By far the most exciting and hopeful lesson I’ve learned is that you aren’t stuck with the brain you have. Even if you’ve been bad to your brain, you can make it better. By avoiding the things that hurt your brain and adopting healthy habits, you can optimize brain function, mental health, and memory.
Even better, you don’t have to change everything all at once. You can start by making one small change. That’s how one woman named Nancy did it.
In her 80s, Nancy was depressed, anxious, forgetful, arthritic, and obese. Then she bought one of my books in a used bookstore for 50 cents. She loved all the tips in it but didn’t think she could put them all into action right away. So she started by simply drinking more water. After a couple of days, she noticed that her energy was significantly better. Then she started taking brain-healthy supplements, including a multivitamin, omega-3s, and vitamin D because her level tested low. They made a big difference in her focus. When she began to feel better, she started walking, dancing, and playing table tennis, which boosted her mood. Eventually, she was taking French lessons and learning to play the guitar.
Over time, Nancy’s life changed completely. Her energy, mood, and memory were remarkably better, she lost 70 pounds, and was pain-free. I met Nancy when she came to one of our clinics to get a brain scan. It was her 83rd birthday present to herself. When I heard Nancy’s story I started to cry, because she was living proof of how the things we have learned from brain scans can make a profound difference in your life.
What small brain health habit can you start today? It only takes one step to put you on a path to a better brain and a better life.
