Navigating the Brain-Exercise Connection: The Path to Cognitive Vitality wtih Ryan Glatt (Eps 24)

Summary

Brain health coach Ryan Glatt shares his insights on the importance of collaboration between rehabilitation clinicians and the use of motivational interviewing in promoting meaningful and purposeful exercise routines for brain health. He recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of varied exercise per week, emphasizing that the total amount of exercise is more important than the type. Glatt also discusses the benefits of dual-task learning, racket sports, gamification, virtual reality, and activities that incorporate visual spatial navigation for cognitive improvement. He highlights a systematic review that found significant improvements in processing speed and executive function in older adults who engaged in exercise for 52 hours over 6 to 12 months. Glatt also mentions the Brain Health Trainer course he created in collaboration with ACE and his plans for the future.

Takeaways

• Collaboration between rehabilitation clinicians is essential for delivering better care to individuals.
• Motivational interviewing and understanding individual preferences are crucial for sustainable behavior change.
• Meaningful and purposeful activity should be incorporated into exercise routines.
• Exercise recommendations for brain health include a minimum of 150 minutes per week, a variety of exercise types, and a mix of low, moderate, and high intensity. Engaging in exercise for 52 hours over 6 to 12 months can lead to significant improvements in processing speed and executive function in older adults.
• The type of exercise doesn't matter as much as the total amount of exercise.
• Dual task learning, which involves engaging in activities that require simultaneous cognitive and physical load, can improve cognition and prevent falls.
• Racket sports, although lacking in research, are believed to be beneficial for brain health due to their requirement of hand-eye coordination, processing speed, and visuospatial skills.
• Gamification and virtual reality can enhance cognitive training by providing a goal, challenge, competition, reward, and novelty.
• Activities that incorporate visual spatial navigation, such as orienteering, can improve memory and working memory.

Chapters

02:10 Introduction and Background

02:51 Ryan's Journey and Interest in Brain Health

09:22 Collaboration with Other Rehabilitation Clinicians

10:42 Motivational Interviewing and Communication Strategies

11:55 Finding Meaningful and Purposeful Activity

15:07 Exercise Recommendations for Brain Health

24:31 Exercise Goals for Brain Health

28:42 Addressing Sarcopenia and Muscle Loss

29:57 Exercise and Cognitive Improvement

32:10 Dual Task Learning

39:31 Racket Sports and Cognitive Benefits

42:52 Gamification and Brain Health

47:34 Visual Spatial Navigation and Brain Health

50:49 Brain Health Trainer Course

51:10 Motivating Couch Potatoes

52:35 Future Plans

53:13 Where to Find Ryan Glatt

Click any link below to connect with Laurel Brennan, MOTR/L, RYT, CHC, ReCODE 2.0 

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