Staying Sharp for Dummies

Your brain controls who you are—how you think, feel, and act. As you age, it's not uncommon to want to remain as sharp and "with it" as you were in your younger years. Whether you want to hone your memory, manage stress and anxiety, or simply eat brain-healthy food, Staying Sharp For Dummies shows you how to keep your mind sharp, agile, and creative well into your golden years.

Research shows anyone can improve brain performance—and it's never too late to make changes to achieve your optimal brain health. While brain exercises certainly help, it's also vital to promote healthier living as a holistic way to support brain health. Staying Sharp For Dummies explains how keeping physically fit, eating right, managing stress, and even connecting with others helps give your brain the boost it needs to stay sharp—well into your golden years.

• Build a better brain through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and brain workouts
• Cope with a specific brain disorder, such as stroke, Dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's
• Stay sharp and improve memory and concentration
• Access an online bonus chapter from Alzheimer's For Dummies and Dementia For Dummies

If you or a loved one are looking for authoritative, accessible guidance on staying sharp, this essential guide endorsed by the American Geriatric Society and the American Geriatric Society Health in Aging Foundation covers the gamut of lifestyle and activity changes that can maximize brain function and health.

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of older people.

The Health in Aging Foundation is a national non-profit organization established in 1999 by AGS to bring the knowledge and expertise of geriatrics healthcare professionals to the public.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Staying Sharp 5

CHAPTER 1: Training Your Brain 7

CHAPTER 2: Improving Your Language Skills 23

CHAPTER 3: Sparking Your Creativity 31

CHAPTER 4: Recognizing Faces and Remembering Directions 41

CHAPTER 5: Getting a Handle on Brain Games 49

CHAPTER 6: Puzzles 63

Part 2: Boosting Your Memory 111

CHAPTER 7: Cultivating Your Memory Skills 113

CHAPTER 8: Discovering How Your Brain Remembers 127

CHAPTER 9: Memory Tricks and Tips 147

CHAPTER 10: Keeping Your Memory Sharp as You Grow Older 157

CHAPTER 11: Schooling Memory 171

CHAPTER 12: Honing Your Long-Term Memory 185

CHAPTER 13: Improving Your Short-Term Memory 197

CHAPTER 14: Keeping Your Memory Intact in a High-Speed World 209

Part 3: Managing Stress: Relaxing Mind and Body 221

CHAPTER 15: Understanding Stress 223

CHAPTER 16: Relaxing Your Body 257

CHAPTER 17: Stress-Reducing Organizational Skills 279

CHAPTER 18: Meditation 101 301

Part 4: Improving Your Lifestyle: Nutrition and Exercise 331

CHAPTER 19: Eating, Exercising, and Getting Your Zzzs 333

CHAPTER 20: Maintaining a Healthy Weight and Fitness Level 357

CHAPTER 21: Considering a Plant-Based Diet 381

CHAPTER 22: The Skinny on Superfoods 407

Part 5: Healthy Aging 431

CHAPTER 23: The Four Major Health Concerns as You Age 433

CHAPTER 24: Evaluating Your Health and History and Setting Goals for Wellness 477

CHAPTER 25: Stroke Risk Factors and Prevention 499

CHAPTER 26: Don’t Worry, Be Happy: The Keys to Maintaining Health and Vitality 531

Part 6: The Part of Tens 549

CHAPTER 27: Ten Ways to Make Your Home Safer as You Age 551

CHAPTER 28: Ten (Plus) Almost-Superfoods that Can Help Round Out Your Diet 559

Index 567

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