Brain Health As You Age w/ Ryan Glatt, EP 211

In this episode, Marcos and Seamus sit down with Ryan Glatt, MS, CPT, NBC-HWC, Director of the FitBrain℠ Program at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, to explore how exercise, coaching, and neuroscience can work together to support lifelong brain health. Ryan shares how his personal experience with concussion recovery and movement-based gaming led him into the field of brain health, and how that journey evolved into a career focused on helping people maintain cognitive function, reduce dementia risk, and manage neurological conditions through practical lifestyle interventions.We talk about why brain health should be part of the broader wellness conversation, how to think about cognition in real-world terms, and why the best movement program for the brain often includes more than just cardio or strength training.

Timestamps
00:00 - Introducing Ryan Glatt

02:03 - Why brain health matters

03:31 - Childhood injury, ADHD, DDR

05:10 - Rising dementia, Parkinson's

06:35 - Brain health for professionals

08:24 - Cognitive decline vs aesthetics

10:38 - Prioritizing brain health late

13:18 - Four domains of cognition

15:26 - Narrowing coaching goals

17:44 - Attention, memory, processing speed

19:40 - Brain regions and MRI

23:55 - Physicals miss things

26:24 - Screenings reveal brain health

27:47 - BP, cholesterol, senses

30:31 - Changes start early

31:55 - Feeling fine isn't safe

37:15 - Aging parents' brain health

39:00 - Movement variety matters

44:42 - Neuromotor fitness load

45:42 - Closed vs open skill

48:45 - Dance and rhythm work

49:26 - Behavioral brain patterns

52:12 - Open skill, SAID principle

55:24 - Acute exercise effects

57:23 - Dual-task training power

61:42 - Motor learning stages

63:05 - Dual-task training fit

64:50 - Learning skills, languages

66:08 - Ryan's book, course

67:00 - CEU and CEC questions

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About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.