The Better Brain Book: The Best Tool for Improving Memory and Sharpness and Preventing Aging of the Brain [Paperback]

David Perlmutter (Author), Carol Colman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 2, 2005

Loss of memory is not a natural part of aging—and this book explains why.

Celebrated neurologist David Perlmutter reveals how everyday memory-loss—misplacing car keys, forgetting a name, losing concentration in meetings—is actually a warning sign of a distressed brain. Here he and Carol Colman offer a simple plan for repairing those problems, clarifying misconstrued connections between memory loss and aging, and regaining and maintaining mental clarity by offering the tools for:

Building a better brain through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and brain workouts

Coping with specific brain disorders such as stroke, vascular dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and Lou Gehrig's disease

Understanding risk factors and individually tailoring a diet and supplementary program

Features a "Life Style Audit," quizzes, a brain fitness program with the most effective ways to exercise your brain, and a nutritional program that details the best brain food and supplements.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Playing into our culture's obsession with maintaining youthfulness, neurologist Perlmutter and coauthor Colman say the "typical" signs of brain aging—losing your keys, forgetting appointments, having trouble multitasking—aren't necessarily inevitable and are actually preventable. They divide their book into three tiers: factors affecting mental function, tools for developing a better brain and specific brain disorders. Perlmutter, who runs a Florida health center, is quite concerned with showing how brain aging can be prevented and clarity can be regained by making dietary adjustments. He and Colman also warn of the dangers of using prescription or OTC drugs that may be "interfering with your brain's ability to function at optimal levels." From stomach acid suppressors to antidepressants, medications lower brain antioxidants, they say, leaving dangerous free radicals room to roam. Perlmutter and Colman recommend the usual supplemental solutions, but also pay attention to new memory rejuvenating therapies like hormone replacement. There's also an illuminating chapter on the brain toxins present in the average daily diet (e.g., aluminum and mercury), with advice on how to eliminate them. Although the authors sometimes favor an alarmist tone, their book is an informative explanation of how the brain ages and how it can be protected, and it presents novel, practical ideas.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Dr. David Perlmutter tells you exactly how to prevent the effects of stress and 'aging' on your brain." -- Christiane Northrup, MD, August 2004

"This book provides excellent advice for enhancing memory and preserving mental function throughout life. I highly recommend it." -- Julian Whitaker, MD, Editor, Health & Healing and Founder, Whitaker Wellness Institute

"This is the first book I've seen that addresses factors that can influence brain health for better or worse." -- Andrew Weil, MD, August 2004 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 325 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade; Reprint edition (August 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594480931
• ISBN-13: 978-1594480935
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Self-Help > Memory Improvement

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Better Brain, Better Me! January 21, 2012

By Shelley Eckell

Format:Paperback

I read this book 2 1/2 years ago, loved it then, still love it now! I don't remember how much detail the author gave on nootropics but it was after reading this book I began my quest to sharpen my mind and improve my overall cognitive functioning. This book is inspiring as it is factual, in my opinion.

Besides following the exercises clearly outlined in this book, I also began researching and eventually taking a combination of nutritional supplements called nootropics (i.e. piractem, aniracetam, etc). They were first discovered 30+ years ago and were used to treat serious medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ADHD. Then after scientists began recommending them as cognitive enhancers to the public, they started to become a very popular brain supplement.

They are a very intriguing family of supplements. My suggestion to anyone looking to improve their brain function is to look into some type of natural brain supplement, everyone is different so do your own research like I did and decide for yourself if it's a good idea. Besides experimenting with a few nootropics, I've been taking ginseng and ginko for years, Ginseng Complex Plus Royal Jelly (1000 Mg) + FREE Ginkgo Biloba Extract (30 Mg) 60 Tablets. They're inexpensive and effective, plain and simple.

And of course if you haven't already, read this book which, for me, was my personal inspiration and the beginning of my journey to a better me; The Better Brain Book.

132 of 162 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Add This Book to your Anti-Aging Library! Doctor Recommended April 1, 2005

By Dr Tedde M. Rinker

Format:Hardcover

Dr. Perlmutter does what only a small percentage of physicians today are doing. He goes beyond simply swallowing the "proprietary data" that pharmaceutical companies present to doctors every day at their offices and at every medical conference they attend until the vast majority believe it is the best we can do for our patients....give them prescription drugs to delay symptoms, and tell them that what can't be treated that way must be accepted as the normal pitfalls of aging. Some physicians can't accept that. They study nutrition, they study physiology, they search the medical literature for alternative treatments...research from all over the world that is available to any physician if he or she looks for it, but isn't promoted as the newest product by a pharmaceutical company. This is the kind of physician who wants to see his or her patients get well, or not become unwell in the first place. This kind of physician will continue to seach for answers always to the questions of what restores health safely, what prevents disease effectively, what causes a rapid decline in health in the first place. This book is an excellent and more thorough follow-up to Dr. Perlmutter's Brain Recovery.com and goes into more depth, and gives more practical advice to YOU, so that you can take action now to protect your brain from aging much more rapidly than it should. There are other physicians who have learned similiar things in other areas of health, and some are brave enough and generous enough to share them in this way. The American Medical System is designed to assist you in being unaware of how sick you are until you suddenly die, by simply treating your symptoms as they arise without teaching you the cause and helping you to regain your health and vitality. Most prescription medications relieve your symptoms only temporarily or mask the symptom but do not rejuvenate your body. Read Dr. Perlmutter's book if you are concerned about the health of your brain. If you enjoy thinking and want to keep doing it well as you age, you owe it to yourself!

Dr. Tedde Rinker, Anti-Aging Physician, Redwood City, CA www.stress-medicine.com

77 of 106 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Better Brain Book- Real Tools, Real Answers September 10, 2004

By Jim Richards

Format:Hardcover

Dr. Perlmutter has changed the way I look at by diet, sleep, supplements and general quality of life.

The Better Brain Book offers, real, practical tools and answers that will improve my brain health and function.

I particulariy appreciated the Better Brain Diet and Dr. Perlmutter's recommendation of the brain training software-BrainBuilder from ABT-Advanced Brain Technologies. I tried the Test Your Brain Report on (www.brainbuilder.com)and learned there is a lot more I can do to train my brain!

Purchase this book for the people you care about. Reading it will make a difference in their lives.