LIFE LESSONS FROM A BRAIN SURGEON by Dr. Rahul Jandial

When I became interested in neuroscience, I bought the book written by Dr. Rahul Jandial, “Life Lessons from a brain surgeon.”

I was surprised to learn that in the second year of Medical University, the students take an exam called Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam, which is “an eight-hour multiple-choice test on anatomy, biochemistry, behavioral sciences, genetics, immunology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, plate tectonics, quantum mechanics, rocket science, and the Upper Paleolithic history of Siberia”.

I was really interested to find out about my aging brain:

“There is good news about the aging brain: more people than ever are living into their eighties and beyond in excellent cognitive health as the rate of Alzheimer’s plummets.
So, even though the total number of people with dementia is increasing because people are living longer, the risk of getting dementia is actually lower.
Since the 1970s, in fact, the risk of dementia due to any cause has fallen by 20 percent every decade, proving that lifestyle plays a major role in how our brains age, and that dementia is not an immutable force.”

I was glad to learn that by having at least a high-school degree and by doing constant sport, I can increase my chances of not getting dementia:

“Numerous studies have shown that education plays an important role in reducing the risk of later developing dementia.
The reason why education pays off is because of something called cognitive reserve: people with extra brain power (thanks in part to extra education) can afford to lose more before showing obvious signs of decline.”

“Physical activity turns out to be one of the absolute best ways to maintain and even improve cognitive health.
Countless studies have shown that exercise programs directly contribute to brain function”.

Kindle, 2021