The Ageless Brain: How to Sharpen and Protect Your Mind for a Lifetime

“How do we keep our brains youthful, healthy, and functional for the entirety of our lives?” asks neurologist Bredesen (The End of Alzheimer’s) in this edifying guide. Discussing how overexposure to otherwise beneficial biological processes contributes to cognitive decline, Bredesen explains, for instance, that Alzheimer’s has been linked to elevated levels of amyloid, a peptide that destroys dangerous microbes in the brain but can also cause harmful inflammation. Forming new neural connections is key for staying sharp into old age, Bredesen contends, suggesting readers might do so by taking up a new game, cooking dishes from unfamiliar cuisines, or learning a new language. The recommendations are accompanied by thorough scientific explanations, as when Bredesen advises cycling, jogging, or doing other aerobic exercises daily and describes how they heighten cerebral oxygen levels by increasing blood flow. In addition to the expected suggestions to get at least seven hours of sleep per night and eat “large portions of organic leafy greens,” Bredesen also throws in some more unusual guidance. For instance, he emphasizes the importance of ridding one’s home of mold, describing how fungus-produced mycotoxins impair the ability of mitochondria in human cells to generate energy. The result is a vital resource for retaining mental acuity. Agent: John Maas and Sarah Passick, Park & Fine Literary. (Mar.)