# How to improve your Brain Power (Tips from Neuroscientist)

An episode of [Project 100 with Mark Bouris](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1767053714), 10 Dec 2024, 3:37.

Audio: https://p.podderapp.com/2544644999/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/05ac4e52-79fb-46b8-849c-b305000bd6d0/f38f664d-e4c4-48ba-bcb9-b305000c21f5/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=ef13e652-7a19-41fd-9d0f-b305000bd6dc

Watch the full podcast here: https://youtu.be/xHfViKdcDlI?si=_vqdBKwXYoCbSDp8 In the latest episode, I sat down with my good friend Dr. Matthew Kiernan. Matt treated my mum after her diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). He is one of Australia’s most respected neuroscientists and neurologists.Matt’s ability to turn complex science into practical advice, offering insights on lifestyle choices that can support prevention. Follow Project 100 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/project100/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: Doc, Are there any exercises that you know you would
[0:02] Speaker 1: recommend that we should do just to sort of maybe
[0:05] Speaker 1: get our brain fit.
[0:07] Speaker 2: Yeah, the brain loves being challenged, So anything new helps
[0:10] Speaker 2: the brain. And whether that's for instance, learning a new language,
[0:13] Speaker 2: having a new hobby, doing dancing, getting a new interest
[0:18] Speaker 2: in life, that grows the brain. How can you challenge
[0:21] Speaker 2: the brain do things differently each day? So for instance,
[0:24] Speaker 2: don't just do the same drive home every day. Oftentimes
[0:26] Speaker 2: you get home and you think, I can't even remember
[0:28] Speaker 2: the trip home. Looks like you're unconscious, and you think,
[0:30] Speaker 2: have I got a memory problem? No, your brain switches off.
[0:34] Speaker 2: So what you want to do is keep on challenging
[0:36] Speaker 2: the brain and driving new function. So we also know
[0:39] Speaker 2: that sells that fire together, wire together, and that's the
[0:42] Speaker 2: basis of plasticity. So we know that if you can
[0:46] Speaker 2: try and increase different approaches, you'll strengthen the connections across
[0:50] Speaker 2: brain networks, which is important for brain health. The brain
[0:54] Speaker 2: does get bored.
[0:55] Speaker 1: Oh really, so that's one of the reasons. Maybe I
[0:58] Speaker 1: can't remember why who told me this? But I change
[1:00] Speaker 1: hands with toothbrushes like some mornings I do left. Some
[1:02] Speaker 1: wanted to do right, someone as I'll start on the
[1:05] Speaker 1: right and start or another one that's start on the left.
[1:07] Speaker 1: So you're saying that stuff is actually like a brain exercise.
[1:11] Speaker 2: It's an important brain exercise, and I think, deep down
[1:14] Speaker 2: you're a brain enthusiast. So I think you've got you
[1:16] Speaker 2: love this challenge, and I think we all have to
[1:18] Speaker 2: do these things. The challenge is incredibly important for brain health.
[1:23] Speaker 1: Could that be a reason why people when they do
[1:28] Speaker 1: something they don't want to do? For example, let's say
[1:31] Speaker 1: it's middle winter and I'm all nice and cozy, warm,
[1:35] Speaker 1: and I jump in one of those ice baths and
[1:39] Speaker 1: I feel great after it, but I don't want to
[1:41] Speaker 1: get in it. Exactly after, I think I'm glad I
[1:44] Speaker 1: did that.
[1:44] Speaker 2: Yeah, And the brain is releases it sort of pleasure
[1:49] Speaker 2: hormones because of that, So you feel good afterwards because
[1:52] Speaker 2: you know you've done something the brain likes it. It's
[1:55] Speaker 2: a release.
[1:56] Speaker 1: But I didn't want to do in the first place, sot,
[1:58] Speaker 1: But once I did it, I feel good exactly. Okay,
[2:01] Speaker 1: that's interesting, so sort of you've got to keep It's
[2:03] Speaker 1: a bit like going to the gym. If you go
[2:05] Speaker 1: to the gym, do the same exit same way every
[2:07] Speaker 1: day for the rest of your life. You want nothing changes,
[2:11] Speaker 1: so you've got to keep tricking your body. So you've
[2:13] Speaker 1: got to keep tricking your brain too.
[2:14] Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think you know, learning new tasks, learning
[2:17] Speaker 2: new languages. I mean, the brain is always ready to
[2:20] Speaker 2: be activated.
[2:22] Speaker 1: Is there any point in time in your age when
[2:24] Speaker 1: you should stop that or just keep doing it?
[2:26] Speaker 2: Got to keep doing it so.
[2:28] Speaker 1: And you know, maybe that's one of the reasons why
[2:31] Speaker 1: retirement's not a great idea, because it's sort of put
[2:35] Speaker 1: you in a position where you're pretty much no longer
[2:38] Speaker 1: challenging anything, and you're you know, as we got on one,
[2:40] Speaker 1: it's funny you should say, because there's anything about the
[2:42] Speaker 1: other day. You know, as you get older, you've accumulated more,
[2:47] Speaker 1: you've got less stress in your life. You tend to
[2:51] Speaker 1: get into this rhythm of doing exactly the same thing
[2:54] Speaker 1: every day and you're comfortable. And I often wondered to myself,
[2:59] Speaker 1: is that a reason why we age because we're no
[3:02] Speaker 1: longer challenged?
[3:04] Speaker 2: It is, And that's also recently been brought out by
[3:07] Speaker 2: the Lancet Commission. Social engagement and new experience is a
[3:11] Speaker 2: part of the modifiable approaches to preventing new ready generation
[3:16] Speaker 2: and managing it. So it's incredibly important to be part
[3:20] Speaker 2: of your community, to be doing different things, to stay involved.
[3:23] Speaker 2: And as you say, detaching yourself and retiring, pulling yourself
[3:27] Speaker 2: out and doing your own thing is not good for
[3:29] Speaker 2: the brain.
[3:31] Speaker 1: Well mate, I am not going to retire, and whatever happens,
[3:34] Speaker 1: we're all happy.

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