Publication Date: December 2009

Repair, Retrain, and Maintain Your Brain

Age-associated memory loss is the number one health complaint of Americans over 60, but loss of brain cells is not something you have to just accept—mental exercise can create and sustain new cells in 50-, 60-, 70-, and even 80-year-old brains. The result? A reduced risk of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease and more robust memory function overall.

Train your brain with Dr. Paul E. Bendheim’s proven mental exercises!

For the nearly 50% of Americans over 40 who worry about memory loss, an innovative step-by-step guide and DVD to help readers boost brain health

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Motivated by a professional and personal passion, Paul E. Bendheim, MD, (Phoenix) is an internationally recognized neurologist with 25 years of academic neuroscience research and industry-related drug development in Alzheimer’s and other brain degenerative diseases. Dr. Bendheim is CEO and Chief Medical Officer of BrainSavers, LLC, and Chairman of the Clinical Advisory Board, Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. His father, a psychiatrist, died of Alzheimer’s disease.

Customer Reviews

By D. Larsen “observer” (Utah)

I am a dementia prevention specialist, and I think this is perhaps the most practical comprehensive book for seniors on this subject I’ve seen. This is a very broad field, but Dr. Bendheim “gets it!” While there are lots of tidbits in the media, healthy brain aging/ i.e. preventing Alzheimer’s or other dementias requires a multifaceted or “synergistic” approach involving diet, mental, physical and social activities, sound sleep and stress management – which Dr. Bendheim does a great job of explaining in very practical terms. Both the book and DVD are loaded with innovative, challenging yet enjoyable exercises, including memory games using commercials from the past, which I enjoyed. Plus it’s well documented. He provides a host of references – to both popular and scientific sources. Anyone over 40 who follows the insightful, practical advice in this book should see a significant difference in their cognitive abilities, and isn’t that what really counts.

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Publication Date: September 20, 2010
Most people think there is little or nothing you can do to avoid Alzheimer’s. But scientists know this is no longer true. In fact, prominent researchers now say that our best and perhaps only hope of defeating Alzheimer’s is to prevent it.

After best-selling author Jean Carper discovered that she had the major susceptibility gene for Alzheimer’s, she was determined to find all the latest scientific evidence on how to escape it. She discovered 100 surprisingly simple scientifically tested ways to radically cut the odds of Alzheimer’s, memory decline, and other forms of dementia.

Did you know that vitamin B 12 helps keep your brain from shrinking? Apple juice mimics a common Alzheimer’s drug? Surfing the internet strengthens aging brain cells? Ordinary infections and a popular anesthesia may trigger dementia? Meditating spurs the growth of new neurons? Exercise is like Miracle-Gro for your brain?

Even a few preventive actions could dramatically change your future by postponing Alzheimer’s so long that you eventually outlive it. If you can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s for five years, you cut your odds of having it by half. Postpone Alzheimer’s for ten years, and you’ll most likely never live to see it. 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s will change the way you look at Alzheimer’s and provide exciting new answers from the frontiers of brain research to help keep you and your family free of this heartbreaking disease.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
If trying something new can delay or offset the effects of Alzheimer’s, as former CNN medical correspondent and syndicated “EatSmart” columnist Carper (The Food Pharmacy) contends, then readers would do well to try many of the ideas she offers in this empowering compendium. Genetically disposed to Alzheimer’s, Carper, now in her 70s, has compressed the latest research on this and other types of dementia into short sections, each with a bottom-line action plan. While some are basic to all-around good health (e.g., taking a multivitamin, not smoking, limiting alcohol), others might surprise: consuming apple juice and vinegar, meditating, and surfing the Internet. Although Carper admits she has not tried all of them, she recommends that readers experiment with those best suited to their situations. Even a few nutritional (a Mediterranean diet) and lifestyle (exercise, stress relief, sleep) changes, she states, can gain as much as a decade disease-free, and by supplementing with anti-Alzheimer’s powerhouses like niacin, choline, folic acid, and alpha lipoic acid, readers can push mental decline even further into the future. Whether in their 20s or well into retirement, readers will likely feel motivated to do the impossible: beat the approaching epidemic of a disease commonly viewed as hopeless.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

By thea flaum

This review is from: 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Age-Related Memory Loss (Hardcover)
At last–there are some things we can actually do about Alzheimer’s!

The author has done a thorough, careful survey of the latest and best scientific research about the causes and prevention of Alzheimer’s, and what the findings imply for all of us.

In clear layman’s terms,the book tells you what the top researchers have learned about how to prevent and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. And the suggestions for things you can do to prevent it are just as simple as the title promises.

This book is a ray of hope amidst all the Alzheimer’s gloom. I’m sending it to everyone in my family.

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Publication Date: April 15, 2008

Is it really Alzheimer’s? How to find out and intervene early to maintain the highest quality of life

“Most of us will either get Alzheimer’s or care for a loved one who has. This action plan can empower you to make a difference.”—Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.

What would you do if your mother was having memory problems?

Alzheimer’s is a disease affecting more than five million Americans, with a new diagnosis being made every seventy-two seconds. Millions more are worried or at risk due to mild memory loss or family history. Although experts agree that early diagnosis and treatment are essential, many people with memory loss and their families—and even their doctors—don’t know where to turn for authoritative, state-of-the-art advice and answers to all of their questions.

Customer Reviews

By Subuhi Husain “Subuhi husain” (Southlake,TX USA)

This review is from: The Alzheimer’s Action Plan: The Experts’ Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems (Hardcover)
As a family member taking care of a patient with Alzheimer’s Disease this is a great guide to help in day to day care of your loved one. It also provides easy to understand complex medical treatment choices as well as social interventions. Highly recommended resource for Alzheimer’s Disease. Great writing style.

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Publication Date: January 30, 2012
An informative memoir about a son taking care of a mother with Alzheimer’s Disease. The story is told in a manner that educates and focuses the reader on the insidious nature of adult mental dysfunction, while at the same time offering useful insights and advice on the responsibilities of caregiving. Alzheimer’s and its evil brain-robbing cousins are a scourge that rip our loved ones from us piece by piece. When the disease is firmly in control, there are no silver linings or wonderfully shared moments. At best, we can strive for an approach that will leave us free of missed opportunities and regret.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author
What They Don’t Tell You About Alzheimer’s is not a book I set out to write. It just came out of me after my mother passed away. I didn’t enjoy writing it, but I suspect it did me some good in the long run. My only hope is that by sharing these experiences, which are obviously very personal and private, others may find comfort. You’re not alone out there. Many of us do, indeed, know what you’re going through.

Customer Reviews

By Wendie Forman

This is a must read for anyone who has suffered through Alzheimer’s with a family member. It is an honest, loving account of a son’s experience in being the primary caregiver for his mother. It is poetic, spare, heart felt and honest. It realistically describes the burdens of being the primary caregiver with much helpful advice on how to navigate the systems. It is a quick read; heart wrenching at times and will stay with you for a long time.

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Product Description
When Nataly Rubinstein’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1994, she quickly realized that the diagnosis was only the “tip of the iceberg.” Finding the emotional and financial resources to meet her mother’s needs was a labor of love that impacted Nataly’s entire family, requiring Nataly to reach beyond commitment to a reservoir of perseverance deep within her heart. As a licensed clinical social worker, Nataly reaches out to others as a professional Alzheimer’s Coach and Dementia Strategist. Her comprehensive “Survival Guide for Caregivers” shares the insight and expertise of a certified geriatric care manager who has been there…

Customer Reviews

By Mark

This review is from: Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias: The Caregiver’s Complete Survival Guide (Kindle Edition)
I had lost all hope before I bought this book!!! When my grandmother was diagnosed with dementia it became truly hard for my family to adjust to diagnosis. After months of searching I cam across this book and it has turned our lives around!!! Thank you Nataly!!

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Customer Reviews

By ceanderson

Practical advice written in a style that gives technical explanations without the confusing medical jargon.

The book is divided into sections that provides brief explanations of the various symptoms of various types of dementia as well as potential therapies. In other sections there is advice to caregivers, how to tell a family member about the disease, and other useful advice about how to prepare if one is diagnosed with dementia.

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-Alzheimer’s disease (pronounced Allz-high-merz di-zeez)
-The signs of Alzheimer’s disease
-Why it is so important to see your doctor early
-Treatment for the disease
-How to get help if you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease

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Publication Date: December 31, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1932529233 | ISBN-13: 978-1932529234 | Edition: 1

Offers a glimpse into the world of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease. The author, who was diagnosed at age 58, shares his account of his slow transformation and deterioration. Addresses complexity and emotions surrounding issues such as the loss of independence, unwanted personality shifts, struggle to communicate, and more. Softcover.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
Thoughtful and self-reflective, this collection of illuminating essays offers a rare glimpse into the often incomprehensible world of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease. Diagnosed at age 58, psychologist Richard Taylor shares a provocative and courageous account of his slow transformation and deterioration, and of the growing divide between his reality and the reality of others.

With poignant clarity, candor, and humor, Taylor addresses the complexity and emotions surrounding issues such as the loss of independence and personhood, unwanted personality shifts, the struggle to communicate, changing relationships with loved ones and friends, continuous declines in ability to perform familiar tasks, and never-ending uncertainty about the future.

Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out is a captivating read for anyone affected by this mind-robbing disease. Individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease will take comfort in the voice of a fellow traveler experiencing similar challenges, frustrations, and triumphs. Family and professional caregivers will be enlightened by Taylor’s revealing words, gaining a better understanding of an unfathomable world and how best to care for someone living in it.

Customer Reviews

By Mona Johnson (Florida)

Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out is a stunning achievement. In this collection of essays, Richard Taylor gets at the essence of dementia, and how it has redefined his relationships with family, friends and even with himself.

There are no answers when it comes to Alzheimer’s, but Richard asks all the right questions. Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out is much more than a resource for anyone dealing with the disease. Although the book includes plenty of practical information, Richard goes beyond test scores, standard medications and neuroimaging to the more important philosophical and psychological aspects of life after diagnosis. He takes the focus off the disease, and puts it back on the person.

I wish I’d read this book when my father were alive. I would have worried less about what was wrong with him and worried more about just being with him.

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Though Dr. Mary T. Newport has provided professional care to newborns since 1983, she’s led a double life since 2000 when she became a caregiver at home. That’s when her beloved husband, Steve, first showed signs of Alzheimer’s disease. After his deterioration accelerated in 2004, Dr. Newport began avidly researching ways to keep him functional for as long as possible. Since she understands medical terminology and scientific methods, she was thrilled to find new research showing that medium- chain fatty acids, which act like an alternative fuel in the insulin-deficient Alzheimer’s brain, can sometimes reverse or at least stabilize the disease. When she gave Steve about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (a source of these fats) at breakfast before a memory test that he had previously failed, Steve miraculously passed the test. Since then, Steve continues to maintain improvement while taking daily doses of coconut oil and MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil with meals.

Dr. Newport’s story of Steve’s reprieve from Alzheimer’s provides hope for caregivers eager to learn about readily available fatty acids in foods that may reverse the ravages of this dreaded disease. Changes in loved ones may take many forms, including improved memory, return of personality, resumption of activities and social interaction, and relief from certain physical symptoms. Because ketone esters, a synthesized form of these powerful fatty acids, work faster and more comprehensively than fatty acids in foods, Dr. Newport has become an ardent advocate for ketone ester research, with FDA approval her final goal.

Caregivers for the more than 5 million people in the United States who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease are searching desperately for hope, relief, and a cure. They will find all that in this book that summarizes Dr. Newport’s research and Steve’s reprieve, the importance of medium-chain fatty acids, and how Alzheimer’s patients can make the transition to a healthy diet rich in these vital fats.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Mary T. Newport, M.D., has provided care to newborns in Florida since 1983 and is currently the founding director of the newborn intensive care unit at Spring Hill Regional Hospital. In July 2008 Dr. Newport wrote an article, “What If There Was a Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and No One Knew?” which was circulated around the world and became the subject of a lecture she presented at the 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Customer Reviews

By Mimi “Mimi” (Mauritius today US next month)

A friend told me about this book when I told her I was worried about brain fog, memory loss and inability to remember people’s faces. I wasn’t sure if this was menopausal, or due to having cancer 3 years ago – but it certainly made me worried.

I cut back the carbs in my diet and added 4-7 tablespoons of coconut oil into my diet. After a week I noticed that using the Nintendo Brain Trainer my memory test score showed my highest score ever – a 20% improvement on previous measurements. My brain feels clearer and I feel less spaced out.

This is a really important work and I wish I’d come across it before my dad, who had Alzheimer’s, died.

It’s becoming so clear that so much illness can be resolved just by improving your diet. People do not grow healthy and strong eating pizza, pasta and Cola. Including essential fats (coconut oil and fish oil) and several portions of green vegetables daily, and cutting out sugar and trans fats can make a big difference to your health.

The long held truth that low fat is the way to health is now being found to be completely incorrect. Your brain is made of fat and the sheaths that surround your nerves are made of fat, and if you’re not eating any fat, how can they be repaired!! The wrong fats have given the good fats a bad press. Margarines, transfats and hydrogenated oils are all bad – which is why manufacturers are now removing them from products. Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil is good, but most other vegetable oils are very processed and not good for your health.

There is a belief that coconut oil is bad for you – but again this is an outdated information that has been proven incorrect. The medical profession know this as premature babies are fed on supplements made from coconut oil and so are patients in intensive care unit who can’t eat.

Do your own research into fats and health and you’ll find that a lot of what you believed to be true has been proven wrong. The new paradigm is that too many carbohydrates and particularly too much refined sugar, or refined flour, is the reason for the increase in illhealth that we see around us. A diet full of fresh food – lots of portions of vegetables and fruits is the way to go for improvement in health.

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The true causes of Alzheimer’s disease remain elusive. However, researchers have made progress in understanding the neurological roots of this debilitating condition.

The disease is named after Alois Alzheimer, who was the first to identify the peculiar plaques and tangles in the brain, which is characteristic of the illness. Till the final decades of the twentieth century, Alzheimer’s could be diagnosed accurately only by a post-mortem examination.

Nowadays, scientists are beginning to uncover precisely what is happening and why those characteristic tangles and plaques crop up in the brain.

Many of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are caused by neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Microscopic filaments clog the neurons. These filaments are made up of an abnormal kind of Tau protein.

In a normal brain, Tau protein bonds into microtubules and enables transmission of messages from one neuron to another. But in an Alzheimer brain, instead of bonding into message pathways, Tau protein bonds with itself. And the neuron messages go nowhere.

Since the neurons are clogged, signals from the environment are no longer transmitted the way they should be. That is why severe cognitive impairment is one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists speculate that Tau protein malfunction which results in neurofibrillary tangles is caused by beta amyloid protein, but this is yet to be conclusively proved.

It is beta amyloid protein that causes plaques between neurons, which is the other main damage to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease.

The plaque deposits are sticky patches in the brain which contain beta amyloid protein. Plaque blocks communication pathways between neurons, which results in the memory problems and learning inabilities associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The degree of cognitive impairment depends on the amount of plaque present. Plaque acts by interfering with the normal functioning of acetylcholine, which helps to transmit nerve messages.

Treatment for Alzheimer’s disease involves using acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which works by blocking enzymes that consume the acetylcholine. This medication is effective during the early stages of the disease before too much plaque has already built up.

Some research seems to indicate that plaques cause tangles. One study took proteins from mice to eliminate the plaque-causing beta amyloid. They found that the proteins got rid of the tangles as well. Similar effects have been brought about by other medications as well.

Others believe that both plaques and tangles are the result of other processes. One possible culprit is swollen axons. Axons are critical for transmitting messages between neurons. When axons swell, they may block message transmission and perhaps lead to the plaques and tangles which bring on Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists are working hard at uncovering the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, which may sooner or later lead to a comprehensive cure for this dreaded condition.