Save Your Brain194 for cancer, Alzheimer’s, mental illness, and substance abuse may indeed be found in a piece of bark deep in the Amazon Jungle. The cure may just as reasonably be found in the deep gyri of one brain of the billions of brains on our planet. Remember, it only takes one brain for something to be considered real or pos- sible. I have a fundamental belief that the human brain contains the answers to our greatest diffi culties, our most challenging questions. The brain is simply too brilliant to not provide us the roadmaps to different solutions, to make life on Earth a better experience, and to wipe disabling diseases from our exis- tence. The brain contains the mathematical wizardry necessary to create the twenty-second-century world and to appreciate deeply complex things such as time and aging itself. The brain seeks pleasure, and its most elegant processing occurs when it is stimulated using multiple sensory pathways simultaneously. The brain also contains answers so that all people of different backgrounds with different sets of beliefs can appreciate more fully we are one species with more similarity than difference. Our future holds signifi cant promise for an entirely new understanding of the human brain. As we develop more sophis- ticated means of exploring the human brain, we will begin to close the gap between what we now believe about the human brain and what is real. We continue to underestimate the power of the brain because we do not understand it well enough. There is a basic human tendency to be cautious and dubious, but I believe we should be aggressive and bold with regard to the potential of the human brain. The future will provide us with more insight and a deeper appreciation for how brilliant the brain is. We will also learn how to use our brains in new and Pioneering a Bold Future for Brain Health 195 highly effi cient ways and to adapt to life circumstances in ways that increase our health and longevity. Perhaps we will also discover within our brain the deep sense of spirituality that has existed in humans since the beginning of time. We may even fi nd that the complexities, questions, and answers on the origin of our universe are the same for the brain. Can something so brilliant be random? Until such exploration yields some of these insights, we need to begin the process of learning about our own brain. From a basic understanding of your brain, you can understand why a proactive lifestyle is critical. Personalizing the message of this book will enable you to engage in a brain health lifestyle across your entire life span, which is desirable because the goal of main- taining access to your life story is so meaningful. It is important to try and refl ect on the many brilliant things you do every day, the experiences of life, and the social interactions your brain permits you to experience. We are truly blessed to have such a complicated and miraculous system within our skull. We are also so fortunate to have the ability to shape our brains, which means we have some control over the integrity and indeed the health of our brain. This is truly a wonderful opportunity for each of us to engage in the proactive path toward brain health. You have been encoding experiences most of your life, and your brain has placed them systematically into a long-term storage for your use. I refer to this as your autobiography, your life story, the most precious gift you have. It is critical that you maintain access to your life story so you can share it with your next great generation, the little ones in your life. Get started on your jour- ney toward brain health today. You have much to share! Save Your Brain196 A Final Word Brain health is a critically important and interesting frontier that has captured the focus of the nation and the world. It is now up to those of us on the front lines of schools, libraries, homes, and corporations to introduce and implement brain health. Everyone who works to learn about their brain and to make lifestyle changes to promote their own brain health will benefi t. While change is typically not easy, such lifestyle altera- tions can be fun and personally relevant. It is time for all of us to begin a proactive approach to protecting our life stories so that we can share them with our next great generation of little ones! Good luck with your own journey to better brain health! 197 Resources 7 Paul D. Nussbaum, Ph.D. paulnussbaum.com drnuss@zoominternet.net 412-471-1195 Dr. Nussbaum’s website offers a tremendous amount of friendly information on the human brain and brain health promotion. He also provides a series of links to different companies that he works with and programs and products on brain health. You can also order Dr. Nussbaum’s books on his brain health lifestyle and DVDs. Kathy Rusk, Registered Dietitian Nutrition Dynamics Northwest nutritiondynamicsnw.com kathy@nutritiondynamicsnw.com 425-269-6979 Resources198 Websites Moxxor Nutritional Supplements mymoxxor.com/drpaul The Moxxor website offers great information on nutritional supplements that can help boost brain health. Fit Brains fi tbrains.com Fit Brains provides fun and friendly brain-fi tness games that give you a daily brain workout. Fit Brains also provides use- ful tools to help you get started on a brain health lifestyle. Dr. Nussbaum serves as the chief scientifi c offi cer to Fitbrains, Inc. Emeritus Senior Living emeritus.com Emeritus is one of the largest assisted-living companies in the United States, and it has incorporated Dr. Nussbaum’s brain health lifestyle into its culture. Dr. Nussbaum works closely with Emeritus to provide superior programs for resi- dents in independent-living, assisted-living, and memory-care situations. Resources 199 International Center for Leadership in Education leadered.com The International Center for Leadership in Education is a lead- ing authority on education and necessary reforms for improving the education system in America. Dr. Nussbaum serves ICLE as a senior advisor for brain health and education, and he provides keynote presentations to school districts across the country. Alzheimer’s Prevention alzprevention.org The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America provides information and programs on research-based methods to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Dr. Nussbaum serves as the chair of the Prevention Advisory Board for AFA. Connected Living mywayvillage.com MyWay Village has a unique program called Connected Living that provides seniors with computer-based methods to tell their life stories and to remain integrated with family and friends. Dr. Nussbaum serves as the chief brain health offi cer and provides leadership to MyWay Village on aspects of brain health and the importance of socialization as one component to a brain health lifestyle. Resources200 American Society on Aging asaging.org The American Society on Aging is a leading organization for education and training in nearly all aspects of aging. Dr. Nuss- baum has worked with the ASA to provide keynote presenta- tions on brain health for many years. Marbles marblesthebrainstore.com This new and unique retail chain provides the consumer with some of the latest products and information dealing with brain health. Books on Brain Health Brizendine, L. The Female Brain. New York: Morgan Road Books, 2006. Carper, J. Your Miracle Brain. New York: Quill, 2001. Diamond, M.C., & Hopson, J. Magic Trees of the Mind. New York: Plume, 1999. Kotulak, R. Inside the Brain: Revolutionary Discoveries of How the Mind Works . Kansas City, MO: Anreas and McMeely, 1997. Nussbaum, J.F., Federowicz, M., & Nussbaum, P.D. Brain Health and Optimal Engagement in Older Adulthood . Girona, Spain: Editorial Aresta, 2009. Resources 201 Nussbaum, P.D. Brain Health and Wellness. Tarentum, PA: Word Association Publishing, 2003. — . Your Brain Health Lifestyle. Tarentum, PA: Word Asso- ciation Publishing, 2007. — . Your Brain Health Lifestyle: Application to the School, Library, Corporate and Business Setting, and Home . 2nd ed. Tarentum, PA: Word Association Publishing, 2009. Snowdon, D.A. Aging with Grace. New York: Bantam Books, 2001. Snyder, P.J., Nussbaum, P.D., & Robins, D.L. Clinical Neuro- psychology: A Pocket Handbook for Assessment. 2nd ed. Wash- ington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2006. Research Papers on Brain Health Colcombe, S.J., et al. (2006). Aerobic exercise training increases brain volume in aging humans. The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 61:1166–70. Diamond, M.C., Krech, D., & Rosenzweig, M.R. (1964). The effects of an enriched environment on the histology of the rat cerebral cortex. Journal of Comparative Neurology 123: 111–20. Eriksson, P.S., Perfi lieva, E., Bjork-Eriksson, T., Alborn, A.M., Nordborg, C., Peterson, D.A., & Gage, F.H. (1998). Neu- Resources202 rogenesis in the adult human hippocampus. Nature Medi- cine 4:1313–17. Mortimer, J.A. (1997). Brain reserve and the clinical expression of Alzheimer’s disease. Geriatrics 52:S50–S53. Snowdon, D.A., Kemper, S.J., Mortimer, J.A., Greiner, L.H., Wekstein, D.R., & Markesbery, W.R. (1996). Linguistic ability in early life and cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease in late life: Findings from the nun study. Journal of the American Medical Association 275:528–32. Willis, S.L., et al. (2006). Long-term effects of cognitive train- ing on everyday functional outcomes in older adults. JAMA 296:2805–14. Additional References on Nutrition DHA, A Good Fat. American Dietetic Association Fact Sheet. Chicago, 2008. The Human Brain—Fats, Micronutrients, and Proteins. Pub- lished on the Franklin Institute Resources for Science Learning website (http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/fats .html, http://www.fi .edu/learn/brain/micro.html, http:// www.fi .edu/learn/brain/proteins.html), 2004. Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid. Natural Standard Patient Monograph, published on the Mayo Resources 203 Clinic website by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Edu- cation and Research, June 20, 2008. Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease. The American Heart Association, Harris, W., et al. Circulation 2009, 119:902–907. Mahon, K., & Stump, S.E. Krause’s Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy . W.B. Saunders, 2003. Schmidt, Michael A. Brain-Building Nutrition: How Dietary Fats and Oils Affect Mental, Physical, and Emotional Intelligence . 3rd ed. Frog Books, Ltd., 2007. Tribole, E. The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet. McGraw-Hill, 2007. 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Salmon, 13, 142, 150 , 152 , 159 Salmon Burgers, 173 Salmon Pizza, Smoked, 174– 75 Salmon Rama, 172 Salmon Rémoulade Salad, 176 Sign language, 11, 108 Sleep, 12, 21, 23, 139 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 . 148, 153 54 omega-3 fatty acids, 59 , 74, 143, 148, 150 , 151 , 152 , 154 , 155 , 159 protein, 147–48, 150 51 supplements, 154 55 in workplace, 157 Nutritional Domain of brain health inventory,. 14, 142, 144, 149, 151 , 152 , 153 , 158 , 159 Occipital lobes, 33, 34 Omega-3 fatty acids, 59 , 74, 143, 148, 150 , 151 , 152 , 154 , 155 , 159 Parietal lobes, 33, 34, 127 Passions and talents, sharing,. most of your life, and your brain has placed them systematically into a long-term storage for your use. I refer to this as your autobiography, your life story, the most precious gift you have.