Motivating People to Move for Immediate Mental Health Benefits [Podcast Series]
[:55] Dr. Bantham introduces her guest, Dr. Karlie Intlekofer
Dr. Karlie Intlekofer is Co-Founder at Treo Wellness and Global Wellness Researcher at Matrix Fitness.
She has a Doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior.
[1:12] Inspiration for studying neuroscience and behavior
“I wanted to pursue a career that blended my love for fitness and being active with my interest in how the body works. And so getting that doctorate helped me understand more about how sensitive the brain is to virtually everything we do. And then getting the postdoctoral work helped me publish more in that field, understand it at a deeper level, and even answer some questions about learning and memory and Alzheimer's and how those are impacted by a dedication to regular physical activity.”
[6:08] Studies linking exercise and brain health
“If someone right now is on the fence about getting a workout in, and they decide to work hard for 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, we now know that they're going to have a cognitive advantage for the rest of the day, you may have more clarity, they may have more patience with their spouse, or their children are at work, which I think patience is a great thing, you can never have too much. They may feel better in general, right before they go to sleep…”
“And I should mention for anyone who's interested in longevity, it’s like people talk about the fountain of youth. And it's like movement is so central to that you really can't live your best life in terms of well-being or brain function or any of the above in a body that is sedentary.”
[21:36] Messaging the brain health benefits of movement
“So I've seen a big change in the fitness industry. They've moved really far towards inclusiveness. They still have their own, these different brands have their own unique brand identities right? They have their different types of imaging or their target member. But I've seen a lot more operators be savvy about the phrasing and the words that they use. And that's important, because like I said, we all start with, if we have a dedication to exercise or moving more, we all start at a different point. And we have to really meet people where they are.”
“So what I've learned through kind of a blend of like, oh, consumer perception behavior along with the neuroscience part is that if we can make the positive outcome, if we can kind of guarantee that they're gonna feel better. That's a much easier lure than ‘stave off depression and dementia and cognitive decline.’ I mean, it just doesn't have the same motivational ring to it, of course, but that is, in fact, what my research and the research of others shows. And that is definitely motivating for me, you better believe it.”
