Secrets of the Grown-up Brain : The Surprising Talents of the Middle-aged Mind

A leading science writer examines how the brain reaches its peak in middle age, and how to keep it there. For many years, scientists thought that the human brain simply decayed over time, leading to memory slips, fuzzy logic, negative thinking and even depression. But new research from neuroscientists and psychologists suggests that, in fact, the brain reorganises itself as we age, allowing us to recognise patterns faster and make better judgments, and even helping us to adopt a more optimistic outlook. Scientists call these traits 'cognitive expertise', and they reach their highest levels in middle age. Barbara Strauch explores the latest findings that demonstrate, through the use of technology such as brain scans, that the middle-aged brain is more flexible and more capable than previously thought. By describing the ways a healthy brain functions over time, Strauch also explains how its optimal processes can be maintained. Part scientific survey, part how-to guide, Secrets of the Grown-Up Brain is a fascinating glimpse into our surprisingly talented middle-aged minds.

Barbara Strauch is the health and medical science editor at the New York Times and the author of The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries About the Teenage Brain Tell Us About Our Kids. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband and two teenage daughters.