Successful Aging by Gary Small M.D.

Gary Small M.D. is Dakim’s Chief Scientific Advisor and one of the world’s foremost experts on brain health, longevity and Alzheimer’s disease. He is the Director of the UCLA Center on Aging and is the author of hundreds of scholarly articles and several best selling books on memory and longevity describing how to age successfully by protecting your health, both physical and mental, as you progress through life.

Each month Dr. Small will provide advice on a variety of topics that we hope you will find useful. The topics will include memory, memory techniques, exercise, nutrition and lifestyle choices that can improve your quality of life into your later years. The basic message is simple – the choice is up to you, your chances of being active and staying mentally sharp as you grow older are significantly improved by leading a healthy lifestyle.

We will present a new article by Dr. Small each month. You can post any questions you might have or topics you would like to see addressed in the months to come on the community page of this web site. If you are interested in learning more about how to age successfully you can visit Dr. Small’s web site, www.drgarysmall.com or you can purchase one of Dr. Small’s books by clicking on the links on the left.

Eight Essentials:  The Keys to Longevity
The Longevity Bible

To achieve your own maximum, quality longevity in every area of your life, make a dedicated effort to integrate the following strategies into your daily life.  When practiced together, these Eight Essentials can create a synergy that achieves positive results faster and far more effectively than if done individually. 

1. Sharpen your mind.

- Engaging in mentally stimulating leisure activities on a regular basis improves quality of life.

2. Keep a positive outlook.

- Optimism can help increase energy levels and happiness, as well as decrease limitations due to pain.

3. Cultivate healthy and intimate relationships.

- Being socially connected to others provides us with a sense of belonging and can build self-esteem.

4. Promote stress-free living.

- Practicing mindful awareness, through meditation, yoga and other stress-management techniques, promotes health and mental calm. 

5. Master your environment.

- Enhance your living and work environments by minimizing clutter, noise, toxins and promoting safety in all environments, leading to improved physical and emotional well-being.

6. Maintain body fitness.

- Regular physical activity can prolong healthy living by boosting immune function, improving cardiac health and increasing circulation throughout the body.

7. The longevity diet.

- By incorporating foods from the following three food groups into your everyday diet, you will have a greater chance at longer, healthier living: antioxidant fruits and vegetables, proteins, lean meats and healthy fats; whole grains, legumes and other carbohydrates.

8. Modern medicine for feeling and looking younger.

- Medical interventions such as drugs, surgeries and alternative treatments can improve quality of life and extend life expectancy.

Great memories are made, not born. 
The Memory Bible
Extracted from Chapters 1-3:

To maximize your memory performance, as well as maintain a young and healthy mind, try the following memory techniques.  Even if you learn only these three skills, your memory will improve, and by dedicating a notebook or writing pad to your exercises, you can keep track of your progress along the way.

LOOK – Actively Observe What You Want to Learn

SNAP – Create Mental Snapshots of Memories

By creating a detailed mental snapshot of the information you wish to remember, it will be easier to recall that information later.  The more vividly and creatively we visualize new information for ourselves, the more effectively it will stick in our minds.

CONNECT – Link Your Mental Snapshots Together

Basic element of many types of memory training is developing techniques to connect mental snapshots together.  By creating an association between mental snaps with a brand-new snap, it will be easier to remember the connections later, such as the names of employees’ spouses or birth dates.  The most effective associations are those we create ourselves, so try developing your own acronyms, stories or unique imagery techniques to connect your mental snapshots.