Keep Your Wits About You

A practical guide to maintaining a healthy brain for readers of any age, but particularly those in midlife and older. This book offers scientifically-based information on living a brain-healthy lifestyle. While there is no cure for Alzheimer's and other degenerative brain diseases that cause dementia, research shows that you can reduce your risk for dementia and improve your memory and other cognitive abilities by adopting certain healthy behaviors. Through exercising, keeping your mind active, staying socially connected, and eating well, you can directly improve your brain health and thus benefit your memory, cognitive abilities such as attention and multitasking, and even your mood. Neuropsychologist and gerontologist Vonetta M. Dotson summarizes the science behind brain health and offers behavioral strategies for improving it, such as targeted exercise, social engagement, and cognitive training. Each chapter presents the research behind a given strategy and practical guidance on how to incorporate healthy behaviors into daily life.