Older and Wiser

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

"Use it or lose it," declares Restak (author of The Brain, on which the PBS special series was based) to readers wishing to increase their odds of living longer and healthier. The "it" is the brain, the organ that can play a primary role in determining the length and quality of a person's life. In explaining how the brain orchestrates the body's functions, the author, a neuropsychiatrist practicing in Washington, D.C., often dips into hard science, as when he describes the chemical actions of neurotransmitters and receptors. Grounding his discussions, grounded in facts and studies, give a reassuring solidity to the advice that's offered. An entire chapter is devoted to memory, with a firm reminder that Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are abnormal conditions and not the inevitable result of living long. Restak discusses the effects that exercise (he recommends tai chi), diet and such substances as aspirin, caffeine and melatonin can have on the aging process. He examines the damaging effects of depression, loneliness, strokes and alcoholism and cites stagnation as the major cause of physical decline in old age. Included in the final chapter, "Thirty Steps You Can Take to Enhance Your Brain in the Mature Years," is the exercise of balancing on one foot for as long as possible, then switching to the other foot, an activity that strengthens muscles, increases balance and flexibility and significantly reduces the likelihood of bone-breaking falls. This substantive, upbeat guide takes some of the edge off aging. (Sept.)

Library Journal

Restak, neurologist and author of numerous popular books on the human brain (including the companion volume to the PBS series The Brain), considers here the effects of aging on the human brain and suggests ways to maintain peak mental performance. Stressing that brain functioning is the most predictive feature of longevity, Restak describes both the cellular mechanisms responsible for aging and the cognitive processes of the mature brainsome of which, he notes, actually improve with age. He discusses the role of neurotransmitters and briefly describes drugs that may compensate for changes that occur in these chemicals over time. Throughout, the author carefully distinguishes normal, age-associated memory loss from symptoms characterizing a diseased brain. Restak summarizes the wisdom of nine mentally agile seniors and offers 30 practical suggestions (covering nutrition, exercise, and social and mental activities) to maximize mental performance. A useful and popular acquisition for any public library.Laurie Bartolini, Legislative Research, Springfield, Ill.