More hope for middle aged brains

Finally, scientific proof that our brains do not decay into middle age; in fact many cognitive functions improve between 40-65 years old. We get better at:

• Recognising patterns


• Sizing up situations


• Financial decisions


• Verbal reasoning


• Drawing appropriate conclusions.

This is good news - but there is great variability in people's brain functioning too. To keep brains healthy requires what one researcher called 'disorienting dilemmas'. In other words, we need to keep our brains uncomfortable by being open to change, open to others and action oriented. These are key themes in 'You can be a young as you think'.

For more about the middle aged brain, listen to this podcast by Barbara Strauch. It is uplifting and inspiring. Never again will you be able to blame negativity and fuzzy logic on your brains' biological decline. http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2011/the-secret-life-of-the-grown-up-brain

Launch of iPhone app

People love quizzes, especially, it seems, when the results tell them something they didn't know about themselves.

Our Brain Age Test is no exception - and we've had universally positive comments since we laid out 12 simple questions in our book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think.

So, we wanted to give as many people as possible the chance to have a go and put their brain to the test.

It's great, therefore, to be able to announce that our iPhone app is now written and will soon be available through the Apple iTunes App Store. You can download it for FREE.

Free Book Content

We want as many people as possible to throw off their Old Brain thinking and regain their Young Brains! It's kind of like a mission.

So, we've decided to give away 20% of our book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' online.

If you've come here having run through the Brain Age Test iPhone app, or if you are a regular reader of this blog, all you have to do is click here to download your free partial e-book.

Tip for easy reading: once file is opened, change from SCROLL to BOOK view (left hand bottom) and place in FULL SCREEN mode (top command bar).

Click now and start on your journey to a youthful mindset.

And don't forget, that the whole book can be ordered online from Amazon here

If there is one book you should read this year

We all wish we could stay young forever. But ageing has a way of creeping up on us.

When did life get so serious? Why is it, as we grow older, we don't laugh as much? Why do we stop seeing the opportunities and the excitement and instead start feeling drained, cynical and out-of-touch? And just when did we turn into our parents?

Tim Drake and I spent over two years researching these very issues - and we came to a surprisingly simple insight - ageing really is all in the mind. In our ground-breaking book, 'You Can Be As Young As You Think', we show how you can test your brain's age and then train your brain to think younger, feel younger and be sharper.

You see, through our research, we uncovered the secrets of rejuvenation. These are the 6 Wisdoms of Youth. Each one is a powerful antedote to getting old - yet each one is surprisingly easy to apply through a series of practical tasks. Anyone, whatever their age, can learn these Wisdoms and truly rejuvenate their thinking - and their lives.

Here are some of the benefits you could reap from reading 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' :

- learn how to think with a 'Young Brain' and face life head-on with positivity and enthusiasm

- avoid becoming grumpy & irrelevant

- look younger, feel younger, act younger

- regain or retain everything you loved about being young

- be surrounded by people who make life worth living

- live a more fulfilling, successful and happier life

- aim towards eternal youth by leaving a legacy

In short, our life changing book helps you rediscover your youthful self and live the life you are only dreaming about. What other book promises you that?

And, of course, if you are a life coach, this book is sure to give you new insights into your work with clients.

'You Can Be As Young As You Think' was published by Pearson in May 2009. Place a order through http://www.amazon.co.uk/

'That moment' when you should say goodbye to a friend

In our book 'You Should Be As Young As You Think, co-author Tim Drake makes a stunning observation. He says acquaintances can be divided into two camps - 'Radiators' and 'Drains'.

Radiators are people who beam a warm glow of energy and joy wherever they go. They are life-enhancing and a pleasure to be with.

Drains, on the other hand, are joyless and life-reducing. What's more, they suck the life out of their environment - and that includes their closest friends. As we say in the book "they are poisonous and to be avoided at all costs".

Here's an example of a Drain. A long time ago, I was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. We had all sorts of members but most had an 'up-for-it' approach to life. Then one day a new member joined. She was not like the rest of us, and clearly had personal problems. In a great show of solidarity, everyone rallied round to integrate her and boost her confidence. Week after week, people made great efforts to help her in every way imaginable. From time to time, it seemed to be working and she would seem more confident only to slip back into introversion and depression once more.

Eventually, people assigned her to the 'Drain' category - for she had a classic joyless profile. However, one member, a generous and gregarious soul, persisted. She just wouldn't let go of the newcomer. She really took her under her wing and spent hours befriending her and coaching her. Needless to say, it was to no avail. A Drain is a Drain is a Drain. This lady defined herself by her misery. Unfortunately, our good Samaritan took so long to see this that, she too, began to get down and miserable.

Eventually she did let go of her millstone. I was there when it happened. She simply turned to the Drain and said that she could give no more, that she was completely and utterly exhausted emotionally and that she would now be turning her attention back to her husband and kids.

Drains, by definition, drain energy and life out of everyone around and it's important to recognise one when you see one and limit your time with them - or cut your ties entirely. Is this cruel? Maybe. But life is hard enough as it is, without having all your resources sapped by one selfish individual.

But, comes the question, how do you know when its time to cut the link? My answer is to listen closely to your instincts and then you'll know very well when the time comes. Again a brief example.

I was friends with a work colleague for a long time. And for a long time, I came away from evenings together feeling deflated and frustrated. He was also very opportunistic. Rich by birth, he paid for absolutely nothing, always expecting others to cough up with laim excuses about having forgotten his wallet etc, etc. However, as a friend, I accepted all of this until 'that moment' arrived. We were at a party and deep in conversation when suddenly the flow dried up. I think we both realised, at that moment, that we were not connecting, not on the same page at all. Simultaneously, I realised that this relationship was bad for me - and had been for some time. There were no arguments, no fights, no recriminations. The friendship was just over. This particular Drain no longer had hold over me - and we've not been back in contact since.

How to be young without make-up or surgery

Have you ever thought about breast augmentation or liposuction? Or perhaps eyelid surgery or dermal filler treatments? You have? Not surprising then that the market for surgical and non-surgical procedures is rising at 20%+ per year. In Britain the total money spent by people looking for a lift to their looks is now almost £500million according to Research and Markets (quoted in The Cosmetic Surgery Market Report, 2008).

But, there is another way! You can be more youthful without undergoing the knife. And this is a technique that requires almost no financial outlay.

So, what is the secret of eternal youth? The surprisingly simple solution is that you need to think young to become young. Going about your life with a youthful mindset will keep life fresh and fulfilling. A genuine elixir.

If you want to know about the six steps to staying younger and feeling sharper, order the following book now: 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' by Tim Drake and Chris Middleton.

Everyone wants to rejuvenate

The desire to be younger has, in some quarters, got a bad name. Some think this urge is about total vanity. Others think you should accept your lot and just grow old with dignity. Both are wrong.

Wanting to be young again has little to do with narcissism and everything to do with staying relevant and giving your all in the short time we have on earth. It's about welcoming change, being open to others, taking risks and having fun along the way. It's also about caring for your own personal growth so that you can help others more effectively.

A few weeks ago, Tim Drake and I presented the main findings of our two year analysis on personal rejuvenation to a high level business audience in Manchester. All were in agreement. Being successful in business, as in life, needs young thinking - it needs leaders to have Young Brains.

One company director, only 38 years old, spoke up. "I consider myself young, especially compared to others around me. I now realise that I, myself, have got older than I thought. There is definitely room for me to rejuvenate".

But it's not only business people who benefit from rejuvenation. Tim and I also spoke to a well-known millionaire who said to us: " I think the concept is brilliant. I have a relatively young brain but it is getting younger by the day now!"

Meanwhile, we have given our book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' to two long-time BBC TV presenters, Mark Ellen (Old Grey Whistle Test) and Peter Duncan (Blue Peter). Both are Young Brains. And both agree with rejuvenation to such an extent that they've gracefully written respective recommendations on the back cover of our book.

So wanting to be young is not about egotistical vanity. People want and need to rejuvenate - be they business persons, millionaires, celebrities or, indeed, people like you and me.

Would you take the plunge?

Henry Allingham is no ordinary person. Not only did he fight in the First World War trenches and live to tell the tale but he was recently confirmed the world's oldest man. At 113, Henry says that the secret to a long life is keeping within your personal capacities.

Of course, knowing your limitations is wise advice. No point trying to swim the English Channel if you can't manage a short workout in your local pool. However, there are many aspects of life where pushing your limits is good council. For example, the chronically shy would do well to nudge themselves out of their comfort zone and talk to the taxi driver. From such small steps, great things come. Soon they could find themselves talking to a stranger in the local supermarket and, eventually, the day will come when they meet someone and make a new friend.

This is part and parcel of what we are talking about when we use the term 'Young Brain'. Young Brains are those people who push past their inhibitions and find new excitement out of life as a consequence - a new mate, a different place to visit, an inspiring career move.

I was thinking about all of this today. For the first time, I was asked to do a solo live radio interview. The BBC's Mike Powell was to ring at 2.40pm and question me about our book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think'. Of course, I'd prepared but my heart was beating in my chest when the phone suddenly rang. Here goes, I thought. It was time to extend myself beyond my previous limitations!

And the truth is that, with a Young Brain attitude, I was able to give a fairly good account of myself and, hopefully, give a nice boost to the book's sales.

Would you? Would you be up for a live radio interview in front of thousands of listeners? Or, would you rather keep within your current capacities?

Of course, I'm not saying rise to every challenge - remember the failed Channel swimmer - but when something is within reach, give it a go. Prove to yourself that you have a Young Brain and that, in the future, you will be a bigger person than you are today.

Young like Bond.....James Bond

When you think about it, the Bond films have been amazing. Going since the early 60s, the film franchise is continually updated, always fresh and relevant.

Think, for example, about that standard feature, the Bond Girl. Starting with Ursula Andress, the Bond girl has been constantly rejuvenated. As time has gone by, she has become more assertive, less an adornment on Bond's arm or a victim that our hero rescues. In most recent films, she has become fundamental to the success of the mission. She has even, in Eva Green's incarnation Vesper Lynd (Casino Royale), been giving Bond the runaround!

This came to mind yesterday when I saw our now-launched book
'You Can Be As Young As You Think' on sales in Waterstones (a UK bookstore) next to Roger Moore's autobiography!

Surely the script-writers of the Bond series have Young Brains! They are in touch with social changes and have moved the films beyond conservative stereotypes and into 21st Century modern living.

Knowing when to hold your tongue

There are many potential traps we can fall into in our quest to have a youthful approach to our lifes. One is to go all out to ape today's youth. Copying today's street slang or teenager's clothes styles simply gets an older person into trouble. As Tim Drake says 'mutton dressed as lamb' is not a desirable label to have.

A second sticky point is to believe that rejuvenation gives you the license to make all the mistakes of your youth again. As we say in our book, 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' maturity should bring benefits - what we call The Wisdom of Experience.

Not everyone gets wiser as they get older - but some do learn the lessons of life as they go. We list 6 key wisdoms that come with age in the last chapter of our book - 'Eternal Youth'. One of these is 'an enviable equanimity' and I experienced a perfect example of this last week.

You see, Tim and I are very excited as co-authors, knowing that our book hits British bookshops on June 1st 2009. It's been such a long time coming! However, we were set back on our heels last week when our editor announced that the book was coming off the presses but they'd noticed a typo on the back cover! I won't spoilt your pleasure in spotting this whopper. You'll have to buy the book for that. But here's my point.

A younger version of myself would have got very hot under the collar. Young people are nothing if not impetuous and hot-headed; they rage against the world and its injustices. However, with maturity you get a sense that the best way to deal with the slings and arrows of bad fortune is to grin and bear it. The growing capacity to behave with grace under pressure is one of the greatest boons of increasing years.

So, on your journey to a younger you, don't take on all the clothes of the young; choose judiciously between the Wisdom of Youth and the follies of youth. Our book will help you come out on the right side.

Blinking Botox

Would I have a Botox injection to erase wrinkles from my face? I really don't fancy it. But more and more men do.

Botox - or 'Boytox' in the new lingo - is increasingly popular amongst men. A staggering 300,000 American men have a Botox injection every six weeks according to Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox. Meanwhile, reports in Britain show that many brokers and bankers in the City have also caught the habit. And soon to UK TV screens 'Extreme Male Beauty' showing 'manscaping' cosmetic procedures.

So do you? Would you?

You'd certainly be 'on trend'. We live in a 'feminised society' where 'metrosexual' men are encouraged to be sensitive, intuitive and, yes, vain.

We also live in a world where the ideal of a 'real man' has radically changed. They used to be rugged, have abundant chest hair, give off copious amounts of pheromones (otherwise known as BO) and wear chunky gold medallions. Think Peter Wyngarde (Jason King).


Today's 'perfect man' is increasingly shorn of all body hair (and I mean all!), rolls on layers of deodorant and possibly has an ear stud. Think Brad Pitt or Leonardo diCaprio.

We also live in a very competitive world where the young and the beautiful have a natural advantage. First impressions count - as Malcolm Gladwell pointed out in his superb book, Blink. Our adaptive unconscious is fast and frugal. We judge others in perhaps the first 5 seconds of an encounter. Given this, who wouldn't want to look at their Botox best?

But there is a problem with both Botox and cosmetic surgery. They are superficial. First impressions may be influenced by physical apprearance, but lasting impressions are left by what what you say. And what you say is determined by how you think. Think young thoughts and people will perceive you as being youthful. Think grump thoughts and you will be seen as being aged- whether you have a wrinkle free brow or not.

Having studied this phenomenon for two years, Tim Drake and I decided to write a book on the proven principle that you are as young as you think. Our working title for the book? Botox for the Brain. Indeed, in Holland, our book is published under this same title.

But the point is this. If you are a man who is attracted by a quick Botox fix, you need to answer the following challenge:

What good is fabulous body if all you have is a frumpy brain?

If you want less superficial anti-ageing, and a more authentic answer to your desire to stay young, read our book: "You Can Be As Young As You Think (published by Pearson in June 2009).

Is Benjamin Button just fiction?

I went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the cinema last night. Written in the 1920s by F Scott Fitzgerald, it recounts the life of Benjamin, born in 1918, aged 80! Living life in reverse, he becomes younger as the years pass - until he eventually dies a baby 80 years later.



Personally, I thought the film over long, but nothing can take away from the technical achievement of making Brad Pitt geriatric and then gradually rejuvenating him as the years pass.

Director David Fincher spent an estimated $150 million telling the story of this fabulous evolution. He says that his key challenge was to achieve this feat without the film-goer being aware of all the make-up.

Wouldn't it be good if we could all rejuvenate - without the make-up and the expense? The good news is we can.

The book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' shows how changing mindsets and adopting youthful thinking can help each and everyone of us rejuvenate during our lives - a bit like Benjamin Button.