A BESTSELLING SCIENCE-BASED PROGAM TO SHARPEN YOUR MEMORY AND REDUCE YOUR RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S

High-Octane Brain

5 Science-Based Steps to Sharpen Your Memory and Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s

by Dr. Michelle Braun

From a Harvard- and Yale- trained neuropsychologist and a national leader in the field of brain health, a bestselling science-backed program to boost memory and dramatically decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s in five steps.

Game-Changing Rules of Brain Health

Learn how to optimize your brain health trajectory.

In 2005, as I began treating patients after completing my postdoctoral fellowship, a patient in her 70’s brought in several bottles of supplements she had been taking to try and improve her brain health and stave off Alzheimer’s disease. She carefully lined the supplements up on my desk, and with hope in her eyes, asked if she was taking the “right ones.”

She was initially surprised and disappointed to learn that supplements didn’t (and still don’t) have any scientific support to enhance brain health in individuals who are not nutrient deficient (which includes most people who follow a generally healthy diet). She lit up with excitement when she learned that there are several scientifically-backed strategies (many of them free) that have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. In some cases they can even delay the onset of the disease by a decade or longer.

These same strategies also significantly boost quality of life, mood, sleep, and overall health.

A veritable “brain health homerun!”

Scientifically Proven Strategies

Learn quick, easy choices to maximize your brain health.

In the years since, as the population of older adults has become the largest in history (and is projected to double by 2050 in tandem with a tripling of Alzheimer’s), brain health has become a top-line priority for an increasing number of people who realize it is the very foundation of what is most dear to us: our relationships, our engagement in treasured activities, our work, and our daily and hourly functioning, now and in the future.

National surveys have shown that about 75% of older adults are fearful that their brain health will decline, and most importantly, that they want to do something about it. Surveys also show that people fear Alzheimer’s more than any other disease, including cancer. And older adults aren’t the only people concerned about brain health. For the first time ever, the 2023 census recorded a record number of American adults ages 18-64 reporting “cognitive fog.”

Indeed, the number of younger adults seeking neuropsychological assessments and who are passionate about enhancing cognitive wellness has increased exponentially in the past few years.

Inspiring Tools for People of All Ages

Science-based guidance will help you track your way to better brain health.

Although brain health and Alzheimer’s risk reduction is top of mind for adults of all ages, unfortunately our media is saturated with so many “recommended” strategies that people are often confused about what to prioritize, and report feeling immobilized by more contradictory information than ever.

In order to help combat the pseudoscience about brain health, which has now grown to include unproven computer programs (many, but not all of which don’t translate to real-world memory benefits) and books that recommend ineffective strategies (such as eliminating whole food groups or obtaining expensive brain scans or personalized nutrient blends), I wanted to help set the record straight about the incredible science of brain health. By pairing my knowledge of brain health as a neuropsychologist, researcher, and leader in the field along with the recommendations and thought leadership from eight brain health experts and nine High-Octane Brain role models ages 44 to 103, I developed a science-backed program that includes prioritized steps (in order of their research support) to enable individuals to achieve a “High-Octane Brain” (i.e., one’s “personal best” level of brain health). One of the neatest parts about the program is that you can experience immediate brain-boosting benefits (for example, attention and memory improve even after a 10-minute cardiovascular session, or “exercise snack”), you can learn immediate work-arounds for common “brain blips” (e.g., forgetting why you walked into a room or where you put your glasses), AND you can improve your quality of life and lower your future risk of Alzheimer’s. Quite simply, a High-Octane Brain is a holistic, self-perpetuating system that consistently maximizes our level of functioning and well-being as we age.

Used by Top Healthcare Organizations & Fitness Centers

I’m thrilled that High-Octane Brain has become an Amazon bestseller, and has been used by hundreds of individuals in brain health programs at universities, hospitals, and fitness centers around the world. I hope the news of science-backed strategies (and the importance of personalizing those strategies) continues to spread, and motivates people to effectively and joyfully engage in practices that will truly help maximize brain functioning immediately and in years to come.

If lifestyle factors are used to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s by just one year (which is definitely achievable with the science we have), we would have 9 million fewer cases of Alzheimer’s by 2050 than are currently projected! Just think…you could be part of that achievement by sharing science-backed information with your loved ones and those you know! 

I invite you to download the Introduction to the book, where you will learn about the incredible potential of your healthier “future brain,” and see a preview of the importance of developing a High-Octane Brain. See if the information speaks to you and your goals for brain health. If so, please consider either checking the book out from your library or purchasing it for yourself or a loved one, and spreading the word about it. Thank you for being a part of the High-Octane Brain family, and for sharing the inspiring science of brain health with others!

PRAISE FOR HIGH-OCTANE BRAIN

  • "An emerging field of neuroscience points to the importance of a healthy lifestyle in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's. . . . Dr. Michelle Braun illustrates in a clear and concise style strategies to maximize brain health and stave off Alzheimer's. Unlike other brain wellness publications, this book is based on solid scientific evidence, amply documented in the different chapters dealing with nutrition, physical activity, cognitive stimulation,stress reduction and sleep.At the same time, the material is brought to life through interviews with experts, case illustrations, summary tables and takeaway points that make this book an engaging read for the general public. Ina time when there are still no pharmacological cures for Alzheimer's, this book shows us a path towards healthy brain aging: a book invaluable not only to the clinician, but to all of us aiming to enhance our brain health and quality of life in our later years."

    Piero G. Antuono, MD

    Professor of Neurology and Biophysics
    Medical College of Wisconsin
    Medical and Scientific Advisory Panel
    Alzheimer’s Disease International

  • "If you value your brain, and you want the best current advice on how to keep it healthy -- what to do, and what not to do -- then this book should become your bible. Its advice is thorough, backed up by the best available research, and accessible. You can't change your genes, and you can't change your past life. But this book will show you that there can be real value in making changes going forwards, and what those changes should be.

    Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.

    Professor of Neurology and Cognitive Science; Director
    Cognitive Neurology/Neuropsychology Division
    Department of Neurology
    Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and University

  • "Medical science has lessened the impact of many previously fatal diseases, but alas, not Alzheimer's, which threatens to overwhelm our health and long-term care systems and devastate more and more families. In the face of this crisis, Dr. Michelle Braun offers us a way in our everyday lives to confront Alzheimer's head-on, and cheers us on into believing we can succeed. In the process, she deftly straddles the complex worlds of neuroanatomy and brain science, condenses it all into concise lifestyle advice,and presents it in steps that are engaging, doable, and fun. Readers that follow her game plan will live much more enjoyable lives . . . not to mention the three-pound blob of tissue in your skull that makes you who you are will thank you profusely!"

    Tom Hlavacek

    Retired Executive Director
    Alzheimer’s Association
    Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter

  • "Although not everyone thinks about the future, in the life of an Olympic athlete we are always looking to the future, sometimes even four years ahead. Our brain and bodies now and in the future are our best tools, and when they don't work 100 percent we are in trouble. If we just treat our brain and body with the proper care, we may outlive our projected time frames. Given my mom had dementia and passed away in 2004 at the age of 86, I hope I can outlive her and be healthy at the time of my passing. Michelle shares with you how to take great care of your brain now and in the future, not just to lower the risk of Alzheimer's, but for better overall health and well-being!"

    Bonnie Blair

    Five-time Olympic Gold Medalist

  • "Dr. Michelle Braun is at the forefront of the exciting and promising field of' brain health,' and her new book, High-Octane Brain, empowers us all to steer our own aging path using a simple five-step program designed to engage brain health promoting behaviors to reduce dementia risk.Through a mixture of expert interviews, case examples, and practical suggestions, Braun uses her remarkable insights and crystal-clear writing style to convincingly argue that healthy aging is within our reach if we take the opportunity we all have to make healthy lifestyle choices. Written in a way that is inspiring to both lay and professional audiences, High-Octane Brain fills the tank with simple tools that allow users to implement her program and to measure progress. It isa 'must have' for those of us who work with aging populations, and those of us who want to invest in a more active, engaged, and healthy future for ourselves."

    Russell M. Bauer, PhD, ABPP,

    Preeminence Term Professor
    University of Florida
    Director, Brain Rehabilitation Research Center of Excellence
    Malcom Randal Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center

  • “Dr. Braun has written a life-changer, a life-enhancer. In clear, commonsense language with scientific facts, she is proving there is finally a way to fight Alzheimer’s. Now hope where there was none.”

    Martin J,. Schreiber

    former Governor of Wisconsin
    Author of My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver

  • "A "high-octane" brain is a one that is tuned to perform at the individual's optimal level. Neuropsychologist Braun (Psychology Today)has devised a Brain Health Action Plan to help achieve this goal, along with reducing and delaying the development of Alzheimer's. Her method focuses on five lifestyle modifications that can help with maintaining brain health, and each factor is thoroughly explained and explored throughout five chapters:Exercise, Consume Healthy Food, Engage and Learn, Lower Stress and Boost Well-Being, and Sleep. These chapters also feature Q&As with experts in the field. . . . This book is an essential addition as it describes a practical and evidence-based behavior modification program (as opposed to passive apps or rote memory games) that, through consistent practice, has the potential to have positive and lasting effects on an individual's brain health."

    Library Journal
    Starred Review

MEMORY & BRAIN HEALTH ASSESSMENT

This 5-minute Memory & Brain Health Assessment analyzes your responses to top research-based characteristics associated with better memory and brain health. Results provide practical strategies to help you develop a High-Octane Brain

ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS

In addition to High-Octane Brain, Dr. Braun has contributed to numerous publications throughout the years. She is honored to provide her insight and expertise to help many understand and navigate the important topic of brain health.

DR. BRAUN PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

View a select list of Dr. Braun’s publications and presentations.