has been quoted in The New York Times, CNN, and more. Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg is internationally renowned for his clinical work, research, and teaching in neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience. Co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of SharpBrains, he is also a Clinical Professor of neurology at New York University School of Medicine and Diplomat of The American Board of Professional Psychology in Clinical Neuropsychology. He is the author of The Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes and The Civilized Mind and The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger as Your Brain Grows Older.

Product Details

• File Size: 1267 KB
• Print Length: 182 pages
• Publisher: SharpBrains, Inc (April 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002E19L62
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,017 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #30 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Professional & Technical > Medical eBooks > Specialties > Preventive Medicine

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Brain Fitness... A Must Read !!!! July 27, 2009

By Lori Holmgren RN, MSN

Format:Paperback

I had great expectations for this book and was not disappointed.

This book is a great resource for learning the basics of the different brain areas and varied brain functions. I learned in Chapter 1 how to improve learning abilities based on the varied ways of learning. If a child is having a difficult time in learning, changing the technique of learning is indicated. In schools, variations must be used with learners that are not learning in the traditional manner. The interview with Dr. James Zull discussed this point. This was not a central point of Chapter 1 but I thought that the comments on education were really interesting.

Chapter 1 also discussed how neuroplasticity is at the core of brain fitness. An interesting study was described, stating that London taxi drivers have a larger hippocampus than London bus drivers due to the taxi drivers need to decide on varying routes compared to the bus drivers having set routes during their day.

The most helpful chapter of this book for me was Chapter 2. The chapter delved in to the 4 pillars of brain health. The four pillars of brain health are: balanced nutrition, stress management, physical exercise, and mental stimulation. Before reading this book, I knew that what is good for the heart is good for the brain. What I learned was how critical physical exercise is for brain health. The chapter went into great detail for each of the 4 pillars and discussed scientific studies related to each area. The book stated that brisk walking for a total of 3 hours each week can halt or reverse brain atrophy. This chapter has straight forward information on how to make a difference in how you work towards brain health and fitness.

Chapter 4 delved in to the different brain training programs that are available to the public. I had no idea that there were so many different programs available outside of the medical and educational professions. The different programs were discussed without bias, which was really appreciated. The programs were broken down into an easy to compare chart and then discussed in detail. This chapter was quite helpful to me in finding a stress management product.

This book also has thought provoking questions for group discussions and or book clubs listed in Chapter 7. The questions listed will bring the topic of brain fitness front and center to debates with families, friends, and colleagues. What better way to stimulate the brain than to take a walk with a friend and talk about the book.

Highly recommended.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness May 26, 2009

By Diane M. Keefe

Format:Paperback

This practical guide outlines the new landscape of brain science and provides a structure for enhancing one's brain health: it rates current products available to maintain the brain and offers proactive tips to ensure a healthy aging brain.

This book also offers hope to those challenged with PTSD and other types of traumatic brain injury by instructing readers to increase capacity and work with the brain's innate power to rewire itself through learning new skills and abilities. The authors have interviewed the prominent scientists in the field for the most recent research and insight so it is chockfull of information.

I would recommend this book to everyone who is interested in a healthy brain and increasing its ability to develop a more fulfilling life.

Diane Keefe
Geriatric Care Manager
MA Geronotology

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre November 12, 2011

By PRCalDude

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book advertised way more than it provided. The interviews with the scientists contained in this book were basically segues into a marketing brochure for the scientists' expensive commercial brain-training software. Most of this software is only superficially-researched or lightly-proven to work.

There were some useful ideas for those who are unfamiliar with attention training, such as mindfulness meditation. However, Jon Kabat-Zinn's work is far more in-depth and research-based than what these authors present, and JKZ started his research 30 years ago.

In summary, I say that readers would be better-served by doing PubMed searches on "working memory," "attention training," etc, and buying a stress reduction book by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

And exercise and eat well and all the stuff you already know you should be doing anyway.

More About the Author

Alvaro Fernandez is co-founder and CEO of SharpBrains, a leading market research firm covering applications of neuroscience and cognitive science in education and healthcare. He received masters in education and business from Stanford University, and teaches at UC-Berkeley Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. A member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Councils, he is often quoted by the media including recently in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and CNN.