What if keeping your brain challenged took just 60 seconds a day?
In this episode, Mike and Susan explore the relationship between physical movement, cognitive challenge, memory, and the aging brain. The conversation centers on a simple cross-body coordination exercise paired with a demanding mental task—and why combining movement with cognitive friction may challenge the brain differently than familiar activities such as crossword puzzles.
You’ll hear about:
- The hippocampus and its role in memory
- Neuroplasticity and adult neurogenesis
- Why forgetting your purpose after walking through a doorway can happen
- What the “tip-of-the-tongue” experience may reveal about memory retrieval
- The potential downside of completely outsourcing recall to lists and smartphones
- How physical activity, novelty, and sleep relate to cognitive health
- BDNF and its role in supporting neural connections
- How to perform the cross-body knee-tap exercise
- Why counting backward while moving increases the cognitive challenge
- How to modify the movement while seated if balance is a concern
- Why changing the mental task can help keep the exercise novel
The routine discussed is straightforward: alternate touching each raised knee with the opposite hand while simultaneously completing a challenging mental task, such as counting backward from 100 by sevens. The goal isn’t perfect performance. The episode argues that coordinating movement while concentrating on an unfamiliar task creates the cognitive friction that makes the exercise challenging.
Mike and Susan also examine a bigger question about aging: could a lifestyle built entirely around comfort and predictable routines reduce opportunities to challenge the brain?
Tune in for a conversation about memory, movement, cognitive challenge, and ways to introduce more novelty into everyday life.
Subscribe and share the episode with someone interested in brain health, healthy aging, memory, or maintaining cognitive function later in life.
Note: This episode discusses health and neuroscience claims for informational purposes. It is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Consult an appropriate healthcare professional regarding memory changes, medical conditions, balance concerns, or changes to your exercise routine.
