KQED 9: Sat, Nov 29, 2008 -- 10:00 PM

A healthy brain is key to a great quality of life. The brain, of course, figures in everything we do - our work life, our relationships, the way we feel and the way we perceive the world. Any damage to the brain, through aging, substance abuse, trauma or other surprising factors - can affect our quality of life adversely. At the same time, making an effort to maintain a healthy brain through activities and protective behaviors that keep it youthful and vital can make every other aspect of your life more positive and more enjoyable.
In this program, best-selling author, psychiatrist and brain-imaging specialist Dr. Daniel G. Amen demonstrates how to optimize mental performance and overcome self-defeating behaviors like depression, ADD, and anxiety. For over 20 years Dr. Amen has been helping people heal common mental issues like depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, impulsive behavior and other problems by addressing the health of the brain. He shows us in simple language how our brain works, how damage (through bumps, falls, substance abuse, diet, aging, and other factors) can reveal itself in our negative behaviors, and how to improve brain health and achieve optimum results. Included in the program are his recommendations to delay the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.