Dementia Prevention in 2018

I was interested in this work because of family members' failing health; I have been following this topic for a couple of years and wanted to hear the most current thinking. I found some reiteration of information from earlier books/articles/sites, but also new information added. I liked that each chapter ends with action steps - things you can do now to improve your health. This author does have a strong spiritual/Christian bent, but I would say the spiritual aspect is in addition to a strong scientific premise. I enjoyed the chapters that dealt with faith issues, but I think some readers might not find them as helpful. Overall I found the material very well organized and I felt it was "news I could use," being able to add a few more tools to my prevention toolkit. The narrator was a fine choice for this selection.

7 people found this helpful

RIDICULOUSLY RELIGIOUS!!!

Although this book does a fantastic job with giving guidelines on living a healthy life, designed to avoid dementia and aging, with a wonderful narrator that makes it a pleasure to listen to and makes me excited to try his suggestions- it is SO religious! The author literally argues that it is unhealthy to be atheist and spends several chapters on why you should believe in New testament God and afterlife. What this is doing in a book on dementia is beyond me. I appreciate the advice on having a spiritual grounding and finding ways to relax, but I do not like the Christianity-centric prescriptions. He even cites Dawkins book, The God Delusion, but clearly doesn't see that the underlying point is not about Old Testament God but all religion.

If you are an ardent atheist you will find this difficult to listen to at times. If you're a mainstream Christian you'll probably really like it.

And if this book actually convinces you it is unhealthy to be secular or that all atheists must be existentially depressed, it's not true! Atheists are just as happy and depressed as everyone else. The author cites no research for his arguments to the contrary.

4 people found this helpful

Informative and relevant

This book is for everyone even if you don't know anyone with dementia. If you are alive, your brain is aging and this book holds relevant information. It's easy to follow and easy to implement the suggestions.

1 person found this helpful

Aging Brain and dementia

I am about 2/3 through the book. I feel like one needs a medical degree to truly understand the meanings that the author is attempting to bring across. I wish that he was sitting with me while the book is being read (audible) because then I could ask what all the acronyms mean that he speaks of and have him go into more detail about the scientific background of different chemicals that he is referring to. I find the book interesting (as far as I can comprehend) but it is frustrating. Also, I am at the point now in the book that I have decided that there really isn't anything left that I can eat or cook unless I just pull it up from the garden or reach into the ocean and just start munching on the nearest fish I can grab on to that won't cause damage to my body and brain. However that being said, I have also decided that "daily fasting' as a permanent activity for the rest of my life probably isn't a viable option, so I think I am doomed to get dementia.

1 person found this helpful

I wasn’t looking for a bible study

The author managed to turn a book on aging into a bible study. That’s not what I was looking for and don’t want to hear his particular thoughts about god as if they are facts. I can’t recommend this book and would encourage anyone looking for a book on the aging brain select something else.