Some Details On What's In "The Longevity Bible"

A June 11 press release has some information on the daily regimen advocated in Dr. Gary Small's new book, "The Longevity Bible."

Here's how participants in a UCLA study improved cognitive functioning in just fourteen days:

•To stimulate the brain, memory exercises such as cross-word puzzles and brainteasers were conducted throughout the day.

•To improve physical fitness, participants took daily walks, which have been found to increase life expectancy and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

•To improve their diet, study participants on the plan ate five small meals a day, which prevents drops in blood glucose levels since glucose is the main energy source for the brain. In addition, they ate a balanced diet full of omega-3 fats, antioxidants and low-glycemic carbohydrates like whole grains.

• To manage stress, participants performed daily relaxation exercises. Small notes that stress causes the body to release cortisol, a hormone that can impair memory and damage brain memory cells.

The results, as assessed by PET scans, seem to indicate that the the brains of the people undertaking this regimen worked more efficiently than the control group. Verbal fluency improved as well.

However, the study only covered seventeen subjects, half of whom were in a control group. So while it was published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, the sample size makes me think it can't be definitive.