Aerobic exercise, 10, 92, 94, 95, 97, 98, 101
Alzheimer’s disease
brain reserve and, 38, 47–48, 105, 112, 190
as cause of dementia, 19–21
mental stimulation and, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110
passive lifestyle and, 49
physical activity and, 101, 103
Ambidextrous brain, building an, 95–97
Anatomy, brain
cortex, 32–34
hippocampus, 22–23, 24, 40–41, 45, 72, 114, 129, 130
left and right hemispheres, 35–37, 95, 96
methods for studying, 31–32
neurons, 38–40
Annan, Kofi, 78
Antioxidants, 59, 74, 145–46, 148, 153, 159
Artichoke Nut Bread, 177
Balance, importance of, 128–29
Blackberry Cobbler Rolls, 181
Blueberry Crisp, 183
Blueberry Nut Bread, 180
Brain, human
anatomy, 31–41
personalizing brain health, 27–28
unlocking potential of, 189–95
Brain health, critical areas of. See Critical areas of brain health
Brain health ambassadors, 188
Brain health inventory
as first step, 7–8
mental stimulation domain, 11–12
nutritional domain, 13–14
physical domain, 10
scoring, 14–16
social domain, 9
spiritual domain, 12–13
Brain reserve
Alzheimer’s disease and, 38, 47–48, 105, 112, 190
cortex and, 52
enhancing, 46–49
novel and complex experiences for, 53–55, 106
Brain-healthy recipes
beef dish, 167
breads and desserts, 177–86
chicken dishes, 170–71
fish dishes, 172–76
sauces and dips, 162–66
soups, 160–61
vegetarian dish, 168–69
Breathing exercises, 133
Butternut Squash Soup, 161
Central information processing system, 38
Chicken, Broccoli and Brown Rice Casserole, 171
Chicken with Mango Salsa, 170
Computers and socialization, 87–88
Cortex, 32–34
Cranberry-Orange Bread, 179
Critical areas of brain health
defined, 61–63
engaging with, 74–75
inventory of, 7–16
mental stimulation, 71–72, 105–23
overview of, 70–74
research study on, 63–69
Curry Cream, Chilled, 164
Dancing, 10, 96, 97, 98, 100, 101
Dementia. See also Alzheimer’s disease
isolation and, 44, 70, 77, 82–83
physical activity and, 94, 96, 103
Diabetes, 57, 58, 143, 145, 149
Diet. See Nutrition
Einstein, Albert, 106
Elderhostel, 111
Emeritus Assisted Living, 64, 198
Executive system, 34
Exercise, physical. See Physical activity
Family and friends
playing board games with, 113–14, 117–18
Fish, 13, 142, 144, 150, 152, 158, 159
Fish dishes, 172–76
Fit Brains, 109, 112, 113, 118, 123, 198
Five critical areas of brain health
defined, 61–63
engaging with, 74–75
inventory of, 7–16
mental stimulation, 71–72, 105–23
overview of, 70–74
research study on, 63–69
Frontal lobes, 33–34
Future for brain health, 187–95
Green Peppers, Stuffed, 167
Healthy brain lifestyle
active, conscious behavior, 51–53
changing your lifestyle, 55–58
commitment to, 58–59
novel and complex experiences, 46, 48, 53–55, 57, 77, 106, 114, 116
research on, 63–69
Heart health and brain health, 28, 29, 91–92
Hemispheres, left and right, 35–37, 95, 96
Hippocampus, 22–23, 24, 40–41, 45, 72, 114, 129, 130
Hobbies, 9, 80–81, 88, 121, 123
Hoffman, Dustin, 2
Hummus, 162
Intelligence quotient (IQ), 48, 108, 109, 114
Internet
helpful websites, 197, 198–200
socialization via, 87–88
Inventory, brain health
as first step, 7–8
mental stimulation domain, 11–12
nutritional domain, 13–14
physical domain, 10
scoring, 14–16
social domain, 9
spiritual domain, 12–13
Isolation and dementia, 44, 77, 82–83
Language and brain development, 107–8
Left and right hemispheres, 35–37, 95, 96
Lifelong learning, 110–12, 115
Lifestyle. See Healthy brain lifestyle
Loneliness and dementia, 82–83
for health and happiness, 126–27
for stress reduction, 129, 131–33
Memory loss
Alzheimer’s disease and, 21, 23–24, 40–41
types of, 21–24
Mental stimulation
brain reserve and, 105–7
cognitive training, 109–10
enriched environments and, 44
at home, 117–18
language and brain development, 107–8
lifelong learning, 110–12
neurogenesis and, 71–72
reading and writing for, 11, 114–15, 123
tips and ideas for, 121–22
in workplace, 118–20
Mental Stimulation Domain of brain health inventory, 11–12, 16
Micronutrients, 147, 148, 153–54
Neurons, 38–40
Novel and complex experiences, 46, 48, 53–55, 57, 77, 106, 114, 116
Nutrition. See also Recipes antioxidants, 59, 74, 145–46, 148, 153, 159
at home, 156
ideas for promoting, 158–59
importance of, 141
micronutrients, 147, 148, 153–54
omega-3 fatty acids, 59, 74, 143, 148, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 159
supplements, 154–55
in workplace, 157
Nutritional Domain of brain health inventory, 13–14, 16
Nuts, 14, 142, 144, 149, 151, 152, 153, 158, 159
Omega-3 fatty acids, 59, 74, 143, 148, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 159
Passions and talents, sharing, 81–82, 88
Peaches with Raspberry Sauce, Poached, 185–86
Peanut Sauce, 165
Pedometers, 94, 95, 98, 99, 101, 103
Physical activity
ambidextrous brain and, 95–97
enriched environments and, 44
heart health and brain health, 91–92
at home, 97–98
walking, 10, 92–94, 97, 98, 99–100, 101, 103
in workplace, 99–100
Physical Domain of brain health inventory, 10, 16
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, 182
Pizza, Smoked Salmon, 174–75
Plasticity, 24, 38, 42–43, 45, 46, 93, 189, 190
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 130
Prayer and meditation
for good health, 126–27
for stress reduction, 129, 131–33
Pumpkin Bread, 178
Rain Man, 2
Reading and writing, 11, 114–15, 123
Recipes, brain-healthy
beef dish, 167
breads and desserts, 177–86
chicken dishes, 170–71
fish dishes, 172–76
sauces and dips, 162–66
soups, 160–61
vegetarian dish, 168–69
Rémoulade Sauce, 166
Research on
brain health lifestyle, 63–69
environment and brain health, 43–49
walking, 92–94
Retirement, health risk of, 70, 78–81
Rusk, Kathy, 146
Salmon, 13, 142, 150, 152, 159
Salmon Burgers, 173
Salmon Pizza, Smoked, 174–75
Salmon Rama, 172
Salmon Rémoulade Salad, 176
Snowdon, D. A., 107
Social Domain of brain health inventory, 9, 16
Socialization
in community organizations, 81–82, 87
dementia and isolation, 44, 77, 82–83
enriched environments and, 44
at home, 84–85
ideas to promote, 86–87
quick review of tips on, 88
in workplace, 85–86
Spiritual Domain of brain health inventory, 12–13, 16
Spirituality
balance and, 128–29
God and brain, 127
at home, 134–36
meditation and prayer, 126–27, 129, 131–33
tips for promoting, 137–38
in workplace, 136–37
Stress
importance of balance, 128–29
indicators, 133–34
meditation for reducing, 126–27, 129, 131–33
memory loss and, 22–23, 129–30
Stuffed Green Peppers, 167
Synaptic density, 47
Tomato Soup with Basil, 160
Vegetarian Dutch Baby, 168–69
Walking, 10, 92–94, 97, 98, 99–100, 101, 103
Websites, helpful, 197, 198–200
Willis, Sherry, 110
Workplace
mental stimulation in, 118–20
nutrition in, 157
physical activity in, 99–100
socialization in, 85–86
spirituality in, 136–37
Yogurt Smoothie with Fruit, 184
Yogurt-Herb Dipping Sauce, 163