Preventing the Wrong Kind of Brain Plasticity, with Dr. Henry Mahncke

Preventing the Wrong Kind of Brain Plasticity, with Dr. Henry Mahncke

Author: Josh Turknett, MD June 3, 2026 Duration: 1:03:44

Henry Mahncke is the CEO of Posit Science and the creator of BrainHQ, the most researched brain training platform in the world. A neuroscientist who did his PhD with Michael Merzenich, considered the father of adult brain plasticity, Henry has spent two decades translating brain plasticity science into tools that actually improve brain health. In this conversation, we dig into why most brain training criticism misses the point, what the largest clinical trials really show, and why the future of brain health looks a lot like the evolution of physical fitness.

In this episode:
00:00 — Introduction and Henry's background (PhD with Merzenich at UCSF, McKinsey, founding Posit Science)
07:00 — Brain training vs. cognitive training: why the distinction matters
09:00 — Brain plasticity as the driver of brain health, and why cognitive reserve is really just brain health
13:00 — Maladaptive brain plasticity: how aging actively degrades information processing through negative plasticity
18:00 — How BrainHQ exercises are designed: adaptive speed and accuracy training from psychophysics
24:00 — The transfer and generalization debate: does brain training improve real-world function?
28:00 — Clinical trial evidence: the Mayo/USC RCT, the ACTIVE study, and 300+ published papers
34:00 — The pharmaceutical analogy: why asking "does brain training work?" is the wrong question
37:00 — Who is brain training for? From post-concussive disorder to Tom Brady
44:00 — Brain training as physical exercise: the case for everyone at every age
46:00 — Real-world brain plasticity activities: racquet sports, musical instruments, foreign languages
51:00 — Josh's Brainjo origin story and what music training does for the brain
55:00 — The loss of skill learning in modern life and education
58:00 — The "dark ages" of brain health and where the field is headed

To submit a question for us to answer on the podcast, go to brainjo.academy/question.

To subscribe to the free Better Brain Fitness newsletter, join us when we record live, and get our Guide and Checklist to essential blood tests and nutrients, go to: betterbrain.fitness.

 Click here to order Dr. Wood's book, "The Stimulated Mind."

 Click here to pre-order Dr. Turknett's upcoming book, "The Genius and the Impostor"

Intro and Outro music composed and produced by Julienne Ellen

 


What does it really mean to have a fit brain, and how do we actually achieve it? That’s the central question explored in Better Brain Fitness (a Brainjo Production), a conversation guided by neurologist Dr. Josh Turknett and neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood. Moving beyond generic advice, each episode digs into the practical, often surprising science of cognitive longevity. You’ll hear discussions that translate complex research into actionable strategies, covering everything from nutrition and sleep to movement and mental challenge. The aim isn’t just about preventing decline, but actively building a resilient, high-performing mind that supports your passions and daily life. This podcast operates on the principle that our brain’s health is malleable at any age, and that understanding the underlying mechanisms empowers us to make better choices. Tune in for a nuanced look at how lifestyle intersects with neurology, stripping away the hype to focus on what evidence suggests truly works. It’s a resource for anyone curious about taking a proactive, informed role in their own cognitive well-being, ensuring the brain remains a robust partner for all the years ahead.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
Podcast Episodes
Can This Vaccine Help Prevent Alzheimer's? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:46
Can a shingles vaccine cut your dementia risk by 20%? A series of landmark studies — published in Nature, Cell, and JAMA — say yes. In this episode, Tommy unpacks the research: how natural experiments in four countries p…
Can a Blood Test Predict Alzheimer's? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:31
A recent study published in Nature Medicine claims a blood test can predict when you'll develop Alzheimer's disease, and it got a lot of attention. But how well does it actually work, and should you rush out and get test…
An Existential Crisis for Alzheimer's Research? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:18
In this episode, we discuss a study published in PLOS One that compared living brain tissue to post-mortem brain tissue and found dramatic molecular differences between the two. The findings raise serious questions about…
[not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In this episode, we explore a rigorous meta-analysis examining how action video games, particularly first and third-person shooters, affect cognitive function in young adults. The research reveals promising evidence that…
Does Computerized Brain Training Help? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:31
In this episode, we dig into a recent McGill University study on computerized cognitive training and its effects on brain chemistry in older adults. What you'll learn: Why certain brain training games reversed a decade o…
What's Wrong With The New Food Pyramid. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:54
In this episode, we dive into guidelines to figure out what all the fuss is about, whether that fuss is warranted, and whether we should even be issuing dietary guidelines to begin with! Topics and Questions Covered The…
#90: This Brain Aging Study Is Our New Favorite! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:49
Much of what we talk about on Better Brain Fitness resolves around the demand-driven decline model we published. Well...a new study just published in Nature Communications gave that model the best test to date, and the r…
#89: How to Neutralize the Impact of Hearing Loss on Dementia Risk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:36
In this episode, we tackle a question from listener Carolyn in Michigan about the potential cognitive impacts of long-term hearing loss. What You'll Learn: The research linking hearing loss to increased dementia risk and…
#88: Are Microplastics Causing Dementia? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:08
You may have heard the alarming headline about a recent study that showed the typical brain had about a teaspoon of microplastics inside of it. And that amount appears to be increasing each year. In equally alarming fash…