Keep Sharp – by Dr. Sanjay Gupta

The author, a neurosurgeon, explains the practical realities of cognitive decline and the battle against same.

After an initial self-assessment quiz, he covers the foundational knowledge needed to get started, and also does some necessary mythbusting, before the majority of the book is given over to the various angles by which to approach his “5 Pillars”, which we’ll not keep a secret; they are:

1. Move
2. Discover
3. Relax
4. Nourish
5. Connect

…which may seem self-explanatory, but he does a good job of highlighting the pitfalls and mistakes of many, as well as how to optimize our choices while implementing all 5 of those things in such a way as each supports the others.

This latter he does by means of his 12-week step-by-step plan, so for those who like to have everything laid out in front of you, you’ll enjoy that here.

It doesn’t stop there though! While many similar books have some kind of roadmap at the end, Dr. Gupta also covers, in a third part of the book, how to proceed if all is not going well; that is to say, if you or a loved one has a diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disorder, and/or even “just” Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), which is more a descriptor of the state that’s often a prelude to full-blown dementia. This he discusses in compassionate yet practical terms, including how to navigate the path forwards financially and emotionally, too—how to be aware of the threats while still maintaining hope and optimism.

The style is personal and engaging, well-written and easy to read, while including plenty of references to the hard science if one wants to dive deeper—exactly what we love to see in all regards!

Bottom line: if you’d like to proof your brain against cognitive decline, then this book can surely help.

Click here to check out Keep Sharp, and indeed keep sharp!