Memory Rescue: Supercharge Your Brain, Reverse Memory Loss, and Remember What Matters Most

Memory Rescue: Supercharge Your Brain, Reverse Memory Loss, and Remember What Matters Most

by MD Amen
Memory Rescue: Supercharge Your Brain, Reverse Memory Loss, and Remember What Matters Most

Memory Rescue: Supercharge Your Brain, Reverse Memory Loss, and Remember What Matters Most

by MD Amen

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Overview

A proven program from #1 New York Times bestselling author and brain researcher Dr. Daniel Amen to help you change your brain and improve your memory today!
Brain imaging research demonstrates that memory loss actually starts in the brain decades before you have any symptoms. Learn the actions you can take to help not just prevent memory loss later in life . . . but to begin restoring the memory you may have already lost.

Expert physician Dr. Amen reveals how a multipronged strategy—including dietary changes, physical and mental exercises, and spiritual practices—can improve your brain health, enhance your memory, and reduce the likelihood that you’ll develop Alzheimer’s and other memory loss–related conditions.

Keeping your brain healthy isn’t just a medical issue; it’s a God-given capacity and an essential building block for physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Take action against the fast-increasing memory crisis that threatens this crucial part of who you are—and help your brain, body, and soul stay strong for the rest of your life.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781496425638
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Publication date: 11/14/2017
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 448
Sales rank: 225,764
File size: 17 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Daniel G. Amen, MD, is an award-winning neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and founder of the Amen Clinics, with eight locations across the United States. He is a 10-time New York Times bestselling author, including Change Your Brain, Change Your Life; Heating ADD; and The Daniel Plan, written with Pastor Rick Warren and Mark Hyman, MD. In 2016, Dr. Amen's brain imaging research was listed as one of the top 100 stories in science by Discover magazine, and he is the lead researcher on the largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study on professional football players. Dr. Amen has writer and produced 12 popular public television shows about the brain that have aired across North America. His work has been featured by the New York Times Magazine, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Time magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Men's Health. He speaks internationally.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

A BREAKTHROUGH APPROACH TO MEMORY ISSUES, AGING, AND ALZHEIMER'S

Memory is all we are. ... Take a man's memories and you take all of him. Chip away a memory at a time and you destroy him as surely as if you hammered nail after nail through his skull.

MARK LAWRENCE, KING OF THORNS

Memory is the fabric of our souls. It enables us to integrate and make sense of the experiences of our bodies, minds, and spirits. It makes us who we are and allows us to keep our loved ones close, even when they are far away. Memory houses our joys, our hurts, and all of life's lessons. It reminds us who is trustworthy and who isn't, who has helped us and whom we need to help. Memory enables us to recall the important events in our lives and keeps us centered and growing. And because it contributes to our values and outlook, it also provides us with a sense of purpose that gives our lives meaning.

Our memories are such a part of us that we often take them for granted. Yet when our memory is damaged, the costs can be high. A diminished memory can rob us of our ability to make good decisions (because we forget important life lessons) and disconnect us from those we love. Memory problems limit our success at work, steal our independence, and ultimately make us vulnerable to anyone who might take advantage of us.

When someone's mental abilities, including memory, deteriorate enough to affect daily life, we say that person has dementia. Worldwide, a new person is diagnosed with dementia every seven seconds. Of the approximately 318 million Americans living today, 45 million — about 15 percent — will get Alzheimer's disease (AD) at some point in their lives. Tens of millions more will experience other forms of dementia, and 75 percent of older adults will suffer from memory problems. Plus, more than 200 medication trials have failed to reverse Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Given the complexity of the illness and how early it begins altering the brain, we are likely never going to have a medicine that cures it.

Yet new research suggests that a "memory rescue" program, like the one presented in this book, can dramatically improve memory and can prevent and sometimes even reverse some forms of dementia. Given how most doctors approach this issue, however, you cannot count on traditional medicine to rescue your memory.

THE OLD APPROACH TO MEMORY COMPLAINTS

Here is a common scenario: You are having difficulty remembering conversations, forgetting where you put your reading glasses, or briefly getting lost driving in familiar areas. So you see your primary care physician or local neurologist, who asks you a few questions, gives you some short tests, orders an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and tells you, "Everyone has memory problems as they age. You're normal." It's also common for family members and friends to downplay forgetfulness.

A week or so later, you meet again with your doctor, who says that the report on your MRI came back as "mild, age-appropriate brain atrophy." He or she tells you that you have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). You're reassured that it's common and that you'll likely retain your personality and longterm memory until later in the illness. You're encouraged to get your affairs in order, given a prescription for Aricept (donepezil, a common memory medication that has short-term benefits but loses its effects after 18 months), and told to schedule a follow-up appointment in six months. Typically, there is no discussion about eliminating risk factors through exercise, diet, supplementation, or memory training exercises.

That's literally the extent of the workup in 80 to 90 percent of the memory-related cases that come to us at Amen Clinics from the traditional medical system.

It's completely ineffective, heartbreaking ... and unconscionable given what we know now.

Until recently, health-care professionals assessing the presence of memory problems in patients classified their cognitive functioning as: (1) normal with no symptoms; (2) mild impairment observed by patients or their families; or (3) Alzheimer's disease, in which dementia was becoming significant and getting worse.

The National Institute on Aging announced a significant change in 2011. Based on new brain imaging data, they added a new "preclinical" level. As a result, the current staging guidelines are

1. normal

2. preclinical: no obvious symptoms, but negative changes can be seen on biomarkers such as brain scans

3. mild cognitive impairment

4. Alzheimer's disease

Can you see the problem here? Long before symptoms develop, your brain may already be beginning to deteriorate, years or even decades before you realize it! A UCLA study found that 95 percent of people with Alzheimer's are not diagnosed until they are in the moderate to severe stages of the disorder. Yet the brain of a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at age 59 likely started to show signs of deterioration by the time that person turned 30.

No matter your age, memory symptoms should be taken seriously. Developing brain fog or feeling as if your memory is slipping when you are in your forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, or even eighties is common, but it's not normal. It is a sign of impending doom. Ten years after you notice a problem (called subjective cognitive decline), there is an estimated 70 to 100 percent chance of your getting worse and slipping into dementia.

But while it is true that memory issues are common with age, they are not inevitable. In the presymptomatic stage, when memory problems are minor, help is likely to be most effective. If you're struggling with your memory, even if it seems inconsequential, now is the time to get serious about your brain's health.

A BREAKTHROUGH CONCEPT: MEMORY RESCUE

Our decades-long experience at Amen Clinics of looking at the brain, together with the latest scientific research, has convinced me that the traditional approach to memory problems is misguided and leads to unnecessary disease and disability.

Just as many tributaries feed a river that is about to flood and destroy a community, we've discovered that there are many different causes of memory loss. It is no longer accurate to talk about mild cognitive impairment or AD as single entities with single causes, just as at Amen Clinics we no longer talk about a single type of depression, addiction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or obesity. The ability to identify and address each of the potential causes of memory problems has enabled us to develop a plan to prevent or even reverse these devastating issues. Steve's story illustrates how effective our approach can be.

Steve: staring down Alzheimer's

Steve, a 60-year-old father and CEO, lost both his father and grandfather to AD. Steve was named after his grandfather, and they were very close. Steve found it heart-wrenching to watch him deteriorate to the point that his grandfather no longer recognized him. But watching it happen to his father was even worse. He worried about his dad every day for a decade. His father got lost, acted irrationally, and spent money in ways that jeopardized his life savings and family. In addition, Steve's mother always seemed sad and stressed.

Steve was terrified he'd get AD too. When his own memory began slipping, he went to see his family physician. His doctor did a cursory physical examination, ordered some blood work and a brain MRI, and saw him for follow-up a few weeks later. Steve's physician told him that his blood work was "mostly" within normal limits but didn't elaborate; his MRI was "normal for age with mild atrophy." He also told Steve it was "normal" for most people to struggle with memory problems as they aged. His doctor, who was Steve's age, said that he was having more senior moments too. Plus, he said, if Steve had early AD, there was nothing he could do for it, so why worry? The last thing the doctor said was "Make sure you have your affairs in order and let me see you in six months."

Deeply unsettled by the appointment, Steve came to see us at Amen Clinics. We have heard stories like Steve's over and over, and our approach is dramatically different. We know that the best way to prevent and even reverse significant memory problems is to identify them as early as possible and work to eliminate or treat all the risk factors that may be contributing to them. The mnemonic I developed to help us remember the risk factors is BRIGHT MINDS.

B – Blood Flow
When I reviewed Steve's records, I noticed that he had several important risk factors. He was prehypertensive (blood flow) and 60 years old (retirement/aging). His blood tests showed he had markers of inflammation. He also had a family history of severe memory problems (genetics) and was under chronic stress from watching his father's health decline and taking care of his mother (mental health). He was not eating organic or paying attention to the products he put on his body (toxins). His vitamin D (immunity/infections) and testosterone levels (neurohormone deficiency) were low, his fasting blood sugar and HbA1c levels were high, and he was overweight (diabesity). He had not been sleeping well for three years (sleep). Steve's risk factors and our recommended interventions (both of which will be explained in more detail in chapters 5 through 15) are summarized in the box below.

Steve's Memory Rescue risks and plan

As part of Steve's evaluation, I ordered much more extensive blood work and a SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scan, which measures blood flow and activity in the brain. SPECT is different from a CT (computed tomography) or MRI, which are anatomy scans that look at brain structure. SPECT looks at function. Functional problems almost always precede structural problems. SPECT tells us three things about the brain: Is there good blood flow? Too little activity? Or too much?

Steve's SPECT scan showed very low blood flow, the number one predictive sign of future trouble and Alzheimer's disease.

Steve became serious about his self-care (he became a brain warrior), and within nine months of being on the Memory Rescue: BRIGHT MINDS program, Steve felt sharper, his memory was better, and he was hopeful that he could do something about his risk of Alzheimer's. A year later his scan showed remarkable improvement. Armed with this information, he taught his children about brain health.

THE MEMORY RESCUE PROMISE

Memory Rescue will teach you the most common reasons for memory loss and help you identify the specific factors affecting your brain health. It will then provide you with a step-by-step approach to get your memory back, strengthen it, and keep it healthy for a lifetime.

You will learn:

• How to assess your brain on a regular basis to pick up issues early

• How to test for each of the risk factors

• Strategies to decrease or eliminate avoidable risks through exercises, nutritional supplementation, and diet

• How to follow the Memory Rescue Diet (one of the most powerful weapons for memory sustainability)

• Memory training and workouts to keep your brain sharp

• Innovative strategies to enhance brain function

Before we dive into those details, join me on a fascinating and important journey into your brain, the place where memories are truly made.

(Continues…)



Excerpted from "Memory Rescue"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Daniel G. Amen, MD.
Excerpted by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

The Problem … the Promise … the Program xiii

Preface xvii

Part 1 Memory Is Life

1 A Breakthrough Approach to Memory issues, Aging, and Alzheimer's 3

2 How the Brain Works: Learn about the Most Important Part of You 11

3 What Trouble Looks Like: How Brain Imaging Changes Everything 27

Part 2 Bright Minds: The Ultimate Memory Formula

4 The Bright Minds Approach to Rescuing Your Memory: The Best Way to Help Prevent or Treat Memory Decline and Alzheimer's Is to Know and Address All Your Risk Factors 47

5 B Is for Blood Flow: Unlocking the Key to Life 59

6 R Is for Retirement and Aging: When You Stop Learning, You Start Dying 79

7 I Is for Inflammation: Manage the Internal Fire That Destroys Your Organs 95

8 G Is for Genetics: Genes Only Load the Gun; Your Behavior Pulls the Trigger 109

9 H Is for Head Trauma: The Silent Epidemic 119

10 T Is for Toxins: Is Your Memory Being Poisoned? 139

11 M Is for Mental Health: Your Mind Is Essential to Your Brain 167

12 I Is for Immunity/Infection Issues: Strengthen Your Internal Defenders 183

13 N Is for Neurohormone Deficiencies: Boost the Symphony of a Youthful Mind 203

14 D Is for Diabesity: Kill the Sugar before It Kills You 225

15 S Is for Sleep Issues: Cleanse Your Brain and Eliminate Its Trash Nightly 241

Part 3 Daily Food, Habits, And More to Boost Your Memory

16 The Memory Rescue Diet: Food for Bright Minds 255

17 Sharpen Your Memory: Brain Workouts for a Richer Life 287

18 Memory Medications: When and What to Consider 303

19 Brain-Enhancement Therapies: Innovative Ways to Strengthen Your Memory 309

20 Memory Rescue Made Easy: 20 Short Stories of the Seahorse Twins, Scarlett and Sam 323

21 How to Start Your Personal Memory Rescue Plan 333

About Daniel G. Amen, MD 345

Gratitude and Appreciation 347

Resources 349

Notes 353

Index 409

What People are Saying About This

Michael Gurian

Our ability to remember is a precious gift, one that makes us human. Until reading “Memory Rescue,” I had not realized how much I could do for and with my memory. In this warm and very accessible book, Dr. Daniel Amen uses brain scans and science-based insights to help protect our precious asset. The book does more than help us boost our memories—it promises and delivers a program for healthy aging and happier life. I highly recommend it.

David Perlmutter

While there’s no pharmaceutical fix for memory decline, research now validates the powerfully therapeutic role of lifestyle choices in recovering and preserving memory. Dr. Amen’s Memory Rescue eloquently embraces this science and presents it to the reader in a wonderfully user-friendly format.

Jonny Bowden

Memory is critical to success in every area of life. For more than a decade, Dr. Amen has been my go-to guy for all things related to memory, the brain, and performance. This terrific book is a complete manual for making your brain better now and into the future.

Mark Victor Hansen

Your mind is everything that makes you human. Your memory is the most important part of your mind. My friend and mind mentor, Dr. Daniel Amen, is the master’s master of memory. In his page-turning book, you will discover the wisdom, insights, and understanding to optimize and maximize your mind and memory. It is a must-read for everyone with a mind.

Dale E. Bredesen

The innovative, ever-thoughtful, visionary psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen is at it again with his new book, Memory Rescue. His Bright Minds program should be of great help in the critical goal to make dementia what it should be—a rare disorder. I highly recommend this book.

Andrew Newberg

Dr. Amen has done it again with Memory Rescue, the quintessential book on how to get your brain healthy and how to keep it that way. It is full of essential information, based on the latest research, that everyone needs to keep their brain working at optimum health. Its easy-to-read format will allow everyone to find what they need for their individual brain. The brain scan data is second to none in showing how people can fully engage ways of keeping their brain happy and healthy for a long lifetime.

hris Prentiss

Following the protocol in Dr. Daniel Amen’s new book will not only renew your memory, it will renew your very life. Every aspect of your life brightens with brain health; everything becomes clearer. You know enough to tune your car—experience what happens when you tune your brain!

Pastor Rick Warren

This is an incredibly helpful book for anyone who wants to increase their brain capacity and strengthen their memory. I want to stay sharp, and that’s why I read everything Dr. Amen writes, and you should too!

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Rescue your memory with Dr. Amen’s embraced habits that will brighten your mind.

John Townsend

Our memories do so much for our lives: They inspire us, teach us, comfort us, and warn us. Without healthy brains with healthy memories, we suffer significant losses in the quality of our lives. Dr. Amen’s book is a highly valuable resource on how to not only stop the degeneration, but reverse it. My favorite quote is “Your brain’s history is not its destiny.” That says it all. Highly recommended, and well worth the reading

Tony Robbins

Memory Rescue is such an important book if you want to strengthen and keep your memory strong for the rest of your life. Millions of people find themselves victim to memory loss and have no idea there are simple interventions to help keep it strong. I deeply believe this approach can help you or your loved ones.

Dr. Joseph Pizzorno

Dementia with aging is the sad new normal, but it is neither natural nor inevitable—if you follow Dr. Amen’s brilliant guidance. Keeping and even improving your brain is really quite simple: Get nutrients in, keep toxins out and use it or lose it.

Pedram Shojai

Dr. Amen’s work continues to break ground. All cultures put great value in living a long life but what if we can’t take our memories with us? Now, we have a choice. The sage wisdom and scientific advances taught in this book are the secret to living a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.

Joseph C. Maroon

This is an “insanely simple” guide for preventing and possibly reversing memory loss and dementia based on 25+ years of clinical experience treating thousands of brain-injured patients. Memory Rescue is a must-read not only for patients fearful of memory loss, but also for physicians who too often take a nihilistic approach to this epidemic problem. Dr. Amen provides scientifically based measures that can prevent or slow dementia. This book is the most current and succinct source to date on “how to do it”.

William S. Harris

As a heart researcher, I’m amazed at how many of Dr. Amen’s BRIGHT MINDS factors apply to cardiac as well as brain health. Following his clear plan will slow the aging of both your ticker and your thinker.

Dave Asprey

Dr. Amen helped to rescue my memory and brain, which changed my life. Memory Rescue will give you strategies to quickly improve your memory and brain now and for the rest of your life. I highly recommend it.

Steven Masley

At a time when memory loss is increasing at epidemic rates, Dr. Amen leads the way to better health. Memory Rescue is easy to read and simple to implement, and it will definitely help protect your brain.

David S. Ludwig

Memory Rescue is an important book that shows you how to keep your memory strong. If you want to protect your most important organ and keep it healthy this book gives you a clear, simple path.

Mark Hyman MD

Memory Rescue is a powerful new book that shows you step-by-step how to improve your memory and overall health. The information is smart, simple, research-based, and effective. It’s your roadmap to the best brain possible.

Barry Sears

I have known Daniel for more than 25 years. He has been amazingly consistent in his journey, not only to describe neurological conditions from a more physiological basis, but also to promote a structured dietary program to improve brain function. This book carries on his explorations to build a better brain. As with each of his books, I always find new and provocative information. Memory Rescue is no exception. I highly recommend it to everyone.

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