Explaining why the
brain begins to get sluggish and slow, causing us to forget things, Tan touches
upon several important aspects of memory loss such as Alzheimer’s, dementia and
various other health issues that can cause memory loss.  Tan also educates the reader on the
importance of exercise, healthy diet and the effects that abusing your body can
have on your memory, as well as your overall health.

The first few chapters focus primarily on the brain
explaining how it functions and, more importantly, how it begins to slow down
and shortchange us as we age.  Other
chapters focus on the many studies done to prove that memory can indeed be
preserved.  The reader learns about the
health benefits of vitamin E, Omega 3, exercise, green tea, and mustard greens,
whilst also touching on the apparent link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s.  Tan also draws attention to the importance
of the hormone estrogen and the effect it has on our memories. 

The book includes
numerous recipes that utilize all of the healthy ingredients pertinent to
maintaining memory, while also listing the calorie, fat, carbohydrate and
vitamin values. 

Tan also focuses
on the future of Alzheimer’s disease and the advance progress that is being
made in terms of a cure.   

The main focus of
the book, however, is the series of exercises Tan suggests to promote an
active, healthy memory.  The plan, aimed
at the reader, prescribes practice on a daily basis in order to keep the mind
and memory strong.  Personally I enjoyed
these exercises, and many of the questions required some careful thought
(examples include: which way is Lincoln facing on a penny? Which color light is
at the top of the traffic signal?

This is an
excellent self-help book for anyone, of any age, who wishes to maintain the
best possible overall health of their memory.

© 2006 Dana Vigilante

Dana Vigilante is a hospice
educator as well as an advocate for proper end-of-life care and a certified
bereavement group facilitator. Currently writing a book based on interviews
with terminally ill hospice patients, she divides her time between New Jersey
and San Francisco.

Categories: SelfHelp