Dr Oscar Duke, a regular medical expert on BBC One's Morning Live, has weighed in on the viral TikTok trend known as 'pinky time', suggesting it could offer modest benefits for cognitive health. The exercise, which has been viewed by millions, involves crossing the index and middle fingers, touching the thumb and ring finger together, and wiggling the little finger for about 10 seconds. Proponents claim it gives the brain a workout and that difficulty performing the movement may signal poor cognitive health.
Initial Skepticism Turned to Cautious Optimism
Dr Duke admitted he initially thought the exercise was 'ridiculous', but after reviewing the evidence, he changed his mind. 'Well, pinky time, if you don't know, you haven't seen it on social media, it's been doing the rounds,' he said. 'It's something that you do with your fingers. So, what they're saying online is that this has a benefit to your cognition, can reduce the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's dementia causing you to have impairment in your memory. Now, you might think that that sounds absolutely ridiculous, which was my initial thought. But actually, when I've looked into it, there have been some studies in China where they've looked at finger exercises. I should say it is not necessarily pinky time. And they have found a modest improvement in cognitive impairment in people who already had mild cognitive impairment with doing regular finger exercises.'
Evidence from Chinese Studies
The studies referenced by Dr Duke show that regular finger exercises led to a modest improvement in cognitive function among those with mild cognitive impairment. However, no significant benefits were observed in individuals with more severe forms of dementia, such as late-stage Alzheimer's. The improvements are thought to be linked to the brain pathways activated during the exercises. Dr Duke stressed that the findings are 'absolutely not conclusive yet', but added that the exercise is harmless: 'Unless it's hurting your fingers, maybe a good little exercise to be doing. Just don't be rude to anyone when you're doing it.'
Broader Advice for Dementia Prevention and Management
When asked about steps for those already living with dementia, Dr Duke highlighted the importance of social engagement and vascular health. 'Isolation is a major factor. Reducing isolation, engaging with people, talking, doing activities, and reducing other things that might contribute to isolation,' he said. He also recommended addressing sensory losses, such as hearing and vision, by using hearing aids, glasses, or cataract surgery. Additionally, maintaining healthy blood vessels through exercise, weight control, smoking cessation, and managing cholesterol and blood pressure can reduce the risk of vascular dementias. 'We know that if you have problems with your heart blood vessels, you get significant problems. Dementia, particularly vascular dementias, can be caused by furring up of the tiny little blood vessels in our brain,' he explained.
Hope for the Future
Dr Duke acknowledged that dementia remains a condition without a cure, but expressed optimism about ongoing research. 'It's a horrible condition, and unfortunately, we still don't have a cure for it, although scientists are working against the clock on new medications. We're seeing these headlines and research stories all the time. So there's definitely hope coming in the future,' he concluded.
