The Granniemose Challenge: To Love Thy Brain! GMBB W/O
Written: Oct 22 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: chockfull of valuable info and fun brain teasers; up to date; friendly
Cons: the advanced brain teasers were too much for me!
The Bottom Line: Everyone has a brain, but do we all love it? Read this book to find out how!
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| jankp's Full Review: The Memory Bible Books |
*Note*I did not forget that I already posted this in Writer's Corner, but deleted it and moved it to its rightful home. Granniemose, I was going to challenge you to recall your comment on it, but you hardly had one because of the bugs and so now's your big chance! Challenge: What does the Holy Bible say about our brain, if anything?
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How much do you love your brain? Do you want to protect it, respect it and expect it to work efficiently at your command? Then may I suggest that professional assistance be called in for such a delicate endeavor? Enter Gary Small, M.D., director of the UCLA Center on Aging, who this year has published just such assistance with The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy For Keeping Your Brain Young.
Contents
Chapter One: You Have More Control Than You Think
Chapter Two: Rate You Current Memory
Chapter Three: LOOK, SNAP, CONNECT: The Three Basic Memory Training Skills
Chapter Four: Minimize Stress
Chapter Five: Get Fit With Mental Aerobics
Chapter Six: Build Your Memory Skills Beyond the Basics
Chapter Seven: Start Your Healthy Brain Diet Now
Chapter Eight: Choose A Lifestyle That Protects Your Brain
Chapter Nine: Wise Up About Medicines
Chapter Ten: Don’t Forget the First Nine Chapters
Appendixes
Bibliography
Source Credit
Let me say that I’m not worried about sliding into Alzheimer’s disease, but I do have concerns about my (adoptive) dad who has a terrible, terrible memory and cannot remember anything except long ingrained habits. My mom is a completely different story, though. Only a few years younger than dad (75), she doesn’t show signs of an aged brain at all because she’s always preferred reading over most television (soap All My Children excepted) while dad zones out and falls asleep to the tube.
The author points out that a small percentage of us carry the genetic blueprint for the disease, but we can usually overcome the tendency through maintaining an active mind/body and a healthy brain diet. This needs to begin when we’re children for the best results. Babies listening to classical music have a heads-up on kids who don’t and are less likely to fall prey to Alzheimer’s, not only because their brains are more expansive and thriving, but because they tend to go to college and challenge their minds throughout their lives.
Fortunately, though, Small stresses that anyone can start improving their minds and prevent or reduce our brains from aging. He explains the make-up of the brain and the first symptoms of brain degeneration from plaques and tangles that cause cells to die. Degeneration may commonly appear in our twenties, although mild memory impairment won’t show up for another couple of decades usually.
He has numerous techniques for helping us remember lists, numbers, names and faces, which involve becoming creative and silly, organizing by category and either spelling names out in your mind or repeating them several times in conversation. “Look, Snap and Connect” basically. My sweetie and I tried remembering a list included in the book by organizing it and only waited about ten minutes instead of twenty to test ourselves. We remembered nine out of twelve. I also enjoyed the beginner’s brain puzzles, but figured out a few of the harder ones.
By far my favorite chapter was about eating a healthy brain diet and there’s way too much great information to mention here. Suffice it to say that hallucinogenic drugs, smoking, too much alcohol, too little fruits, vegetables and other low glycemic foods as well as more omega 6 fatty acid-rich food than omega 3 fatty acid food will not do your brain good. A lot of detail here, including how farm-raised fish has much less health benefits than ocean-raised, and help for creating your healthy brain diet. Another reason why I'm a vegan!
Lastly I will add that Small knows what medicines are available or being studied/in trials for their benefits. I feel confident my dad could be taking something besides Vitamin E to help stave off more memory loss and even improve his memory.
Final Comments
There’s not much more to say. It was an absorbing read that was well-organized, thorough and satisfying on both an intellectual and entertaining basis. I could see myself rereading this or referring to it several times and definitely recommending it to anyone with an interest in their brain’s health.
At 289 pages, which includes the very informative appendixes for what to do if Alzheimer’s strikes, current and potential treatments described and other things, The Memory Bible strikes me as a first-line defense against that disease and potentially all neurological and degenerative diseases. I hope all of you reading will check it out (at the library or a store for about $18) and pass on the information to your family and friends.
This is my first entry into the Granniemose Birthday Bash write-off. Grannie, a longtime beloved member of the Epinions’ community and a puzzle lover, celebrates eighty years this month. She certainly models for the rest of us how to love our brains through staying creative and challenged. I’m continually pleased with her fictive postings and am helped by her reviews, thereby recommending them to you highly. Happy birthday, Virginia. You know what my second entry will be as a follow-up to this review!
Many other epinioners have joined in artbyjude’s write-off for her mother and entries may be found at her profile page as they trickle in this month. Thanks, Jude!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jankp
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Member: Jan Peregrine
Location: Lincoln, NE
Reviews written: 1554
Trusted by: 498 members
About Me:
1500th review was $200 book: Comprehensive Handbook of Iodine
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