Keep Sharp by Sanjay Gupta

KEEP SHARP by Sanjay Gupta is subtitled “Build a Better Brain at Any Age.”  Gupta, a neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent for CNN, offers a “popular” take on dietary and exercise habits we should all be evaluating. Encouraging readers to act preventatively, he outlines a brain-friendly twelve-week program. While many suggestions (physical activity, getting more sleep, meditation, staying hydrated, eating well, social interaction and lifelong learning) are not novel concepts, Gupta presents this important and helpful information in an accessible manner. Gupta writes, “I am more convinced than ever that the brain can be constructively changed, enhanced, and fine-tuned.” He divides the text into three main sections; first, he relates basic facts, describes misleading myths, and explains inner workings (the “why”) related to our brains. The next section takes a more in-depth look at specific steps and the final section explores diagnoses, treatments, and caregiving for brain diseases. Gupta flatly states that “cognitive decline is not inevitable.” Instead, he points to conclusions reached by his peers and argues that “in order to best take care of your body, you have to first take care of your mind.”