Why Isn't My Brain Working?: A Revolutionary Understanding of Brain Decline and Effective Strategies to Recover Your Brain's Health

THE REVIEW: I read a review where the person did not like this book because it was full of information on supplements and disorganized. wow. All I can say is that this book is the best out of the three books I purchased on brain health. This book is written more like a owners manual. It does not read well if you are looking for a novel. Sometimes I have to go to the index and find the information I want, like I said, an owners manual. The author also has really done his research which I like. He backs up his statements with citations to studies vs. someone just telling me his or her opinion. I read about 1/3 - 1/2 of the book. There are just some aspects of information in the book that do not pertain to me or not interested in; however, it might pertain to someone else and what does pertain to me is priceless. If you want to keep your brain healthy I highly recommend this book. Pros: - Excellent useful information - Backs up statements with studies - Detailed foods/supplements information - Explains why things happen - Warns you about "false" symptoms while your brain heals <= very important - It's the best $20 I've ever spent Cons: - This book does not read like a novel, so if you're looking for a book to curl up in front of a fireplace and read front to back, this might not be written to your liking. However, my suggestion would be to not read it like a novel and more like a self help book to zero in on what you need to know to keep your brain healthy. - Maybe not perfectly organized, but that's like complaining about what color the ambulance is painted while having a heart attack INFORMATION ABOUT BRAIN SUPPLEMENTS: 2018 update Alpha GPC is a great mental booster, but it is expensive. Over 4 years of learning, trial and error, I want to pass on something that took me a long time to figure out - which is, how to get a longer lasting effect of Alpha GPC without breaking the bank. So, I am passing along that information as well as some knowledge of supplements that have helped me out. Your needs might be different than mine, so I am not recommending you use them. I am just providing information that you can use as a starting point for your own research and in combination with reading this book. These are the two powerhouses I take to boost mental acuity on a more longer term basis. With this combination, I have less need to use Alpha GPC, which saves me a lot of money. You can add these to orange juice with little effect to taste. The best part is that I can afford to take them because they are provided in bulk powder. Together, they will allow your body to build the AcetylCholine neurotransmitter. Think of it like taking protein powder to build muscle. You will not find this combination of products suggested in any books (none that I have found). It is based on my own research and a lot of trial and error. It maximizes effect with minimal cost. I'm passing it along so you can benefit from my experiences. Bulksupplements Choline L-Bitartrate Powder (250 grams) - I use this as more of a long term to build up Choline in the brain. This form is absorbed better than the "DL-Bitartrate" form. The "L" form is better than the "DL" form also because it does not cause any upsets in the GI tract (from personal experience). BulkSupplements Pure Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR) Powder (250 grams) - I use this to supplement the Acetyl group. The reason this is important is because it combines with the Choline to make the neurotransmitter AcetylCholine. When the Acetyl is separated, the L-Carnitine is left to be used as an Amino Acid, which is also beneficial to boost energy. These are some good supplements that support brain health. Now Foods Sunflower Lecithin Powder, 1 Pound - Lecithin makes up about 30% dry weight of the brain. I take it to supply this building block for the brain much the same way a body builder takes protein for the muscles. NOW Alpha GPC 300 mg,60 Veg Capsules - I take this to quickly boost Choline. It is a form of Choline that can pass through the blood-brain barrier. For example, a student can take it before taking an exam, or one can take it if they have brain fog. BulkSupplements Pure Magnesium Citrate Powder (250 grams) - Magnesium is important for many reasons. One reason that is important to me is that it promotes brain cell genesis. EXPLAINING HOW ACETYLCHOLINE AFFECTS THE GUT: 4/9/2018 update If you are just beginning to take Choline and Acetyl L-Carnitine, be advised to start out with a small dose and work your way up. The book explains this very well in that your body being able to produce more AcetylCholine neurotransmitter will boost your brain; however, it will also boost all communication within the body, not just the brain. That means the gut-brain axis (talked about in the book) will also communicate more efficiently, which is a really good thing. Ever been constipated and don't really know why? Well, one reason I found out in how it affected me is that it can be exacerbated by deficient communication of the gut-brain axis because of a deficiency in the AcetylCholine neurotransmitter. Now reverse that when your body can all of a sudden produce the proper amounts of neurotransmitter AcetlCholine. I would start out with about 1/8 teaspoon Choline and 1/4 teaspoon Acetyl L-Carnitine (keeping a 1:2 ratio) and work your way up from there. Also, take the magnesium separately (i.e., different time of the day) if you are running into that issue as I have noticed combining the magnesium at the same time sometimes increases bowl transit time but separating them doesn't. Keep in mind that any undesirable effects an increase in the neurotransmitter will have is temporary while your body heals and realigns itself back to a normal functioning gut-brain axis. Another example, when I boosted my AcetlChoine neurotransmitter for the first time, my hands became a little more unsteady (he also talks about this in the book). One might think this then was a bad thing. Then, after about 4-7 days, my hands became more steady than they ever have been. Much more steady than before, and they have stayed steady ever since (now 4 years later). This is not a quick fix of your symptoms; this is information to heal your brain and nervous system to return it back to normal functioning. Just for reference, I am over 50 years of age. Just like he says in the book, if the temporary effects are too undesirable, then stop the supplements until the effects subside. Then start again at a lower dose. As your body heals, you will be able to increase the dose. It's difficult to explain it all here in a post. My suggestion is to buy the book as he explains all this and more. Note: If anyone is interested in more supplements w/ information that I take, please post a comment and I will update the review. [Update: 8/22/2014] I have started following some of the advice this book gives and so far I am impressed. The part I really like is when he warns that when you start modifying your diet or supplements for brain health you might actually experience the opposite effect. This is exactly what happened to me. When I began I actually found it harder to think and concentrate. If I would have not had this warning I might have stopped. Other symptoms were mild gitters and mild diarrhea. All of that went away and now I'm thinking better than before. My hands are now more steady than before. And of course the diarrhea was temporary. He explains the connection between the brain and the GI tract as the gut-brain axis. He explains all the reasons why I had my experiences, so he gets six stars from me. [Update: 10/29/2015] I really cannot say enough about the direction this book has taken me in helping me with my brain health. You know, it's funny, we all can easily get how we have to eat protein to work out and gain muscle, but for some reason it is very difficult for us to understand what we have to do to maintain our brain health. Then we wonder why out parents, friends, and even ourselves are faced with mild cognitive impairment. I have done so much more to improve my brain health than even this book can describe; I would have to write a book myself, but... it all started with this book. I highly recommend you buy it, read it... no... study it, learn from it and keep learning from other sources as well. This book is a wonderful starting point. What a gift... it's the gift that keeps on giving. REVIEW COMMENT POSTED BY Ann Larsen: [3/15/18 update] She recommends a book "The End of Alzeheimer's" by Dale Bredesen. Please review her comments. [+] HUMOR HEALS THE HEART: Okay, you have read this review and found it helpful, but you're on the fence as to whether it was helpful enough to deserve a helpful vote. To click or not to click. Decisions, decisions. Well, I've come up with a little humorous spin about myself as it pertains to my devotion in creating helpful reviews. I've done this using the style of the comedic legend Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) and do this also in honor and memory of his great work. The plan is to get you chuckling as you click the helpful button. Let's see - here it goes: "I tell ya, I just don't get no respect. I started writing reviews and getting helpful votes. Wow, this is cool, I said. I checked my profile and saw that my reviewer ranking was around #8000. So, I wrote more reviews. I was so excited when I checked my reviewer ranking to see it improve to around #7000, so I put even more time into writing reviews. I must be getting helpful votes, I thought, because my reviewer ranking then shot up to #5028. Alright, I said, I rolled up my sleeves, dropped everything and put ALL my time into my reviews. Then, I checked - my reviewer ranking said - #GETALIFE. No respect I tell ya. No respect at all." GIVE Reviews - my standard for writing reviews. [G]enuine - This is a review that is honest, trustworthy with no reason other than to help people in the Amazon family. [I]nformational - This review needs to provide information related to this product in a concise matter. [V]aluable - This review needs to provide value to the reader such that it helps him or her determine if this product is for them. [E]nlightening - This review needs to go beyond product information such that the reader learns something they did not otherwise know.

Among other I like that we in the book, in connection to what we in the chapters read about besides also are getting many patient cases, and these not only from Kharrazian but also from other doctors. And it’s refreshing with elegant drawings in another way explaining what we are reading about, relaxing during reading the many sides, and thereby having the brain to work in another way for understanding something new. Of the information, what which especially came as a surprise to me, was when I on side 357, under “Hormones and Brain Shape”, in the chapter 7, “The Hormone-Brain Connection”, read that: “When people undergo a sex change they take large amounts of hormones to develop the characteristics of the opposite sex”. And where this actually during a couple of months turns out into being a big work on changing the contain inside of the brain and at different places, when building up the new actual primary sex hormone, either testosterone or estrogen. What which among other caught my interest in the book was the many places where we are reading about stress, with the primary stress hormone being cortisol, that is how stress works in bad ways. My reason to this is that since way back in 2003, I here in Ching Mai have been fighting with doctors about whether my seizures have been the result of epilepsy or stress. Back in the month of July 13 years ago I went to a psychiatric doctor here in Chiang Mai, and told him that I had stress as the result of my wife, whom I met 2 years before, fighting my driving motorcycle, which I had done during 30 years before I met her, and now being afraid that this stress might result in seizures. The doctor didn’t find any connections in what I was talking about, and when then ¾ of a year later seizures then started to come, he then just told me that I was suffering from epilepsy, even though I only once had had a seizure, and that way back in 1975, 29 years ago. And the following doctors just repeating him, even though their epileptic drugs didn’t help. But here in this book I see written down much of what I during these years again and again to these doctors, have argued about stress, but in wain. Here in this book we only look on when stress, as most often I believe, is bad, but in the book written by McGonigal, Kelly, PhD.: “The Upside of Stress”, stress actually is turned out into either being good or bad, as fifty-fifty, depending on which kind of stress and how we manage it. In the book we of cause read about our blood pressure, which among other is depending on what we daily are eating, and of cause, we read that the correct blood pressure shall be 120/80. But here I probably for the first time ever hear/read, and as Kharrazian writes, that doctors normally newer tell, that the low pressure not must be less than 80, and if down on 70 or lower then something has to be done. Because with the low blood pressure it’s harder in forcing the blood up into the brain! And he advises what to do if either too high or too low. Among other it’s also interesting in the book to read that as treatment known to increase the brain outcome (learning) include acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, massage, music, sound therapy, spinal manipulation, and yoga. Where normally we mostly are used in being told that reading, chess, mathematic, and so on are good for the brain training. In the book we read about many herbs to use, for example, to increase the power in the brain, and as he writes, that drugs not yet have managed to get up on sides to the herbs when I come to working quality. So especially by the finish of many chapters we are getting much information about the actual herbs to use. I owe a couple of books about Herbs, and naturally have read about herbs in other books, but still in this book there was quite a bit of herbs which I never before had heard about. It’s a fantastic book, by its much new contents, for example also about gluten sensitivity, which we now a days are getting more and more writings about, and of cause about inflammation, but among other for example that many men actually are having to low testosterone, and so on. So all together it’s a fantastic book.

UPDATE, END OF JULY 2024: It has been a few months since I wrote my original review of "Why Isn't My Brain Working?" here at Amazon. Let me first say, I still have not finished reading the book. It has been put on hold, indefinitely. Life, time, and the allure of old newspaper comics have sucked up my energy for finishing reading it right now. All that considered, YES. The recommendations work. I have basically gone gluten-free :( for the past two months. (At first, before that, I was allowing myself Einkorn crackers but then even that seemed a gamble.) I have not given up my raw cow milk but occasionally swipe out raw goat milk when I feel like I can afford it. I remember that the book was negative about dairy and I am hoping that *raw* dairy nullifies that warning, especially given that I usually buy A2A2 milk. And I have come to realize that sugar really does me no favors, so that (refined sugar) is very rare in my diet now. It actually does not make me feel good. What am I taking as supplements? Focusing right now on only what this book recommends for brain health (because other things likely contribute to it but are moot here, as this is a BOOK review), I have been taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Alpha-GPC, Huperzine A, Bacopa Monneri, and occasionally Phosphatidyl Serine. I cannot remember if the book recommends cod liver oil and/or krill oil, but they seem like the type of things it would; I also take those regularly, although not every day. It took at least three months for me to start recognizing that the supplements were doing something for me. I started being able to recall where I had heard X (and who said it), vocabulary words, etc. I still do occasionally have the most awful black holes when I am sitting at the keyboard, writing, but thankfully those are not terribly frequent. Note: I am also working with my hormones (herbally) because Dr. Kharrazian really stresses how much an imbalance can mess with your brain, too. Recently, at the health food store, I came across ONNIT Alpha Brain single-serve packets. I read the ingredients and realized that they were pretty similar to what I have been taking as brain health supplements--just all together instead of spaced throughout the day. Dr. Kharrazian says to take a lot of the book-recommended supplements (which influence the choline pathways to the brain) until you feel an effect. Well, they obviously have been working for me as individual supplements, taken semi-randomly (although regularly) throughout the day. Yet when I tried the ONNIT powder--no, I am not affiliated with them, I am just sharing my personal experience--it was like, boom! Literally, within minutes, I could feel my brain "tightening" and I was sold. Years ago, I took Himalaya Healthcare's MindCare (an herbal formulation comprised of Indian herbs) at the end of summer, which is when I have traditionally recognized my brain to be more delicate; specifically as regards mental health. MindCare no longer seems to do anything with any pizzazz for me :( but the ONNIT Alpha Brain has been giving my brain a one-two kick like the MindCare used to do. So I am taking the Alpha Brain every day and often twice a day, despite the very specific warning on the label. ($$$!!) And that in addition to the Acetyl-L-Carnitine and, sometimes, extra Huperzine A and Alpha-GPC pills. I am wondering if it would be enough for me to just buy the ONNIT powder once the individual supplements run out, and take that twice a day. But the packets do not contain Acetyl-L-Carnitine so I will likely still continue to buy that. (I take the ALC on an empty stomach in the morning.) I elaborate upon these things because, for me, this is what I NEED TO DO right now for my brain health. Not just the cognitive function but the mental health. I am certain that other people will find that they need to tweak things differently to find their own success. I am just sharing that this book has been a very good purchase for me, and perhaps it would be a help for some of you reading this review, too. ORIGINAL REVIEW (3/2024): Okay. So I don't feel like writing a long review today. Hopefully, my attempt at brevity here will check all of the necessary boxes regarding "Why Isn't My Brain Working?" by Dr. Datis Kharrazian: 1. I bought this book over a year ago at a time when I thought, wow, I'm spending a lot on this. The price (for used copies) seems to be pretty good right now. If you are on the fence about purchasing this massive tome, just buy a used copy of it. As the popular saying goes, thank me later. 2. Yes, I bought a copy of this book over a year ago. It sat up on my shelf, unopened, for that entire time. Occasionally I would look at it and think, I should read that book. But I had other books to read, and it was so large, and... and... and I am kicking myself now. BACK IN MY EARLY THIRTIES I could tell that my brain was changing, and not for the better. Fast-forward more than a decade. I finally saw this book online, finally bought it, and--kept it on the shelf for a year. Okay, I regret that! But things got to the point recently and I was like, just read the book! I am so glad that I finally started it. (I am halfway through the book right now.) Let me just say that it is a total game-changer! 3. Don't believe the people who tell you that brain decline is normal. Don't let people tell you that you're "smart" and not to worry about it. Don't let people tell you that you're too young to be concerned about your brain's health. Whatever their line, do your own research. Sadly, those well-meaning individuals likely have no idea what they are talking about. 4. If you have a family history of dementia, or Alzheimer's Disease, or if you are on the spectrum, or if you have food sensitivities (like to gluten or dairy), or whatever--don't ignore those things! The body is a unit. One thing affects another. Myself, I am shocked by what I am reading in this book which is giving me major red flags regarding my family history and my personal body chemistry. Yes, I have had a certain impending feeling of doom regarding my brain's lack for many years now. Forgetting vocabulary words (I am a writer and that is awful!), misplacing items, etc. And specifically in the body: growing anxiety and stress issues, minor but new gastrointestinal issues, etc. I am starting to get annoyed by how many people just say that these are normal signs of aging. They are not! They are often cumulative effects of poor lifestyle habits. The thing is, honestly, I am really not that bad regarding my food/lifestyle choices. I used to be a personal trainer and still work out 5-6 days a week, pride myself on eating whole foods most of the time (unprocessed, from-scratch, homemade and often from-the-garden foods), avoid synthetic chemicals, enjoy various creative hobbies, and try to be aware of my stress levels and personal limitations. (It goes without saying that I do not smoke and, interesting fact, have become more sensitive to what thimbleful-sized portions of alcohol I might very infrequently consume--a growing sensitivity to alcohol is remarked upon in the book.) But I have noticed things slipping mentally, sliding. This book is giving me the information I need to start sealing the 'cracks in the glass' before I completely shatter. 4. Yes, I am buying a lot of supplements right now. Thankfully, I already have a lot of things in my cupboard, but I am still putting out some decent money for a lot of pills and powders these days. Ironically, I was on the right track: I bought Alpha-GPC and Huperzine A some time ago, due to my own, personal research. However, at the time, the price of the supplements made them be like a flash in the pan, nootropic type of deal for me. I want to say almost dogmatically, don't view these recommended supplements as nootropics! If you have any doubts about your brain health, these are necessary items, not vain splurges. 5. Like I said before, I am only halfway through the book. I can't think of anything that I have read so far that really struck me as negative (if there was something, it was apparently minor). Dr. Kharrazian obviously knows his stuff. There is a lot of information in this 500+ page book, but if you are patient and read through everything, you will likely find the gems that will make a great difference in your brain's health. I have. I am almost frustrated, realizing that I probably need to alter my diet (even more) and regularly take a number of the recommended supplements on into the future. I am shocked and dismayed that I did not start this earlier--but considering my grandmother's recent passing, and her mental state leading up to it (and a certain parent's growing mental idiosyncrasies), I cannot gamble with this. My brain is responding too well to the changes I am forcing upon it and my body. I cannot in good conscience stop now.

Why Isn't My Brain Working? delves more deeply into anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry than any "self-help" book I have encountered. Yet the difficulty of understanding and retaining the information was not what I would have expected -- especially given the fact that I'm listening to the book because of increasing problems with memory and focus! I do have some background and reading other books about functional medicine helped me to be familiar with some of the terms and concepts in this book. Nevertheless, I think many readers agree that the book does an exceptional job of organizing and presenting complex information to the lay reader. By the time I finished Dr. Kharrazian's book, I had a much greater understanding of the body's amazing balancing act and all the ways we trip it up. For me, knowing more about what's going on behind the curtain is more comforting and empowering than it is overwhelming. In particular, I think one really does need to drill down to much greater detail in order to understand problems with gluten and other food intolerances. I was already skeptical about the mindless application of conventional drugs that mask symptoms, allowing further damage until the body degenerates into irreversible disease. Why Isn't My Brain Working? went further, arming me with healthy skepticism about "holistic" quick fixes as well. Those of us who are sick of doctors treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes must resist the temptation to replace the drug du jour with the supplement du jour. No matter what we put in our bodies, we must thoroughly understand its impact on the complex biochemistry of our brain and body. This book makes clear why the concept of balance (in nutrition, exercise, and mental stimulation) is not just preferable or even important – it is absolutely vital. At the top of the list of risk factors for just about every type of dysfunction is blood sugar imbalance. If we all learned and internalized half of the many ways blood sugar imbalance disrupts almost every bodily function from the head down, I doubt we would ever see candy and convenience food as harmless and fruit juice as healthy. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It is a health book for all ages and walks of life, not simply for upper-middle class, middle-aged and older folks who worry about accelerated mental decline. We would have a healthier, happier society if this information were effectively integrated into school curricula from the earliest possible stage and every year thereafter. Until we expect and demand change, the gaping chasm between conventional, disease-based medicine and functional/integrative, health-based medicine will continue to swallow up many people who might otherwise have enjoyed good health and peace of mind.

I found the information extremely beneficial for a person like myself who really want to know the root cause of health problems. The case studies were especially helpful in understanding the information and inspiring hope in cases where people had been written off. However the content can be a little taxing on an 'inflamed' brain! so read in small sections. I never knew food, among other things could affect our brain and health so dramatically. This is truly an eye opener. The saddest part of my read was to know that medical doctors are not doing due diligence in testing patients for gluten sensitivity/allergy whatever it is termed which could save them years of ill health and misery. My take away from this book is, pay attention to your diet, grains, diary and other inflammatory food may be part of your problem and yes you may be over 40 but you are not crazy, your brain may be under attack from food. I have gone on a gluten free diet now for about 2 months and have lost over ten pounds. I did not do so to lose weight but just to check if I had any gluten insensitivity and not necessarily because of this book but this book has reinforced my desire to stay off gluten. Now whenever I cheat(I did so twice) I get serious postnasal drip, swollen itchy throat, increased sneezing and generally feeling of tiredness. I have not gotten the courage to rid myself of the other foods mentioned by Dr. Kharrazian but I have reduced them significantly. This include sugar, dairy and soy. definitely worth the read once you have the time.

This really is the brain bible. Very detailed and great insight on all the neurotransmitters with symptoms if you are low on each one. I was low on B5 affecting my memory and brain function - now see in the book that B5 affects acetylcholine levels. You can't expect to have proper liver function if you are low on dopamine. Expect to have low levels on all neurotransmitters if you have leaky gut and blood-brain barrier. Some reviewers complain about all the patient cases described in the book. As I do agree sometimes they come to be too much, I found them very valuable reading the ones I could relate to my symptoms. My health is already so much better after reading this book. I struggled with my circadian rhythm for 4-5 years unable to fall asleep to 3-4am even after taking sleep aids (inflammation/gut problems/anxiety etc.) then struggling to function the first half of the day even on days after sleeping the 8-10h. After resolving my health problems for the most part I still had the circadian rhythm issue. One adjustment I made while reading Dr K's notes on melatonin was that I took a small amount less than 1mg right at dusk. This is when serotonin gets converted into melatonin naturally in your brain as it gets dark outside and your eyes adjust. After doing this the first night I slept great falling asleep normal time around 10:30pm. After taking melatonin for 3 days this way I have been sleeping normally even without it. I do supplement with Tryptophan so there is enough serotonin to convert. Great book to arm yourself with enough knowledge to monitor your brain function and to make adjustments early when something is not right. Dr K. mentions multiple times that cells in the body regenerate. Unfortunately neurons do not. Once you have lost them they are gone for good.

This book is excellent if you're struggling after a traumatic brain injury, or if you just want to know how to keep your brain working well as you age. It might be difficult to understand if you don't have a science background, but the author simplifies things as much as possible. This book made me realize my short term memory issues after my concussion were serious and could lead to Alzheimer's if I didn't take action now. I'm now taking Huperzine A for memory and it's helping. The book is full of solutions, exercises, and supplements that can help different neurological problems. It explains what symptoms a problem with each part of the brain will manifest as. It was a relief to realize my head injuries were the cause of a lot of weird symptoms in my body and that it wasn't just depression. I'm now doing HIIT training, taking fish oil, singing, coffee enemas, taking huperzine A, resveratrol & curcumin, and I gave up eating all grains. My Brain is functioning so much better as a result.

I was preparing a lecture on neurological diseases for the Arborvitae herbal school when I picked this book up and it compelled me to rework all my powerpoints. This is simply one of the best books on the subject I have found, for professional clinicians or laypeople. The characteristic that unites most chronic, autoimmune and neurological diseases is an inflamed brain. Brains can become inflamed from a variety of lifestyle or dietary assaults, trauma or infection and can be substantially healed. The book is rich in case studies by Kharrazian or practitioners trained by him, which enhances the readability. He puts together all kind of information. Gluten features prominently since the body's immune system can confuse neurological tissue with gluten and attack it, But this is not a one-horse book. He looks at sources of poor brain oxygenation including low blood pressure and describes in great detail how erratic blood sugar can inflame the brain. Put this together with some of Daniel Amen's SPECT imagery and you will have a picture of what a disabled brain looks like and how to help put it back,