Ep.171 – Dr. Teryn Clarke – Preventing Alzheimer's: The Power of Cognitive Exercise
What if you could prevent cognitive decline such as dementia or Alzheimer's? Would you do it, even if it meant you had to make significant life changes?
Dr. Teryn Clarke, our resident neurologist expert, discusses the significance of cognitive exercise for maintaining brain health and preventing cognitive decline, particularly Alzheimer's disease.
Our conversation explores various cognitive exercises, the importance of lifelong learning, and the role of motivation in making lifestyle changes. Dr. Clarke emphasizes that while cognitive exercises can help preserve brain function, reversing cognitive decline is challenging once symptoms appear.
The episode highlights the need for early intervention and the adoption of healthy habits to promote brain health. We discuss gamified cognitive programs, manual brain exercises, and the crucial concept of cognitive reserve, all actionable strategies for better brain health.
Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Teryn Clarke.
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1 Big Idea to Think About
Emphasizing the critical role of diverse cognitive exercises and lifestyle changes, Dr. Teryn Clarke advocates for early and continual brain engagement to preserve cognitive function and stave off conditions like Alzheimer's, highlighting the difficulty of reversing decline once it sets in.
1 Way You Can Apply This
To boost brain health, approach it like a full-body workout by incorporating diverse cognitive exercises into your daily routine:
Morning: Start with a quick mental math exercise, such as calculating the total cost of your grocery list or adding up prices while shopping.
Midday: Engage your brain with a language app like Duolingo, a crossword, or a Sudoku puzzle to enhance problem-solving and vocabulary skills.
Afternoon: Use gamified platforms like Lumosity or Brain HQ to target different brain functions while tracking your progress.
Evening: Spend 30 minutes learning a new skill, like playing an instrument, coding, or picking up a challenging hobby.
Before Bed: Reflect on your day through journaling and plan for tomorrow to keep your mind sharp and organized.
Additionally, support brain health with regular physical activity, a nutrient-rich diet, and meaningful social interactions. These steps help build cognitive resilience, protecting brain function as you age.
1 Question to Ask
Am I incorporating a variety of cognitive exercises into my daily routine to ensure a well-rounded mental workout, much like I would aim for with a comprehensive physical fitness plan?
Key Moments From the Show
02:14 Importance of diverse cognitive exercises compared to full-body workouts.
05:23 Gamified cognitive programs streamline exercising and tracking progress.
07:11 Manual activities like mental math to keep cognitive abilities sharp.
09:48 Challenges of reversing cognitive decline and early Alzheimer's.
15:26 Concept of cognitive reserve and adapting to brain damage.
18:34 Lifelong learning and early education's role in maintaining cognitive reserve.
21:50 Emotional difficulty in facing early-onset dementia diagnoses.
24:15 Initial evaluations for reversible causes of dementia.
26:42 Lifestyle changes combined with medications for slowing disease progression.
40:45 Healthy lifestyle foundations leading to better outcomes.
46:30 Case study of reversing Parkinson's-related cognitive impairment.
49:08 Personal motivation and brain health prioritization.
01:00:30 Importance of cognitive exercises for future brain health.
01:02:47 Discussion on new recording platform for the podcast.
01:04:15 Vital role of solving problems and engaging in new learning.
01:06:33 Enhancing brain volume and health through cognitive exercises.
01:08:52 Continuous brain engagement to prevent cognitive decline.
01:19:23 Analogy of comprehensive cognitive exercise benefits.
Resources Featured in This Episode:
Building Healthy Habits: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety Through Tiny Changes