What a Neurologist Does for Better Brain Health

As you get older, something alarming happens to your brain: It shrinks.

This brain atrophy, which to some extent is a normal part of aging, typically begins in your 30s and 40s and accelerates after age 70, especially in people with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. The reduction in brain volume is driven in part by shrinking brain cells and the loss of connections between them. It occurs most prominently in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus, two areas of the brain that are critical for memory, high-level thinking, planning and decision-making. Over time, this atrophy can lead to problems with memory and cognitive function.

But this decline does not have to be inevitable, said Majid Fotuhi, a neurologist and author of the new book "The Invincible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life."

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.