Ten Tips for Maintaining Brain Health Available Free to the Public from the MetLife Mature Market Institute; Research Shows Impact of Environmental Factors on Brain Function

The leaflet is based on information from Dr. Paul Nussbaum, Ph.D.,a clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in brain health acrossthe lifespan and aging, author of the MMI's newly published book, LoveYour Brain. The publications are part of MetLife's ongoing commitmentto research and education about Alzheimer's disease and healthy aging.

"The human brain was once thought to stop developing at age five,but new research challenges that notion and leads to our newer beliefthat 'neural plasticity' is possible, that humans have the capacity tobe shaped by environmental input," said Dr. Nussbaum.

"New brain research indicates that the brain continues to developin humans in their 20's and that we continue to be able to help ourbrains well into later life. Other studies have shown a relationshipbetween creativity and advanced age," he said.

For those over 50, Dr. Nussbaum acknowledges that one's ability toremember names, retrieve information and multi-task diminishes withage and is not necessarily a disease. He encourages learningthroughout the lifespan to maintain mental acuity.

According to Dr. Nussbaum, the effects of nutrition, stress,sleep, exercise, prayer, social interaction and physical and emotionalexpressions of love for babies, toddlers, adolescents, young adults,those in middle age and beyond, all of which have an impact onlifelong brain health. He says individuals should reduce their caloricintake to 80% of what they intend to consume at each meal becauseovereating and obesity do not contribute to brain health.

Dr. Nussbaum discourages television viewing, encouragesambidexterity and challenges the traditional concept of "retirement",indicating, instead, that older people should continue to be engagedand productive. He reports that chronic stress has been demonstratedto accelerate aging.

"Dr. Nussbaum has a wealth of information that promises to help usas we age," said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLifeMature Market Institute and a gerontologist. "His guidelines aboutcaring for our brain are worth noting so we can continue to learn, togrow and to give back to our communities into our 80's and beyond."

The MetLife Mature Market Institute is MetLife's information andpolicy resource center on issues related to aging, retirement,long-term care and the mature market. The Institute, staffed bygerontologists, provides research, training and education,consultation and information to support MetLife, its corporatecustomers and business partners.

Dr. Paul Nussbaum is an Adjunct Associate Professor inNeurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School ofMedicine and lectures nationally and internationally on the humanbrain, brain-behavior relations, diseases of the brain and brainhealth promotion. With more than 20 years experience in the care ofolder persons in outpatient and long term care settings, he is also aconsultant to many organizations and companies through out the U.S. Hehas written for numerous scientific publications and has authoredtextbooks.

MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) is a leadingprovider of insurance and other financial services to millions ofindividual and institutional customers throughout the United States.Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. offers lifeinsurance, annuities, automobile and homeowner's insurance and retailbanking services to individuals, as well as group insurance,reinsurance and retirement and savings products and services tocorporations and other institutions. Outside the U.S., the MetLifecompanies have direct insurance operations in Asia Pacific, LatinAmerica and Europe. For more information, please visitwww.metlife.com.

For a free copy of MetLife's Ten Tips to Maintaining Brain Health,please write to the MetLife Mature Market Institute, 57 Greens FarmsRoad, Westport, CT 06880, call (203) 221-6580 or e-mail:MatureMarketInstitute@metlife.com. This publication and others canalso be accessed at http://www.maturemarketinstitute.com/.

For a copy of the 60-page book, Love Your Brain, please visitwww.paulnussbaum.com. There is a $10 charge, plus shipping andhandling.

Editor's note: Publication available at:http://www.maturemarketinstitute.com/ under 'What's New.'