Brain Power Everything You Need to Know for a Healthy, Happy Brain

Catherine de Lange is a science journalist, editor and author of 10 Voyages Through the Human Mind: Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution published by Michael O'Mara Books. She has written for Nature, the Guardian and the Washington Post among others, and has worked on TV programmes such as the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, as well as radio documentaries including BBC Radio 4's Dear Professor Hawking. She is currently Biomedical Features Editor at New Scientist.

CONTENTS

Introduction 7
PART 1: DIET
1 What to eat to boost your mood 14
2 Going hungry could keep your brain young 23
3 The promise of brain-boosting foods 30
4 Alzheimer’s could be the diabetes of the brain 40

PART 2: SLEEP
5 Sleeping on it improves learning and memory 47
6 The truth about sleep and Alzheimer’s 55
7 Being tired destroys your cognitive abilities 62
8 Sleep is a kind of overnight therapy 67
9 How much sleep do you really need? 76
10 Tiredness can be all in the mind 83

PART 3: PHYSICAL EXERCISE
11 Exercise is one of the key ways to prevent dementia 88
12 Exercise amps up your brain power 99
13 Exercise can boost your mental wellbeing 106
14 Yoga can change your brain and calm the mind 115
15 Be mindful of mindfulness 121

PART 4: MENTAL EXERCISE
16 You can grow new brain cells 127
17 Education protects your brain 133
The bilingual brain boost 137
19 Music should be part of daily life 144

PART 5: SOCIAL LIFE
20 Marriage can protect you from dementia 153
21 How loneliness changes your brain 158
22 The healing power of pets 166
23 The mood-boosting benefits of light and dark 172
24 Nature is good for mental health 181

PART 6: HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND
25 Inflammation can mess with your mind 190
26 To help avoid Alzheimer’s, take care of your teeth 197
27 Hearing loss is linked to dementia 203

PART 7: THE INFLUENCE OF YOU
28 Your personality affects your mental health 209
29 Stress doesn’t have to be bad 218
30 How to form healthy habits 226

Conclusion 234
Endnotes 237
Acknowledgements 251
Index 252