Outsmarting Alzheimer's: What You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk

by Kenneth S. Kosik

An easy-to-follow, research-based guide to the simple, low-cost choices that give the reader the power to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia; slow the progression of the disease; and mitigate symptoms and improve well-being.

Did you know that getting on the treadmill can help keep your brain sharp? Or that repeatedly staying up to catch the late show could increase the likelihood of being struck down by dementia? The dozens of choices you make over the course of any average day—ordering the curry versus the burger with fries, taking the stairs versus the elevator—all add up. Together with your family history, they establish your chances of getting Alzheimer’s years from now. No drugs or procedures can cure or even effectively treat Alzheimer’s yet. But you have the power to help reduce your risk of ever getting this terrifying disease.

Based on the latest scientific research, Outsmarting Alzheimer’s gives you 80 simple lifestyle prescriptions in the six key areas with the most scientific evidence for protecting your brain health:

S = Social Smarts
M = Meal Smarts
A = Aerobic Smarts
R = Resilience Smarts
T = Train-Your-Brain Smarts
S = Sleep Smarts

These easy, low-cost, and fun brain-boosting activities can help you delay or even avoid the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, mitigating symptoms like forgetfulness or depression and sharpening your mental edge. With a personalized 3-week plan that includes recipes, brain games, and exercises, along with advice for caregivers, Outsmarting Alzheimer’s is your best shot at staying sharp and vibrant for life.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Psychology, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2017

Reviews

[K. East · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a limited edition put out by Readers Digest and unfortunately is no longer in print. I say "unfortunately" because Kenneth Kosik managed to do what Readers Digest does best by taking a complex topic full of potentially incomprehensible medical jargon and made it totally accessible to a general audience. If you are looking for an overview of the many psychological and physiological facets of Alzheimer's that also provides some easy-to-follow suggestions for healthy ways to improve your chances of not suffering from this condition, then this book is one you might want to seek out. It covers exercise, diet, meditation, sleep habits, and includes recipes for healthy food as well as games to feed your mind. It can be found at your library, perhaps, or from a used book vendor like ABEbooks.com. That's where I found the copy I purchased.

[Sherry]

This is a "hands-on" practical guide to understanding Alzheimer's, assessing your personal risk, developing habits that stave off the disease (exercise, nutrition, learning, sleeping, etc.); resources and tips for care givers. I really appreciated the self assessment because I learned that some of the exercise, nutrition, social, and learning activities I've implemented could really reduce my risk of developing it as early and intensely as my grandmother (some of her sisters) and mother did. I've read other books in the past that weren't that helpful in providing practical advice and resources. I also was less than pleased with my previous doctor's response to my concerns..."the only thing you can do is exercise". I would highly recommend this book.

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alzheimer's Disease is a terrifying diagnosis. However, with our current level of understanding, it is no longer as bleak as it once was. The eponymous Alzheimer was a physician who found the first confirmed case of this form of dementia. The Disease involves losing brain cells to amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. We don't know what causes Alzheimer's Disease as of this review.

Outsmarting Alzheimer's is a book by Dr. Kenneth Kosik. It is a collection of tips and tricks meant to avoid Alzheimer's Disease altogether. Why am I reading this book, though? Well, my grandmother had early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. She died before I was born, before her 60th birthday. Although Alzheimer's is not entirely genetic, I felt it would be great to work on what I could to avoid it. According to the book, I don't need to worry as much as I thought since my grandmother is not a parent or sibling.

The book tells us what Alzheimer's Disease is, how they discovered it, and the factors to consider when assessing your risk. Many factors involved made me shake my head; I wasted my life. I spent too much time on video games and television. I could have learned another language or something. However, the book reiterates that its advice is not a diagnosis. If you worry about your mental health, seek a medical professional.

Your risk is not limited to brain health. It is affected by your physical well-being, too. So my most significant risk factor is morbid obesity. The last time I went to my primary care physician, my BMI was 38, I think. In short, I need to lose weight. I am not getting any taller, after all. On a positive note, I don't smoke.

Exercise is a magic bullet for many illnesses. It's free, you can do it anywhere, and the effects start quickly. Its capabilities extend to Alzheimer's Disease by increasing blood flow to the brain and encouraging brain-cell growth. The book touts the importance of both aerobic exercise and strength training. Furthermore, it contains rough schedules you can follow and personalize to suit your needs.

Outsmarting Alzheimer's contains medical jargon but doesn't render the book inaccessible to the layman. I assumed as much since the publisher is Reader's Digest.

Finally, the internet provides a treasure trove of resources on Alzheimer's Disease care and prevention. All you need to do is look for it with a search engine.

I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.

[Dr NSCA-CPT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Easy to read & well organized. Contains a large amount of practical information that can be applied to help lower the risk of Alzheimer's. Strategies include nutrition, sleep, exercise & more. I recommend this book for everyone.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive overview on current preventive research.

[Pat Lampe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most interesting and readable book. I downloaded it from the library but would like to have a paper copy to refer to when trying new ideas.

[Pamela Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough and informative. It has tips and recipes.

[Patricia Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

shows you tests you can do to see if you are at risk and different signs and symptom that you can understand

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with actionable steps to limit the odds of getting Alzheimer's or perhaps extending the time to onset. Includes recipes, exercises, and brain activities.

[Kathleen Starzenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book very educational. He refers readers to great resources

[Lisa Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing life-changing, but some great tips on actionable steps that lead to a healthier brain. I enjoyed the small bits of science in each chapter.

[Sherry]

This is a "hands-on" practical guide to understanding Alzheimer's, assessing your personal risk, developing habits that stave off the disease (exercise, nutrition, learning, sleeping, etc.); resources and tips for care givers. I really appreciated the self assessment because I learned that some of the exercise, nutrition, social, and learning activities I've implemented could really reduce my risk of developing it as early and intensely as my grandmother (some of her sisters) and mother did. I've read other books in the past that weren't that helpful in providing practical advice and resources. I also was less than pleased with my previous doctor's response to my concerns..."the only thing you can do is exercise". I would highly recommend this book.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid, clearly written, well organized how-to manual.
For people who read a lot of health articles, much of the content may not be brand new, but their is still some unique information.
A questionnaire is included to assess your risk , and personally left me feeling much better about my prospects than I have in a while. I'm not sure what my number means (there is no scale that I could find) but it seems surprisingly low.

[Deb Stransky · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mom died of Alzheimer's so I was interested in knowing what measures I could take to reduce my chances of getting the disease. It covered exercise, yoga, meditation, diet, sleep habits, and included recipes for meals recommended to increase "brain power". There were ideas for games, doing puzzles, reading, avoiding TV, walking outside, and others. Very good resource.

[Richard Lehingrat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the Readers Digest handle fool you, this book is practical, informative and it motivates you to take action. ****

[Kris]

Exercises include: "7-Minute Circuit" and "Low-Impact Routine for People with Alzheimer's and/or Mobility Issues"