Small Gary - 2 weeks to a younger brain: an innovative program for a better memory and sharper mind

When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not.

Mark Twain

H AVE YOU EVER WALKED into a room and forgotten why? What about that awkward feeling of meeting an old friend and blanking on his name? And how many times have you misplaced your glasses or keys?

Most of us laugh about these occasional memory slips, but for some people, its no joke. Mental lapses become more frequent after age 40, and they can terrify people who worry about dementia. Every misplaced phone or wallet can trigger apprehension: Could this be the beginning of a downward spiral toward Alzheimers disease?

The good news is that usually these fears are unwarranted. Of course, our brains do gradually age along with our bodies, but we all possess the power to slow, stop, and possibly reverse that brain aging process. The key is learning what causes brain aging and then using effective strategies to beat it. Recent scientific discoveries show that simply altering some of our everyday behaviors can help keep our minds young and sharp.

We live in a society that equates youth with beauty and power, and some people pursue a younger appearance at any cost. But even if we could cut 10 or 20 years off our looks, how could we enjoy it without a sharp, healthy mind? Brain health must be priority number one, and it turns out that the same strategies Ive developed to keep our brains young also enhance our bodys health and appearance.

My patient Sharon was a chic and coiffed 62-year-old real estate broker who looked years younger than her age. She wasnt embarrassed to admit that she visited her plastic surgeon every four months to get Botox injections. She loved the way he made the lines around her eyes disappear. Riding down in the elevator from his office recently, she couldnt remember whether her next stop was the dentist or a meeting with a client. She searched her purse for her smartphone and panicked when she couldnt find it. Had she left it at home? Could it be in the car?

As she raced into the parking structure, she suddenly realized that she hadnt noticed what level she parked on. Sharon hurried past rows and rows of cars, repeatedly pressing the remote unlock button on her key in hopes of hearing the car beep. After searching two levels, she sat down on a bench to catch her breath and calm down. This wasnt the first time shed experienced memory problems, but this episode finally convinced her to come see me.

Sharon entered my office and took a seat, and I asked how I could help. She told me that her memory had always been excellent and how much that helped in business. But for the last two years shed been having more memory lapses, and they seemed to be getting worse. I asked her what had been going on in her life when the memory lapses had begun.

Well, I had just gone through a messy divorce and decided to have another face-lift. You know, its good for my job to look young. But since then, I havent felt quite as sharp. I know it takes weeks, sometimes months to get back to normal after a big procedure, but this is ridiculous. Im having trouble keeping track of clients, and my sales are slipping. I worry all the time, and frankly, Im getting depressed about it.