Book excerpt: Internationally renowned family doctor William Sears and noted neurologist Vincent M. Fortanasce present an accessible, all-ages guide to optimum brain health, from treating depression, anxiety, and ADHD to preventing Alzheimer's and dementia, with or without medication The brain is a complex organ, responsible for our thoughts, our feelings, our hopes and dreams. It's also vulnerable to a host of ailments that negatively impact quality of life, from disorders such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD that can strike at any time to illnesses of aging like Alzheimer's and dementia. The good news is, this diverse set of mental and emotional challenges all stem from the same cause: imbalance in the brain. And getting your brain back in balance—without medication, or in partnership with it—is easier than you think. Whether you're experiencing "normal" mental and emotional burnout or wrestling with diagnosed illness, The Healthy Brain Book can help you thrive. It explains: • How what we think can change how well we think • The role of inflammation in the brain, and how food and activity can reverse it • What drugs enhance and suppress the brain's ability to heal itself • Actionable advice to improve your memory, promote learning, and prevent common brain ailments • How to personalize the book's tools for your unique brain For more than 20 years, The Baby Book author William Sears' advice has been trusted by millions across the country, and around the world. Now, he and The Anti-Alzheimer's Prescription author Vincent M. Fortanasce have put together the essential guide to a clearer, calmer, and happier brain. Laced with relatable personal stories from family members and patients as well as detailed illustrations, The Healthy Brain Book weds Fortanasce's deep neurological and psychiatric expertise with Sears' sympathetic bedside manner and reader-friendly writing. Let The Healthy Brain Book help you, safely and effectively, "think-change" your brain for a happier and healthier life.