Building a sharper brain is easier than you think. Here are 5 tips

Building a better brain is possible.

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BY Next Big Idea Club

Below, Majid Fotuhi shares five key insights from his new book, The Invincible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life.

Majid is a neurologist, professor, and neuroscientist, with more than three decades of experience—mostly at Johns Hopkins and Harvard Medical School. Over the years, he has treated thousands of patients with memory loss, concussion, ADHD, brain fog, and early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Your brain is not fixed. Your intelligence is not limited. And aging does not have to mean decline. By working on improving the five pillars of brain health in your life, anyone—at any age—can tap into the rejuvenating power of neuroplasticity.

Listen to the audio version of this Book Bite—read by Majid himself—in the Next Big Idea App, or buy the book.

Patient Story #1: Carl

Carl was a retired accountant in his seventies when he came to see me. He was forgetting appointments, losing track of conversations, and spending most of his days sitting at home doing nothing. He was often confused about what was going on around him. What worried him most was the feeling that his world was slowly shrinking. His family was convinced he was experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

After completing our full clinical assessment, which I call a Brain Portfolio, it became clear that Carl had many medical and lifestyle factors that could be improved to enhance blood flow to his brain, reduce inflammation, and rejuvenate his cognitive abilities. I first tapered some of his medications, treated his sleep apnea, and addressed his depression. Carl then entered my 12-week brain fitness program, receiving brain coaching twice a week. My staff of brain coaches and I worked with him on the five pillars of brain health.

Every week, Carl became a little more alert, engaged, and happier. After 12 weeks, his memory improved, his confidence returned, and he began participating in his church’s community activities. His family could not believe that his Alzheimer’s disease symptoms had vanished. When I saw him six months later for follow-up, he smiled and said, “Thank you, Dr. Fotuhi. I feel like myself again.”

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