Personalized Brain Health

Brain health can be maintained with many of the same lifestyle behaviors doctors recommend as being heart-healthy. Ronald Lazar, M.D., a neuropsychologist, explains that brain health has a pathological and a pragmatic component, and it is ultimately individualized. He discusses the impact that primary care physicians can have on patients by helping them connect healthy lifestyle choices (e.g., exercising, quitting smoking, sleeping, maintaining a balanced diet) with preventing cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. Dr. Lazar emphasizes that optimizing brain health requires an interdisciplinary effort from physicians and patient awareness from an early age.