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I'm on the phone with Lauren DeNiro, MD, Director of the Stroke Program at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. e topic at hand is memory: innocuous reasons why one might experience memory loss, the natural cognition changes that accompany aging and, of course, the more daunting topics of Alzheimer's and dementia. Like so many of us, I have had a grandparent contend with a neurodegenerative disease; and so— although Dr. DeNiro is an actual neurologist—I am certain that my time spent on WebMD has made me the true expert on the subject and she can say absolutely nothing over the course of our conversation that will shock me. "Your brain actually starts shrinking in your 30s," Dr. DeNiro said. "Wait, what?" I reply. Dr. DeNiro explained that yes, the brain does indeed begin the process of structural deterioration as early as age 30. e evidence of this corrosion doesn't become obvious until many years later, which is why taking a proactive role in your brain health while you're young is so important. I don't know about you, but I am inclined towards panic when I hear fun facts such as these. It's because of people like me (borderline hypochondriacs obsessed with absconding the grasp of Father Time) that the cognition- enhancing market has boomed over the past few years. Brain training apps like Luminosity and CogniFit Brain Fitness that promise to turn us all into Will Hunting-esque creatures have become extremely popular. ese apps claim that if you do your daily disciplines (puzzles, sudoku, brain teasers and multitasking games) you will increase your memory, attention and problem-solving abilities significantly. Nootropics, also known as 'smart drugs,' are daily supplements that claim to boost executive function, creativity, motivation and memory. You may have already heard Joe Rogan singing the praises of one of the most popular Nootropics brands, Alpha Brain, on his podcast, the "Joe Rogan Experience." In 2015, international sales for cognition-enhancing supplements were estimated to have exceeded $1 billion and while we spiral deeper into a culture obsessed with productivity, it is likely the global demand for these products will continue to climb. "Unfortunately, a lot of these vitamins have been tested and most don't make a significant difference. e only one that What We Actually Know About Memory BY B R E N N A H O L L A N D V U E N J . C O M 138 WELLNESS

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