It has been a while since I have written. Forgive my absence. I just finished filming a new PBS special based on my new book, Magnificent Mind At Any Age, that is coming out December 2nd. Over the next few months I will include snippets of the book and PBS show in the blog. Here is a piece from Chapter 2: A Magnificent Mind Starts With A Healthy Brain.
“Brains run the world. They run the stock market and the local market. They run huge corporations and the “mom and pop shop” down the street. Brains run churches, banks, hotels, tennis clubs, dry cleaners, professional basketball teams, Internet dating services and universities. Brains run marriages, choirs, homeowner associations and terrorist groups. Your brain runs you and is significantly involved in running your family.
Yet, even though the brain is involved with everything we do at work and at home, we rarely think about or honor the brain. There is no formal education about the brain in MBA programs; no brain training programs at church; no brain exercises in customer service or management programs; and no real practical education about the brain in school. The lack of brain education is a huge mistake, because success in all we do starts with a healthy brain. The characteristics of a magnificent mind include personal responsibility, clear goals, good attention, consistent effort, effective social skills, impulse control, motivation, integrity and creativity. Yet, few people realize that all of these are brain functions. A healthy brain makes these characteristics easier to incorporate in your life, while a damaged or struggling brain makes these much harder.
Taking great care of your brain is essential to a magnificent mind. Here is an example. In one of the graduate psychology courses I taught I asked for volunteers for our healthy brain study. By the year 2000, we had amassed tens of thousands of SPECT scans for clinical reasons, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, brain trauma, marital strife and violence. In order to further our research efforts we needed to build a large normal database to compare our clinical studies. I solicited normal people wherever I went. Surprisingly, they were not that easy to find. Christy, one of my favorite students, came up after class very excited. She said, “You have to scan my 82 year old grandmother, Anna. She is one of the most normal people I know. You will love her.” On Christy’s advice and her grandmother’s agreement, we screened Anna and indeed found her to be healthy. She met all of the criteria for the study: no psychiatric illness at any point in her life, no substance abuse, brain injuries, first degree relatives with psychiatric illness and she was not on any medications. Anna had been married for 58 years and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She had a sharp, curious mind and was active in her church and community. She had solid relationships that spanned many years. Anna never drank alcohol, never smoked and tried to eat healthy. Anna has one of the healthiest brains I had ever seen, out of nearly 50,000! Her brain fit her life.
The First Steps to a Healthier Brain
Most of us are never taught about how important the brain is, so we go through life thinking about everything but this critically important organ (weight, skin care, finances, children, internet dating, vacations, careers, sports). I live in Newport Beach, CA, the heart of the OC (Orange County). We have often been called the plastic society because we have more plastic walking around our streets and beaches than almost any other place in the world. I often say that we care more about our faces, our boobs, our bellies and our butts, than we do our brain. How stupid is that? When you really want to change, the first place to always start is with your brain. Over the next few days I will give you the first six things you should do to improve your brain health. Stay tuned.”
You can preorder Magnificent Mind At Any Age on our website or a www.amazon.com. Here is the Table of Contents.
Part One: A Magnificent Mind Starts With A Healthy Brain
Chapter 1. Are You Wired for Success or Failure? The Secret Behind Why Some People Achieve Their Dreams and Others Don’t
Chapter 2. A Magnificent Mind Starts with a Healthy Brain: Essential Strategies
Chapter 3. Encourage Brain Envy: Eliminate the Daily Habits That Hold You Back
Chapter 4. Hidden Short Circuits May Be Ruining Your Life: Learn How to Identify and Correct Your Vulnerable Areas
Chapter 5. If Your Were My Family How Would I Treat You? The Four Circles of Health and Healing and Why You Should Consider Natural Treatments
Chapter 6. Natural Ways to Heal Attention Deficit Disorder
Chapter 7. Natural Ways to Heal Anxiety and Depression
Chapter 8. Natural Ways to Heal Memory Problems and Insomnia
Part Two: A Magnificent Mind Makes Your Dreams A Reality
Chapter 9. Ignite Your Passion: Light Up the Brain Circuits that Drive Success
Chapter 10. Make Your Own Miracles: Use Your Brain to Define Your Dreams and Make Them a Reality
Chapter 11. Know When to Apply the Brakes: Strengthen Your Brain’s Internal Controls
Chapter 12. Embrace the Truth: Liberate Yourself from the Lies Polluting Your Brain
Chapter 13. Get Unstuck: Enhance Your Brain’s Ability to Change and Adapt
Chapter 14. Develop Mental Toughness: Cultivate a Resilient Brain
Chapter 15. Enhance Your Social Networks: Build a Brain Trust
Chapter 16. Be a Maverick Thinker: Stop Anxiety from Allowing Others to Run Your Life
Chapter 17. Create Lasting Trust: Send the Signals that Build Integrity
Appendix A: When More Help Is Needed
Appendix B: Why SPECT: What Brain SPECT Imaging Can Tell Clinicians and Patients
References and Further Reading
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I have made a commitment to purchase “A Magnificent Mind Can Be Yours” and do the work to honor my brain! I have had a spect study done, went “green” thru therapy to clean out the “pollutants” from my past and now passionate about doing the work you have written about! I shall love, honor and cherish my brain and I know that takes alot of commitment, consistency and hard work! I’m thankful for the challenge to live the abundant life to make my dreams a reality! Thank you!
I attended Dr Amen’s Clinic three years ago and have been using the “powerpoints” in both my Court School class and my National University classes as well– Point is you mention that “….no real practical education about the brain in school. The lack of brain education is a huge mistake, because success in all we do starts with a healthy brain. ” As a voice out here, i am looking forward to the new book and comment you for all you have done, do and will do– One of the slides has the comment “Love your brain” Wow
Thanks Dr Amen
Bil
I have spent some time looking into what you do/say. Fascinating…wish that I had the time to pursue it. This body is 75 years old, and I am in better physical and mental condition than most. I am a creative=art-music-etc. My life is rich and varied, and just beginning. I would probably be a good subject for you to study, if I were closer. Wisconsin is quite a ways from California….hahaha. Keep up the good work….I’ll be adding you to my info streams.
I have concerns about both sons of mine which the 1st born has learning disorder and my other son was Dx with Autistic spectrum disorder (Aspergers) Please advise if they have any type of brain dysfunction or something and tell me of what would be good for them to take as a herbal.
I did watch the show on WHYY and purchased the entire packet however I am still awaiting for it to arrive.
Thank you for sharing
Gloria, Concerned parent
Dear Dr. Amen,
I loved your PBS Special and I love the accompanying book. I am looking forward to reading your new book as well.
I must tell you, though, that your assertion that we do not teach about the brain in school is not correct. I am a first grade teacher and I have been teaching my children about their brains, – how to keep them healthy, – how they work, – and how they can self-regulate and strengthen their brains using brain-smart strategies and habits. I also provide professional development for teachers. I received excellent training in Brain-friendly Teaching and Learning at Cambridge College (Cambridge, MA) where I completed my Masters program and a post-Masters Certification program in Applied Neuroscience. It was at Cambridge that I learned of your work! Please take the time to contact Dr. John Grassi at Cambridge College to learn more about their unique educational opportunities.
Please keep writing and please work on another PBS Special.
Sincerely, Mary Ann Grassia – Teacher of the “Brainy Bunch” Kids.
I am very interested to receive your Newsletter, and any other information that you mail. Also I would like to mention that I am very sorry that your Affiliated Program was cancelled. I hope some day will be renew.
Respectfully,
Tanya Perez
I am very interested to receive your Newsletters, and any other information that you would mail. Also I like to mention that I am very sorry your Affiliated Program was cancelled. I hope some day will be renewed.
Respectfully,
Tanya Perez
I am very interested to receive your Newsletter, and any other information that you mail. Also I would like to mention that I am very sorry that your Affiliated Program was cancelled. I hope some day will be renew.
Respectfully,
Tanya Perez
Dr. Amen,
I’m writing on this blog to see if anyone knows of a grant, donation, foundation, or any source of financial help for people with brain injuries to receive a SPECT scan? I work with a company that assists in the finding of long term housing for elderly residents. I have recently received many inquires from spouses, sisters, ex-spouses and parents of a loved one with a brain injury. These males have all been between the ages of 45 and 58. They are not eligible for Medicare and are on disability since they cannot work. They are on “state medical insurance” and cannot access decent medical care or neurological care. They are at their wits end trying to find help for their loved one so they can try to live normal lives. With their injury they have to find care homes for them which is also a financial challenge. I’d love to pass on any information to these families so they can seek help. Thank you.
All this just seems to be a marketing/promotion strategy for his new book. I have read books “change your brain change your life” and “making a good brain great”. The natural solutions that they offer might be good for the so called normal peope. I dont think they are pragmatic enough for an abnormal brain. It just seems as though the author has taken a bit from various tretament therpaies and added in his new book. Various things like music therapy are yet to be proved scientifically.