1 00:00:07,759 --> 00:00:09,385 I read this script once and there was a line, 2 00:00:09,469 --> 00:00:12,847 and it said, "If I don't have my memories, did I ever exist?" 3 00:00:13,097 --> 00:00:14,599 And it's always stuck with me. 4 00:00:14,891 --> 00:00:17,018 (FILM REEL FAST FORWARDING) 5 00:00:17,101 --> 00:00:19,729 (CAMERA CLICKING) 6 00:00:19,812 --> 00:00:21,147 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 7 00:00:21,272 --> 00:00:23,441 CHRIS: Our memories are supposed to last forever. 8 00:00:25,568 --> 00:00:28,196 They're what shapes us and makes us who we are. 9 00:00:29,405 --> 00:00:31,157 (GRUNTS, GROANS) 10 00:00:32,283 --> 00:00:33,993 Good shot, son. Good shot. 11 00:00:34,368 --> 00:00:35,620 CHRIS: The idea that I... 12 00:00:36,204 --> 00:00:39,082 won't be able to remember the life I've experienced 13 00:00:39,165 --> 00:00:40,666 or my wife... 14 00:00:41,667 --> 00:00:42,668 my kids. 15 00:00:43,211 --> 00:00:46,005 This is probably my biggest fear. 16 00:00:49,342 --> 00:00:52,386 And recently, I had some news that made me think 17 00:00:52,470 --> 00:00:54,263 a lot more about all of this. 18 00:00:57,558 --> 00:01:00,561 When I first started exploring how to live better for longer, 19 00:01:01,562 --> 00:01:03,523 I was sent for a whole list of tests... 20 00:01:04,315 --> 00:01:07,401 -PETER: How you doing? -...by longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia. 21 00:01:08,653 --> 00:01:10,196 -How you doing today? -Doing good. 22 00:01:10,822 --> 00:01:14,283 So, we did sort of the million-dollar workup on you. 23 00:01:14,450 --> 00:01:16,452 We've got every blood test one can get 24 00:01:16,619 --> 00:01:20,248 and I've looked at every gene in your body six ways to Sunday. 25 00:01:20,706 --> 00:01:23,751 And overall, your labs look fantastic. 26 00:01:24,043 --> 00:01:26,087 And I think looking at you from the outside, 27 00:01:26,212 --> 00:01:29,257 it's clear how much you take care of yourself, 28 00:01:29,841 --> 00:01:32,677 but we did find a couple of things that are a cause for concern. 29 00:01:33,469 --> 00:01:34,512 Right. 30 00:01:34,637 --> 00:01:37,014 Some of the genetic testing that we did 31 00:01:37,140 --> 00:01:41,435 looked at a gene for a protein called APOE. 32 00:01:41,894 --> 00:01:48,317 You have a very rare combination, which is you have two copies of APOE4, 33 00:01:48,776 --> 00:01:51,279 a set from your mom and a set from your dad. 34 00:01:52,071 --> 00:01:53,364 And what does that mean exactly? 35 00:01:53,447 --> 00:01:57,702 That means you have an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. 36 00:01:58,703 --> 00:01:59,704 Mm-hmm. 37 00:02:01,664 --> 00:02:02,832 How much higher? 38 00:02:03,791 --> 00:02:06,627 Probably somewhere between eight and ten times higher 39 00:02:06,878 --> 00:02:09,505 than that of someone in the general population. 40 00:02:10,673 --> 00:02:11,799 Yeah, all right. Okay. 41 00:02:13,968 --> 00:02:15,261 You know, you're... 42 00:02:16,179 --> 00:02:18,806 I don't know, you're constantly thinking you're gonna live forever, 43 00:02:18,890 --> 00:02:20,975 especially as a young individual. 44 00:02:21,142 --> 00:02:22,977 And then to all of a sudden be told, 45 00:02:23,102 --> 00:02:25,605 "Well, this may be the thing that might take you out," 46 00:02:25,688 --> 00:02:29,150 was like, "Whoa." Kinda floored me for a minute. 47 00:02:32,987 --> 00:02:36,324 I know it's hard to imagine, but... 48 00:02:37,867 --> 00:02:41,954 it's my belief that if we take every step possible, 49 00:02:42,246 --> 00:02:46,000 we can reduce your risk to that of anyone else. 50 00:02:46,375 --> 00:02:47,501 Mm-hmm. Sure. 51 00:02:47,585 --> 00:02:50,504 In fact, I don't think you'll believe me when I say this, 52 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:52,089 but I think you will in time. 53 00:02:52,590 --> 00:02:54,884 You having this gene is probably a blessing. 54 00:02:55,218 --> 00:02:57,303 Because of the motivation that it'll give me to... 55 00:02:57,428 --> 00:03:02,016 Yeah. This is going to motivate you to take steps today 56 00:03:02,099 --> 00:03:04,435 that most people your age would never think about 57 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,396 -until they're in their 50s or 60s. -Sure. Sure. 58 00:03:10,441 --> 00:03:15,154 I've spent most of my life paying very detailed attention 59 00:03:15,279 --> 00:03:16,906 to my health and wellness 60 00:03:17,114 --> 00:03:21,911 and looking at how I can be, you know, stronger and healthier and so on. 61 00:03:22,828 --> 00:03:26,165 But I've never really focused on the health of my brain. 62 00:03:29,210 --> 00:03:31,170 This news changes things. 63 00:03:34,257 --> 00:03:38,970 (INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) 64 00:03:39,262 --> 00:03:44,850 Here is a test for checking frontal lobe function and planning. 65 00:03:44,934 --> 00:03:47,103 So watch what I do first, and then you copy me. 66 00:03:47,228 --> 00:03:48,771 All right? Here we go. 67 00:03:49,188 --> 00:03:52,984 CHRIS: That's why I'm meeting renowned neurologist Dr. Sharon Sha. 68 00:03:55,903 --> 00:03:57,113 Wait, hang on. 69 00:03:57,405 --> 00:03:59,198 Was that... Just gotta see it again. 70 00:04:01,575 --> 00:04:02,868 (MUSIC FADES) 71 00:04:03,077 --> 00:04:06,080 I think, like everyone, I want to maintain my memory 72 00:04:06,163 --> 00:04:10,042 for as long as possible and not be, you know, in the corner 73 00:04:10,167 --> 00:04:12,503 unable to, sort of, operate, you know. 74 00:04:12,753 --> 00:04:15,214 Yeah. I mean obviously you're really healthy, 75 00:04:15,381 --> 00:04:18,926 but after the age of thirty is when our brain starts to degenerate. 76 00:04:19,051 --> 00:04:22,972 Our peak is in our youth, or in our twenties. 77 00:04:23,180 --> 00:04:26,934 So we have to enhance and maintain as much as possible. 78 00:04:27,226 --> 00:04:29,812 You can't say, "Okay, at 60, I'm now going to focus on my brain." 79 00:04:29,895 --> 00:04:31,147 Yeah. Yeah. 80 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,274 Because Alzheimer's disease and other types of things 81 00:04:33,399 --> 00:04:37,028 develop 15 to 20 years before we even have memory symptoms. 82 00:04:37,528 --> 00:04:39,447 I eat pretty well. I exercise a lot. 83 00:04:39,905 --> 00:04:44,368 What else can I do that is going to help improve my brain health? 84 00:04:44,577 --> 00:04:47,038 Just like you have to take time to work out your body... 85 00:04:47,163 --> 00:04:48,164 Yeah. 86 00:04:48,247 --> 00:04:49,999 ...you've gotta take time to work out your brain. 87 00:04:50,124 --> 00:04:54,503 Novel challenges can stimulate neuronal connections 88 00:04:54,712 --> 00:04:57,506 to spread what we call "neural plasticity," 89 00:04:57,673 --> 00:05:00,593 and that can really enhance cognitive function. 90 00:05:01,052 --> 00:05:03,387 So let's give you something novel. 91 00:05:03,512 --> 00:05:06,432 Let's give you something where you can really challenge your brain. 92 00:05:08,309 --> 00:05:13,689 (THRILLING MUSIC PLAYING) 93 00:05:15,483 --> 00:05:17,651 SHARON: In order to help protect his memories, 94 00:05:17,943 --> 00:05:20,363 I want Chris to take a break from his normal life... 95 00:05:22,156 --> 00:05:23,949 unplug from technology, 96 00:05:25,326 --> 00:05:27,828 and go off the grid in the wilderness. 97 00:05:31,332 --> 00:05:32,833 Pretty spectacular, hey? 98 00:05:34,001 --> 00:05:36,796 SHARON: Right there, take a mental picture. 99 00:05:40,466 --> 00:05:44,136 Without anything to distract him, no phone, no GPS, 100 00:05:44,387 --> 00:05:47,765 Chris is going to have to immerse himself in his surroundings... 101 00:05:49,809 --> 00:05:51,977 and navigate his way through the outback 102 00:05:52,770 --> 00:05:54,605 using only his brain. 103 00:05:59,235 --> 00:06:01,904 Man, it's so easy to get lost out here. 104 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,240 Well, I'm glad you're here because I have no clue. 105 00:06:04,824 --> 00:06:05,866 I'm already lost. 106 00:06:08,911 --> 00:06:13,040 SHARON: And because social contact is so important for cognitive function, 107 00:06:13,582 --> 00:06:16,669 his friend, the artist Otis Hope Carey, is going with him. 108 00:06:18,921 --> 00:06:20,673 OTIS: That looks like a really good campsite 109 00:06:20,798 --> 00:06:22,466 at the bottom of that waterfall back there. 110 00:06:22,716 --> 00:06:24,176 SHARON: So it's a good point to remember. 111 00:06:28,681 --> 00:06:30,599 OTIS: That's where we're gonna end our trek. 112 00:06:30,766 --> 00:06:32,351 -Right there? -OTIS: Yeah. 113 00:06:32,601 --> 00:06:34,520 CHRIS: How are we gonna get up there? 114 00:06:35,521 --> 00:06:38,274 SHARON: Think of this challenge as a boot camp for the brain, 115 00:06:38,399 --> 00:06:40,067 a way for Chris to kickstart 116 00:06:40,151 --> 00:06:42,403 a lifelong routine to keep his brain healthy. 117 00:06:42,695 --> 00:06:44,697 (MUSIC CONTINUES) 118 00:06:48,325 --> 00:06:52,371 Whoo! (CHUCKLES) 119 00:07:14,935 --> 00:07:16,020 (MUSIC ENDS) 120 00:07:20,566 --> 00:07:22,651 (INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) 121 00:07:22,902 --> 00:07:25,654 (BIRDS SCREECHING) 122 00:07:37,750 --> 00:07:40,878 (RHYTHMIC CLAPPING) 123 00:07:42,004 --> 00:07:45,090 (ELDER CHANTING IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE) 124 00:07:45,382 --> 00:07:49,762 (IN ENGLISH) I welcome you. I welcome you to Dunghutti country, Anaiwan country, 125 00:07:49,845 --> 00:07:51,180 and Gumbaynggirr country. 126 00:07:51,805 --> 00:07:54,266 It's a shared country between the three tribes. 127 00:07:54,558 --> 00:07:57,686 -(ELDER CONTINUES CHANTING) -(CLAPPING CONTINUES) 128 00:08:02,691 --> 00:08:05,402 CHRIS: This is my buddy Otis's ancestral homeland. 129 00:08:07,029 --> 00:08:10,241 For years, we've dreamed about going on a trip to explore it. 130 00:08:12,034 --> 00:08:14,954 So when Sharon suggested an adventure in the wilderness, 131 00:08:15,788 --> 00:08:17,706 I knew this would be the perfect location. 132 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,043 (CLAPSTICKS BEATING RHYTHMICALLY) 133 00:08:21,293 --> 00:08:24,505 CHRIS: What makes this place particularly appropriate for our journey 134 00:08:25,214 --> 00:08:29,885 is that in this part of the world, landscape and memory are intertwined. 135 00:08:31,136 --> 00:08:35,266 ELDER: Body, mind, and spirit. 136 00:08:40,229 --> 00:08:41,522 My name's Otis Hope Carey. 137 00:08:41,605 --> 00:08:45,025 I'm from the Gumbaynggirr nation and also the Bundjalung nation. 138 00:08:48,779 --> 00:08:52,783 Indigenous people have been in Australia for sixty-thousand-plus years, 139 00:08:52,866 --> 00:08:56,787 so we've got a very long connection to Mother Earth. 140 00:09:01,250 --> 00:09:05,754 In First Nations culture, we believe there's memory in the rocks, 141 00:09:05,879 --> 00:09:09,633 in the water, in the wind, in the sky. 142 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:17,349 So if we sit and listen, we can hear our ancestors talking to us. 143 00:09:17,725 --> 00:09:21,520 (ELDERS CHANTING AND SINGING IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE) 144 00:09:21,895 --> 00:09:23,939 (IN ENGLISH) We hope that on your journey, 145 00:09:24,231 --> 00:09:27,401 you will listen to our country speak to you. 146 00:09:27,818 --> 00:09:30,821 Hear the sounds of this world with your own ears, 147 00:09:31,030 --> 00:09:32,364 not the ears of others. 148 00:09:33,699 --> 00:09:36,160 See this world with your own eyes, 149 00:09:37,578 --> 00:09:39,246 and not eyes of others. 150 00:09:40,789 --> 00:09:44,084 CHRIS: As the elders are giving us permission to walk across the land, 151 00:09:44,168 --> 00:09:45,502 one of them says, 152 00:09:45,753 --> 00:09:47,046 "Listen with your own ears... 153 00:09:50,466 --> 00:09:52,092 "and watch with your own eyes. 154 00:09:53,636 --> 00:09:55,346 "Stay true to who you are." 155 00:09:57,723 --> 00:10:02,936 And it really, really struck a chord within me and spoke to something... 156 00:10:03,020 --> 00:10:05,731 (INHALES DEEPLY) ...on a very deep level. It's quite beautiful. 157 00:10:06,023 --> 00:10:07,983 (RESOLUTE MUSIC PLAYING) 158 00:10:08,359 --> 00:10:09,777 SHARON: Over the next two days, 159 00:10:09,860 --> 00:10:11,862 Chris and Otis are going to have to navigate 160 00:10:11,987 --> 00:10:14,281 through thousands of acres of wilderness. 161 00:10:15,616 --> 00:10:18,494 Okay. So, this is where we're starting, 162 00:10:19,787 --> 00:10:21,038 and then we head out this way, right? 163 00:10:22,122 --> 00:10:24,792 SHARON: But the mental challenge has already begun, 164 00:10:25,292 --> 00:10:28,128 plotting their route and committing it to memory. 165 00:10:28,796 --> 00:10:30,798 CHRIS: And then we hit up on this ridgeline, right? 166 00:10:31,340 --> 00:10:32,424 OTIS: Yep. 167 00:10:33,801 --> 00:10:38,013 SHARON: First, they'll head north over a mix of open country and forest. 168 00:10:39,139 --> 00:10:41,517 From the top of the waterfall, we come up here and we hit this creek, 169 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,268 and then which way are we going from here? 170 00:10:44,228 --> 00:10:46,397 We change direction when we get to this little river. 171 00:10:46,522 --> 00:10:48,107 We've got to then go downstream. 172 00:10:48,357 --> 00:10:49,441 (MUSIC CONTINUES) 173 00:10:49,608 --> 00:10:50,901 SHARON: They've got to find a river 174 00:10:51,568 --> 00:10:53,612 featuring a series of waterfalls, 175 00:10:54,154 --> 00:10:55,698 which will lead them to a place 176 00:10:55,781 --> 00:10:57,950 that might make a good campsite for the night. 177 00:10:58,701 --> 00:11:03,706 So, our day two trek, from our camp... we're going to head due north. 178 00:11:03,872 --> 00:11:06,083 -You got a photo there, yeah? -Is there a track through there, 179 00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:07,376 -or we're gonna have to... -OTIS: No. 180 00:11:07,459 --> 00:11:08,836 We're gonna make our own tracks. 181 00:11:09,878 --> 00:11:13,549 SHARON: Finally, they'll have a steep climb towards their destination, 182 00:11:14,466 --> 00:11:15,843 Wrights Lookout. 183 00:11:17,094 --> 00:11:19,638 Okay, so, the route. So forest, ridgeline, waterfall, 184 00:11:19,763 --> 00:11:21,515 forest, ridgeline, waterfall. 185 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,977 After the waterfall, climb up to open country, um... 186 00:11:27,312 --> 00:11:29,189 and I'm going to get us lost, for sure. 187 00:11:31,150 --> 00:11:32,651 Good. Well, I'm glad you're there. 188 00:11:33,944 --> 00:11:35,362 (ALL CHUCKLING) 189 00:11:35,487 --> 00:11:39,491 But before Chris and Otis set off, there's just one more thing. 190 00:11:40,409 --> 00:11:41,660 Hand me your phones. 191 00:11:41,952 --> 00:11:43,579 (GROANS) All right, there you go. 192 00:11:44,663 --> 00:11:47,541 Thank you. Thank you. Is that all? 193 00:11:51,211 --> 00:11:53,255 -CHRIS: That's it. That's all. -That's all of them. 194 00:11:53,630 --> 00:11:56,091 There's one more. This one. 195 00:11:58,135 --> 00:11:59,595 So, who's going to find this harder? 196 00:12:00,012 --> 00:12:01,013 Probably Otis. 197 00:12:02,431 --> 00:12:04,183 He uses his phone a lot, so... 198 00:12:05,434 --> 00:12:07,227 he's gonna have a real tough time, aren't you, mate? 199 00:12:07,394 --> 00:12:08,562 Good luck. 200 00:12:08,937 --> 00:12:12,107 (INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) 201 00:12:20,991 --> 00:12:21,992 (MUSIC ENDS) 202 00:12:24,244 --> 00:12:27,206 (THUNDER RUMBLING) 203 00:12:27,331 --> 00:12:28,707 OTIS: Rain's coming. 204 00:12:31,251 --> 00:12:33,670 (DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) 205 00:12:35,589 --> 00:12:37,466 CHRIS: Do you think we're heading in the right direction? 206 00:12:39,092 --> 00:12:41,720 Just keep walking. It's the best thing to do when you're lost, right? 207 00:12:41,929 --> 00:12:43,013 (OTIS CHUCKLING) 208 00:12:53,148 --> 00:12:56,485 CHRIS: A little more challenging now the sun's completely disappeared. 209 00:12:58,070 --> 00:13:01,198 OTIS: Well, if we look around, where's the brightest part of the sky? 210 00:13:01,365 --> 00:13:02,491 It's there. 211 00:13:02,908 --> 00:13:06,286 It's either a sun or it's a spaceship. Tipping towards the sun. 212 00:13:07,246 --> 00:13:09,748 So north, west. We want to set ahead this way. 213 00:13:10,290 --> 00:13:11,291 OTIS: Yeah, I reckon. 214 00:13:12,251 --> 00:13:13,293 CHRIS: Let's do it, mate. 215 00:13:13,418 --> 00:13:16,046 (ADVENTUROUS MUSIC PLAYING) 216 00:13:17,589 --> 00:13:20,968 SHARON: There's a very specific reason why I've set Chris and Otis loose 217 00:13:21,051 --> 00:13:24,096 in the wilderness without anything to help them navigate. 218 00:13:25,138 --> 00:13:26,348 CHRIS: So, what do you reckon? 219 00:13:26,431 --> 00:13:29,059 Is the gully over here now? Looks like it. 220 00:13:29,643 --> 00:13:30,894 OTIS: Yeah, this way I reckon. 221 00:13:34,940 --> 00:13:37,860 SHARON: The process of figuring out the right direction to go in 222 00:13:37,985 --> 00:13:41,572 is one of the most complex tasks our brains can perform. 223 00:13:42,364 --> 00:13:47,536 CHRIS: Up the ridgeline, follow the water, stream, waterfall, turn left. 224 00:13:47,661 --> 00:13:48,745 Yeah, this is good. 225 00:13:48,871 --> 00:13:52,332 And it relies on a region of the brain that's critical to how we process 226 00:13:52,457 --> 00:13:53,542 the world around us. 227 00:13:53,709 --> 00:13:57,129 It's called the hippocampus, the brain's memory center. 228 00:13:58,589 --> 00:14:02,843 CHRIS: The hippocampus is a small structure shaped like a seahorse, 229 00:14:04,261 --> 00:14:08,056 located in both the left and the right sides of the brain. 230 00:14:08,849 --> 00:14:12,394 Think of it as a map of where all our memories are stored 231 00:14:12,519 --> 00:14:13,770 and how to access them. 232 00:14:15,606 --> 00:14:20,068 As we age, the hippocampus shrinks, and it's one of the first areas 233 00:14:20,193 --> 00:14:22,529 targeted by diseases like Alzheimer's. 234 00:14:24,656 --> 00:14:27,618 But when we stimulate it with activities like navigation, 235 00:14:27,826 --> 00:14:32,039 it becomes bigger and healthier, as new connections are forged 236 00:14:32,122 --> 00:14:33,999 and more brain cells added. 237 00:14:35,042 --> 00:14:38,211 And scientists think the stronger our hippocampus, 238 00:14:38,462 --> 00:14:42,507 the better our chances of resisting the cognitive losses that come with age. 239 00:14:44,551 --> 00:14:46,261 (MUSIC ENDS) 240 00:14:47,262 --> 00:14:49,806 SHARON: Ditching the GPS and navigating on his own 241 00:14:49,890 --> 00:14:53,143 is something Chris can easily work into his daily routine. 242 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,104 It's a simple and effective way to keep his brain active, 243 00:14:56,772 --> 00:14:59,775 which should help it stay strong and resilient. 244 00:15:00,776 --> 00:15:02,819 CHRIS: Okay, so it's probably close to noon. 245 00:15:03,070 --> 00:15:04,237 OTIS: Yeah, I reckon. 246 00:15:04,988 --> 00:15:07,741 CHRIS: North, east, south, west. 247 00:15:08,241 --> 00:15:10,577 So that's north, so we want to set ahead this way. 248 00:15:14,206 --> 00:15:15,290 OTIS: There's the river. 249 00:15:16,124 --> 00:15:17,209 CHRIS: Oh, yeah. 250 00:15:17,668 --> 00:15:20,545 OTIS: I feel like we're getting closer to where we need to be. 251 00:15:23,757 --> 00:15:24,758 Ooh! 252 00:15:25,550 --> 00:15:27,552 Jeez. Quicksand. 253 00:15:28,011 --> 00:15:29,721 CHRIS: It's like that scene in NeverEnding Story, 254 00:15:29,972 --> 00:15:31,515 Swamps of Sadness. 255 00:15:31,598 --> 00:15:32,975 Remember The NeverEnding Story? 256 00:15:33,308 --> 00:15:35,435 -OTIS: No. -The NeverEnding Story. Never saw it? 257 00:15:35,602 --> 00:15:37,479 -No, I don't think so. -CHRIS: (SIGHS) Otis. 258 00:15:37,562 --> 00:15:39,106 OTIS: I didn't get to watch much TV growing up. 259 00:15:39,439 --> 00:15:43,568 Remember those old TVs where you had to, like, move the antenna around? 260 00:15:44,069 --> 00:15:45,445 -Yeah. -We had one of them. 261 00:15:45,529 --> 00:15:47,864 CHRIS: Yeah, as you wouldn't... It's not just about moving the antenna, 262 00:15:47,948 --> 00:15:50,784 it was about standing in the right part of the room. 263 00:15:50,993 --> 00:15:52,869 -(OTIS CHUCKLES) -Yeah, and also... 264 00:15:53,620 --> 00:15:55,372 Yeah. "Don't sit there, Dad. 265 00:15:55,497 --> 00:15:57,124 -"You'll make the TV go fuzzy." -Yeah. 266 00:15:57,582 --> 00:15:58,709 (CHUCKLES) 267 00:15:59,626 --> 00:16:01,253 (CHRIS EXHALING) 268 00:16:05,090 --> 00:16:07,467 (DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) 269 00:16:07,718 --> 00:16:10,345 There's something very nostalgic for me about being in nature... 270 00:16:13,682 --> 00:16:17,185 so far from cities and towns and civilization. 271 00:16:19,271 --> 00:16:21,982 And when I think about some of my earliest memories, 272 00:16:22,399 --> 00:16:25,360 the ones that have shaped who I am, those are the moments 273 00:16:25,444 --> 00:16:26,862 I want to keep hold of forever. 274 00:16:29,322 --> 00:16:30,323 (MUSIC FADES) 275 00:16:30,449 --> 00:16:34,661 I grew up in the Northern Territory, right in the middle of nowhere, 276 00:16:34,745 --> 00:16:36,830 four and a half hours from the nearest town, 277 00:16:37,164 --> 00:16:39,750 and I didn't own a pair of shoes because it was too hot. 278 00:16:39,833 --> 00:16:45,380 And we spent our entire time outside, basically. 279 00:16:45,714 --> 00:16:49,426 (WIND HOWLING FAINTLY) 280 00:16:51,428 --> 00:16:52,763 My earliest memory... 281 00:16:54,431 --> 00:16:56,391 I was very young. I was probably four. 282 00:16:56,516 --> 00:16:58,518 (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) 283 00:16:58,852 --> 00:17:00,520 CHRIS: I remember, uh, 284 00:17:00,896 --> 00:17:05,233 my dad going to pick someone up from the airport, 285 00:17:05,358 --> 00:17:09,196 which was a big strip of dirt, basically, in the middle of the outback. 286 00:17:13,575 --> 00:17:16,369 And I walked out looking for him, and then just kept on walking. 287 00:17:20,999 --> 00:17:23,960 I remember the dry, crackling heat. 288 00:17:26,671 --> 00:17:29,382 The red dust that just gets into everything, 289 00:17:30,342 --> 00:17:32,344 your skin, your hair, your clothes. 290 00:17:34,888 --> 00:17:38,183 And the feeling of my feet, just feeling like they're on fire. 291 00:17:41,853 --> 00:17:45,690 I was in tears. I didn't know where my dad was. 292 00:17:47,734 --> 00:17:50,237 But all of a sudden, he came over the hill. 293 00:17:52,989 --> 00:17:57,536 He was in an obvious state of panic, wondering what I was doing 294 00:17:58,370 --> 00:18:00,664 in the middle of the outback, wandering around on my own. 295 00:18:03,834 --> 00:18:06,086 At the time I didn't really understand what was going on 296 00:18:06,169 --> 00:18:08,380 or what his concern was. 297 00:18:10,715 --> 00:18:17,222 But I remember the warmth and the comfort of feeling safe and secure in his arms. 298 00:18:23,854 --> 00:18:25,730 -(MUSIC FADES) -(BIRDS CHIRPING) 299 00:18:25,897 --> 00:18:28,233 -CHRIS: Straight up? -OTIS: Yeah. 300 00:18:29,526 --> 00:18:31,611 CHRIS: This is like the StairMaster 2000. 301 00:18:36,366 --> 00:18:38,451 (WATER RUSHING) 302 00:18:42,664 --> 00:18:44,249 -OTIS: You thirsty? -CHRIS: Yeah. 303 00:18:44,624 --> 00:18:46,209 -OTIS: I'll get a drink with you. -CHRIS: Yeah. 304 00:18:56,178 --> 00:19:02,309 (SERENE MUSIC PLAYING) 305 00:19:19,201 --> 00:19:20,243 CHRIS: So beautiful. 306 00:19:22,621 --> 00:19:24,581 You normally would be taking a photo, and... 307 00:19:26,041 --> 00:19:27,500 Not listening and... 308 00:19:28,460 --> 00:19:29,794 looking through a phone camera. 309 00:19:30,128 --> 00:19:31,129 Yeah. 310 00:19:33,381 --> 00:19:36,593 It's amazing being here and not distracted. 311 00:19:37,219 --> 00:19:39,554 Just how all your senses are heightened. 312 00:19:40,138 --> 00:19:43,183 All the smells, everything you touch, the sound. 313 00:19:44,476 --> 00:19:46,728 (WATER BURBLING) 314 00:19:49,606 --> 00:19:52,400 SHARON: It's no surprise that Chris is feeling more alert. 315 00:19:54,527 --> 00:19:56,321 Our brains evolved in nature, 316 00:19:59,157 --> 00:20:01,034 and there are studies that show 317 00:20:01,409 --> 00:20:04,204 why we find the natural world so refreshing. 318 00:20:05,997 --> 00:20:09,000 (INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) 319 00:20:09,292 --> 00:20:11,920 CHRIS: Research suggests that when we're in urban settings, 320 00:20:13,672 --> 00:20:16,591 -all the man-made visual patterns... -(ELECTRONIC BEEPING AND BUZZING) 321 00:20:16,675 --> 00:20:19,010 ...intrusive noises, and distractions 322 00:20:19,261 --> 00:20:22,305 take a lot of mental energy for key parts of the brain to process. 323 00:20:22,472 --> 00:20:24,557 (BEEPING) 324 00:20:25,433 --> 00:20:26,851 CHRIS: Which means that memory, 325 00:20:27,018 --> 00:20:31,356 problem-solving, and concentration all take a hit. 326 00:20:32,565 --> 00:20:34,025 (HOLLOW RINGING) 327 00:20:36,611 --> 00:20:39,572 CHRIS: But scientists think that our brains are attuned to find 328 00:20:39,739 --> 00:20:42,951 the sights and sounds of nature much easier to process. 329 00:20:44,244 --> 00:20:46,037 Instead of being overloaded, 330 00:20:46,705 --> 00:20:49,708 our cognitive abilities are restored to full strength. 331 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:52,335 (BRIGHT JINGLE PLAYS) 332 00:20:55,213 --> 00:20:56,423 SHARON: And that's not all. 333 00:20:56,965 --> 00:20:59,759 Spending time in nature also lowers stress, 334 00:21:00,135 --> 00:21:02,929 which is good for our Alzheimer's risk and our longevity. 335 00:21:03,638 --> 00:21:06,725 In fact, just a twenty-minute stroll in the park 336 00:21:06,933 --> 00:21:08,435 without checking your cell phone 337 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,895 has been shown to significantly reduce levels 338 00:21:11,021 --> 00:21:12,939 of the stress hormone cortisol. 339 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:17,944 -OTIS: Sure you don't want to lead? -CHRIS: I'll lead. Come on. 340 00:21:18,069 --> 00:21:21,197 OTIS: How about I go? Because if I slip, it's not that big a deal. 341 00:21:21,448 --> 00:21:24,242 CHRIS: Yes, it is. I'll have to carry you. It'll be a massive deal. 342 00:21:24,367 --> 00:21:26,286 OTIS: That's what I mean, you're stronger than me. 343 00:21:26,369 --> 00:21:27,454 (CHRIS CHUCKLING) 344 00:21:28,371 --> 00:21:30,457 (GRUNTS WITH EFFORT) 345 00:21:31,374 --> 00:21:34,711 (ADVENTUROUS MUSIC PLAYING) 346 00:21:34,878 --> 00:21:36,421 CHRIS: Otis is a great guy. 347 00:21:40,091 --> 00:21:43,428 Got a great sense of humor. He's a very kind individual. 348 00:21:43,928 --> 00:21:45,055 OTIS: Ow! 349 00:21:46,097 --> 00:21:47,682 -CHRIS: Otis! -(OTIS CHUCKLING) 350 00:21:47,849 --> 00:21:50,477 -Help me. -OTIS: You fell graciously, though. 351 00:21:50,769 --> 00:21:51,853 Must say. 352 00:21:52,228 --> 00:21:53,271 (CHRIS GROANING) 353 00:21:55,065 --> 00:21:58,485 And also, he's a fantastic artist. 354 00:21:59,152 --> 00:22:02,489 (DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) 355 00:22:02,739 --> 00:22:05,784 CHRIS: All your artwork is bird's-eye view, right? 356 00:22:06,826 --> 00:22:08,161 OTIS: Yeah, lot of it. Yeah. 357 00:22:09,079 --> 00:22:11,790 It's kind of topographical, I guess you could say. 358 00:22:15,168 --> 00:22:18,004 I use a lot of, like, traditional symbols, but I... 359 00:22:18,922 --> 00:22:22,634 sort of soften them, make them more expressive. 360 00:22:24,719 --> 00:22:28,390 Also remembering where they're from, their true meaning. 361 00:22:31,559 --> 00:22:36,398 I take old traditional art, thousands and thousands of years old, 362 00:22:37,315 --> 00:22:39,234 and modernize it. 363 00:22:39,484 --> 00:22:43,613 I try and just give a new spin on the old way. 364 00:22:46,157 --> 00:22:48,076 Every line, every dot in my art... 365 00:22:49,661 --> 00:22:52,997 just like every rock, every river, every tree, 366 00:22:53,623 --> 00:22:54,958 is a memory. 367 00:22:59,087 --> 00:23:01,172 I think Chris growing up where he grew up, 368 00:23:01,297 --> 00:23:06,636 there's a massive indigenous community, so he understands my paintings. 369 00:23:07,887 --> 00:23:13,309 And I think that's really a big reason why we probably get along so well. 370 00:23:15,228 --> 00:23:16,479 CHRIS: We should've brought a canoe. 371 00:23:17,772 --> 00:23:19,149 OTIS: A bodyboard would've been better. 372 00:23:19,858 --> 00:23:21,109 (CHRIS LAUGHING) 373 00:23:24,779 --> 00:23:27,740 SHARON: Spending time with other people is good for our brains. 374 00:23:28,908 --> 00:23:32,537 We're social animals, and interacting with others can encourage us 375 00:23:32,662 --> 00:23:36,791 to learn new things, spark new thoughts, or ways of seeing the world. 376 00:23:40,295 --> 00:23:44,090 But when we're isolated, our risk of developing dementia 377 00:23:44,215 --> 00:23:47,469 is about fifty percent higher. 378 00:23:48,928 --> 00:23:52,515 So of all the things we know that can protect our longevity, 379 00:23:53,099 --> 00:23:56,269 the people around us may be the most important. 380 00:23:58,563 --> 00:24:00,273 CHRIS: Okay, so if we keep heading this way, 381 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,066 we should get to that campsite. Yeah? 382 00:24:02,734 --> 00:24:06,029 OTIS: Yeah. Campsite's at the bottom of the waterfall. 383 00:24:14,329 --> 00:24:15,830 CHRIS: So we're at the top of the waterfall, 384 00:24:17,499 --> 00:24:20,710 and Otis is pointing out where we could camp. 385 00:24:26,299 --> 00:24:29,260 And I can't see any way down. Neither can he. 386 00:24:29,802 --> 00:24:31,554 So there's one solution. 387 00:24:37,852 --> 00:24:41,731 (ENERGETIC MUSIC PLAYING) 388 00:24:51,658 --> 00:24:52,659 (CHRIS WHOOPS) 389 00:24:55,745 --> 00:24:57,163 (MUSIC FADES) 390 00:24:57,372 --> 00:24:58,748 CHRIS: Whoo! 391 00:24:59,582 --> 00:25:01,376 (CHUCKLING) Oh, boy! 392 00:25:10,009 --> 00:25:11,761 (GRUNTS) Now you feel alive! 393 00:25:14,931 --> 00:25:17,100 Well, that has definitely cleared my head. 394 00:25:17,684 --> 00:25:19,269 And it makes me think, 395 00:25:19,686 --> 00:25:22,146 "I hope I'll still be dive-bombing when I'm an old guy." 396 00:25:24,816 --> 00:25:27,235 Since my test results, I've been thinking a lot 397 00:25:27,318 --> 00:25:30,738 about growing older and what my life might look like then. 398 00:25:33,741 --> 00:25:36,327 Perhaps the news I have a higher risk of Alzheimer's 399 00:25:36,578 --> 00:25:38,746 shouldn't have come as a total surprise. 400 00:25:39,914 --> 00:25:42,166 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 401 00:25:42,333 --> 00:25:45,712 CHRIS: My grandfather, yeah, he has Alzheimer's. 402 00:25:47,130 --> 00:25:48,089 And... 403 00:25:48,965 --> 00:25:53,803 His... Yeah. His memory's deteriorating, and has been for the last couple of years. 404 00:25:57,682 --> 00:26:01,894 It's tricky because when he is lucid, then he gets very worried 405 00:26:02,061 --> 00:26:04,689 because he realizes who people are and why... where is he? 406 00:26:04,814 --> 00:26:07,942 You know, so it's... daunting and scary. 407 00:26:08,776 --> 00:26:10,612 (SAW GRINDING) 408 00:26:10,695 --> 00:26:13,781 (MUSIC TURNS TENDER) 409 00:26:14,073 --> 00:26:20,455 My most vivid memories of him were sitting in the garage with him. 410 00:26:25,585 --> 00:26:28,880 And him helping us build things out of timber. 411 00:26:31,549 --> 00:26:32,550 He'd build us swords, 412 00:26:34,636 --> 00:26:38,556 little fake, sort of, you know, pistols and rifles and things. 413 00:26:42,685 --> 00:26:47,148 And I remember him being really patient as we're kind of hammering and banging, 414 00:26:47,231 --> 00:26:48,566 cutting things and breaking things. 415 00:26:52,445 --> 00:26:56,282 I have such beautiful memories, which I'm so, so thankful for... 416 00:26:57,450 --> 00:27:02,205 of just this nurturing, kind individual. 417 00:27:05,833 --> 00:27:06,876 (MUSIC FADES) 418 00:27:07,085 --> 00:27:09,212 He's a beautiful man. 419 00:27:12,757 --> 00:27:16,135 (FIRE CRACKLING) 420 00:27:17,970 --> 00:27:20,848 So, your grandfather... he has Alzheimer's? 421 00:27:21,099 --> 00:27:25,895 Yeah. He either doesn't remember who we are, you know, 422 00:27:26,062 --> 00:27:29,732 his grandkids, but also even his own children, you know. 423 00:27:29,982 --> 00:27:32,568 -OTIS: Mm-hmm. -Forgets. And, uh... 424 00:27:33,069 --> 00:27:34,529 Yeah. it's heartbreaking. 425 00:27:35,613 --> 00:27:40,827 Does that worry you at all that you... you might end up in his situation? 426 00:27:42,453 --> 00:27:45,915 Like most things that scare you, they either shut you down 427 00:27:45,998 --> 00:27:49,836 or they motivate you to overcome them or do whatever you can to, 428 00:27:50,294 --> 00:27:54,882 you know, to beat those odds, I guess. That's what this is about, isn't it? 429 00:27:55,049 --> 00:27:58,428 About... doing as many preventative things 430 00:27:58,886 --> 00:28:00,138 to ensure brain health. 431 00:28:00,346 --> 00:28:03,683 There's a positive energy to it all, as opposed to like, 432 00:28:03,808 --> 00:28:06,561 "How many emails I gotta reply to?" Or, you know, 433 00:28:06,644 --> 00:28:08,354 "What review are they gonna give me on my film, 434 00:28:08,438 --> 00:28:10,022 "and am I ever going to work again?" 435 00:28:10,356 --> 00:28:13,234 (BOTH CHUCKLE) 436 00:28:20,074 --> 00:28:21,951 CHRIS: Today's hike has taken it out of us, 437 00:28:22,076 --> 00:28:23,619 so we decide to call it a night. 438 00:28:24,746 --> 00:28:26,414 But no matter how tired I am, 439 00:28:26,956 --> 00:28:28,875 winding down is often a struggle. 440 00:28:29,917 --> 00:28:32,170 And sleep was one of the main things 441 00:28:32,295 --> 00:28:35,256 Dr. Peter Attia focused on when I had my consultation. 442 00:28:40,386 --> 00:28:42,597 PETER: So Chris, tell me about your sleep. 443 00:28:42,847 --> 00:28:44,891 Would you consider yourself a good sleeper? A... 444 00:28:45,266 --> 00:28:48,269 No, not a very good sleeper. I wake up a lot through the night. 445 00:28:48,436 --> 00:28:51,522 I remember even from a very young age. But yeah, my mum talks about it now. 446 00:28:51,689 --> 00:28:55,359 There's something about the nighttime and sleeping would amplify 447 00:28:55,610 --> 00:28:59,030 any sort of concerns, or sort of if I felt guilty about something, 448 00:28:59,155 --> 00:29:01,616 I felt like I did something wrong, or something I was concerned about. 449 00:29:02,033 --> 00:29:03,367 And that still, you know, 450 00:29:04,202 --> 00:29:05,203 is definitely there. 451 00:29:06,162 --> 00:29:09,248 So much of what you describe as your limitations in sleep 452 00:29:09,373 --> 00:29:12,627 seem to stem from what we call "the monkey mind," which we all have. 453 00:29:12,794 --> 00:29:15,713 The sort of neuroses, the rumination of thought. 454 00:29:16,005 --> 00:29:19,509 -Mm-hmm. -Sleep is not a passive activity. 455 00:29:19,801 --> 00:29:22,345 It's not about being unconscious. 456 00:29:22,845 --> 00:29:27,141 It's actually an active time during which the brain is healing. 457 00:29:27,475 --> 00:29:30,394 And in your case, Chris, because of your increased risk, 458 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:32,480 we really wanna take sleep seriously. 459 00:29:32,772 --> 00:29:35,942 We know that even a single night of missed sleep 460 00:29:36,275 --> 00:29:39,904 leads to some of the accumulations of toxins in the brain 461 00:29:40,404 --> 00:29:42,532 that predispose people to Alzheimer's disease. 462 00:29:42,657 --> 00:29:45,910 So sleep has remarkable restorative powers in the short run, 463 00:29:46,035 --> 00:29:49,622 but it also carries with it a lot of protection against chronic disease. 464 00:29:51,707 --> 00:29:53,376 (INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) 465 00:29:53,459 --> 00:29:57,922 CHRIS: It works like this. While we sleep, the junk that builds up during the day 466 00:29:58,005 --> 00:30:01,384 is washed away by a kind of trash disposal service 467 00:30:01,676 --> 00:30:03,177 called the glymphatic system. 468 00:30:05,054 --> 00:30:08,683 But, as we age, and especially when we don't sleep properly, 469 00:30:08,891 --> 00:30:11,018 this cleanup operation gets sloppy. 470 00:30:12,395 --> 00:30:16,524 Harmful waste starts to build up faster than it can be cleared away. 471 00:30:16,941 --> 00:30:18,276 Jamming up the works, 472 00:30:21,028 --> 00:30:24,991 causing inflammation, and potentially leading to Alzheimer's. 473 00:30:31,330 --> 00:30:34,083 PETER: There's a lot Chris can start doing right now 474 00:30:34,208 --> 00:30:37,169 to improve the duration and quality of his sleep. 475 00:30:37,628 --> 00:30:39,005 Creating simple habits, 476 00:30:39,088 --> 00:30:42,216 like going to bed and waking up at consistent times, 477 00:30:42,425 --> 00:30:44,468 reducing stress before bedtime, 478 00:30:44,719 --> 00:30:46,846 and checking out of email and social media. 479 00:30:47,972 --> 00:30:50,016 That's easy when he's camping in the woods. 480 00:30:50,349 --> 00:30:53,352 But hopefully enacting these changes when he's back home 481 00:30:53,561 --> 00:30:57,607 will reap the real dividends in terms of his future cognitive health. 482 00:30:59,442 --> 00:31:02,028 And a healthy sleep regimen isn't the only thing 483 00:31:02,153 --> 00:31:03,613 that Chris should keep practicing. 484 00:31:04,363 --> 00:31:06,949 (MEDICINE BALL THUDDING) 485 00:31:07,533 --> 00:31:08,576 LUKE: Good. 486 00:31:08,743 --> 00:31:12,121 PETER: In fact, many of the habits he's already adopted 487 00:31:12,580 --> 00:31:15,583 can help to prevent brain disease in later life. 488 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:17,209 LUKE: There you go! 489 00:31:17,627 --> 00:31:22,048 PETER: By periodically fasting and eating a diet rich in vegetables and fish, 490 00:31:22,423 --> 00:31:26,177 he's fighting the cellular aging that contributes to Alzheimer's disease. 491 00:31:27,053 --> 00:31:29,513 Don't know whether to laugh or cry. (CHUCKLES) 492 00:31:30,806 --> 00:31:33,267 PETER: Taking steps to reduce his stress levels 493 00:31:33,476 --> 00:31:35,770 should also help protect his memory. 494 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:39,523 And exposing his body to extreme temperature 495 00:31:39,732 --> 00:31:43,027 has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. 496 00:31:49,825 --> 00:31:51,869 OTIS: How'd you sleep last night? It was pretty wet. 497 00:31:52,244 --> 00:31:54,580 CHRIS: It was beautiful with the waterfall in the background. 498 00:31:55,665 --> 00:31:58,459 -Mm. Waterfall sung me to sleep. -Yeah. 499 00:32:00,628 --> 00:32:03,714 So it's day two, and after a good night's sleep, 500 00:32:03,798 --> 00:32:04,882 I feel refreshed. 501 00:32:11,180 --> 00:32:14,642 I know I've only spent a day and a night away from my phone and emails, 502 00:32:14,850 --> 00:32:16,852 but already my mind feels clearer 503 00:32:17,645 --> 00:32:18,771 and calm. 504 00:32:19,689 --> 00:32:21,315 And I'm excited for what's to come. 505 00:32:22,066 --> 00:32:24,610 Do you know which direction we're gonna walk today? 506 00:32:24,819 --> 00:32:27,571 (CHUCKLES) Continuing northwest? 507 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:30,408 Have we got any sun yet? 508 00:32:30,574 --> 00:32:32,702 I reckon the sun will come out a bit later. 509 00:32:33,327 --> 00:32:38,374 We're gonna get to Wrights Lookout hopefully in time for the corroboree. 510 00:32:41,836 --> 00:32:43,879 CHRIS: So, where we're heading, Wrights Lookout, 511 00:32:44,005 --> 00:32:48,134 is a very special meeting place for the indigenous people in this area, 512 00:32:48,676 --> 00:32:51,595 where, in the past, different nations would gather. 513 00:32:53,806 --> 00:32:56,851 CHRIS: What is a corroboree exactly? What are we expecting to happen? 514 00:32:57,101 --> 00:32:59,603 OTIS: Well, three nations are going to be meeting, 515 00:32:59,687 --> 00:33:03,024 and we're gonna have a dance, and it's about sharing wisdom 516 00:33:03,107 --> 00:33:06,235 -and just appreciating country together. -CHRIS: Yeah. 517 00:33:07,445 --> 00:33:10,614 It's about feeling connected to something outside yourself. 518 00:33:11,115 --> 00:33:13,617 OTIS: For sure, hundred percent. There hasn't been a corroboree up here 519 00:33:13,743 --> 00:33:15,661 for over 100 years, so it's gonna be really special 520 00:33:15,745 --> 00:33:18,247 and it's gonna be super powerful and... 521 00:33:19,582 --> 00:33:21,292 spiritually recharging. 522 00:33:25,212 --> 00:33:26,672 It's starting to get steeper. 523 00:33:30,092 --> 00:33:32,553 -CHRIS: Got your rock climbing gear? -(OTIS SIGHS) 524 00:33:32,970 --> 00:33:34,638 -(CHRIS CHUCKLING) -OTIS: I'll give it a go. 525 00:33:39,393 --> 00:33:42,980 The second day of the hike holds a different kind of challenge for Chris. 526 00:33:45,024 --> 00:33:46,400 To get to Wrights Lookout, 527 00:33:46,609 --> 00:33:49,570 he and Otis have to climb up the side of a mountain. 528 00:34:01,499 --> 00:34:03,834 Although you might consider it a workout for the body, 529 00:34:04,293 --> 00:34:06,420 it's just as much of a workout for the brain. 530 00:34:11,967 --> 00:34:13,636 OTIS: You look like a bit of a mountain goat, man. 531 00:34:13,761 --> 00:34:14,887 CHRIS: Yeah. 532 00:34:15,262 --> 00:34:17,223 OTIS: All that gym work. You'd be able to carry me up there. 533 00:34:17,306 --> 00:34:18,390 (CHRIS CHUCKLES) 534 00:34:21,727 --> 00:34:22,937 SHARON: When we exercise, 535 00:34:23,020 --> 00:34:26,524 our body produces a chemical that acts like a fertilizer for the brain. 536 00:34:28,025 --> 00:34:30,945 It encourages neurons to grow and stay healthy. 537 00:34:33,614 --> 00:34:35,324 -CHRIS: Getting closer. -OTIS: We're getting there. 538 00:34:36,117 --> 00:34:40,079 SHARON: And we know from multiple studies that regular exercise in midlife 539 00:34:40,287 --> 00:34:42,790 can reduce our chances of getting Alzheimer's disease 540 00:34:43,082 --> 00:34:45,334 by almost 50 percent. 541 00:34:48,420 --> 00:34:51,423 And exercise, combined with a cognitive challenge, 542 00:34:51,757 --> 00:34:54,885 is proving to be an extremely powerful tool 543 00:34:55,302 --> 00:34:56,637 in the fight against dementia. 544 00:34:58,597 --> 00:35:00,057 Even when we grow older. 545 00:35:03,561 --> 00:35:06,689 (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) 546 00:35:13,779 --> 00:35:17,491 GUDRUN: (IN GERMAN) My mother died five years ago, 547 00:35:19,243 --> 00:35:25,082 and sadly, she suffered from dementia. 548 00:35:26,542 --> 00:35:29,086 And yes, it lives with me in the back of my mind, 549 00:35:29,170 --> 00:35:30,921 good grief, it's going to happen 550 00:35:31,005 --> 00:35:32,047 or may happen to me. 551 00:35:34,508 --> 00:35:36,552 FEMALE VOICE: One, two, three, four. 552 00:35:38,387 --> 00:35:40,472 CHRIS: (IN ENGLISH) Every week, seventy-year-old Gudrun 553 00:35:40,556 --> 00:35:42,308 attends a local dance class. 554 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:45,102 (MUSIC CONTINUES) 555 00:35:47,271 --> 00:35:52,318 GUDRUN: (IN GERMAN) Sometimes I don't feel as good as I did 30 years ago. 556 00:35:54,653 --> 00:35:55,946 But mostly, 557 00:35:56,071 --> 00:35:57,489 I'm in pretty good shape. 558 00:35:58,824 --> 00:36:01,994 (INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER) 559 00:36:03,495 --> 00:36:05,581 (DANCE INSTRUCTOR SPEAKING GERMAN) 560 00:36:05,873 --> 00:36:08,375 CHRIS: (IN ENGLISH) But this is no ordinary dance lesson. 561 00:36:08,834 --> 00:36:10,461 It's a scientific study. 562 00:36:11,837 --> 00:36:15,007 Its purpose, to find out whether an exercise like dancing 563 00:36:15,090 --> 00:36:18,552 is more beneficial for the aging brain than an ordinary workout. 564 00:36:20,179 --> 00:36:22,681 Dancing is learning complicated movements. 565 00:36:22,932 --> 00:36:26,977 It's not like sitting on a bike where you do repetitive movements. 566 00:36:28,229 --> 00:36:33,692 So we think that our dancing is a better way to improve brain function 567 00:36:33,817 --> 00:36:38,697 because it involves this combination of cognitive and physical challenge. 568 00:36:40,449 --> 00:36:41,909 (MUSIC ENDS) 569 00:36:44,495 --> 00:36:45,913 CHRIS: Scientists have discovered 570 00:36:46,038 --> 00:36:48,582 that our brains have the capacity to grow and develop 571 00:36:48,707 --> 00:36:51,961 new connections even in late adulthood. 572 00:36:53,837 --> 00:36:55,339 (GUDRUN GREETING IN GERMAN) 573 00:36:55,422 --> 00:36:57,466 I'm the guinea pig! (CHUCKLES) 574 00:36:58,175 --> 00:36:59,802 CHRIS: (IN ENGLISH) So Notger and his team 575 00:36:59,969 --> 00:37:02,680 want to find out how effective the dance program is 576 00:37:02,846 --> 00:37:04,556 at stimulating that growth. 577 00:37:06,392 --> 00:37:08,560 They're looking for signs of positive change 578 00:37:08,811 --> 00:37:11,105 in that region of the brain vital for memory. 579 00:37:13,190 --> 00:37:18,070 NOTGER: (IN GERMAN) Please show me the front part of the hippocampus. 580 00:37:18,404 --> 00:37:19,488 (SPEAKING GERMAN) 581 00:37:21,156 --> 00:37:22,157 (IN ENGLISH) Stop. 582 00:37:24,576 --> 00:37:27,162 (IN GERMAN) You can see an increase here. 583 00:37:28,455 --> 00:37:29,873 It looks really good. 584 00:37:31,542 --> 00:37:33,961 (GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING) 585 00:37:35,045 --> 00:37:38,007 NOTGER: (IN ENGLISH) This was such a big relief because our results show 586 00:37:38,132 --> 00:37:40,718 that dancing has an amazing potential 587 00:37:40,843 --> 00:37:43,470 in improving brain function and structure. 588 00:37:44,346 --> 00:37:49,351 And we really hope that dancing will be able to prevent 589 00:37:49,435 --> 00:37:51,270 cases of dementia in the future. 590 00:37:54,523 --> 00:37:57,234 CHRIS: It's not just Gudrun's results which are impressive. 591 00:37:58,152 --> 00:38:01,280 The dancing group showed more growth in the hippocampus 592 00:38:01,613 --> 00:38:04,325 compared with those who followed a conventional workout. 593 00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:09,747 (IN GERMAN) Well, the results had a real "wow effect" on me. 594 00:38:11,206 --> 00:38:13,834 So I'm giving myself a bit of a pat on the back, 595 00:38:13,959 --> 00:38:15,586 telling myself "well done." 596 00:38:22,301 --> 00:38:23,886 (MUSIC FADES) 597 00:38:24,094 --> 00:38:27,181 CHRIS: (IN ENGLISH) We've been climbing for a few hours, and finally, 598 00:38:27,389 --> 00:38:30,267 Wrights Lookout feels within touching distance. 599 00:38:32,269 --> 00:38:34,104 -CHRIS: Straight up here? -OTIS: Yeah. 600 00:38:37,274 --> 00:38:39,860 (EXHALES DEEPLY) 601 00:38:41,570 --> 00:38:43,947 (BOTH CHUCKLE) 602 00:38:48,035 --> 00:38:50,287 Is this the right spot? (CHUCKLES) 603 00:38:50,788 --> 00:38:53,248 (MAJESTIC MUSIC PLAYING) 604 00:38:57,211 --> 00:38:58,879 -CHRIS: (PANTING) Well done, mate. -OTIS: Good job. 605 00:38:59,046 --> 00:39:00,089 Good job. 606 00:39:02,841 --> 00:39:04,051 CHRIS: We've made it. 607 00:39:04,968 --> 00:39:07,888 And all without a phone, GPS, or even a map. 608 00:39:09,348 --> 00:39:13,310 Just the one thing people used for millennia to navigate this earth. 609 00:39:13,936 --> 00:39:15,104 Our brains. 610 00:39:15,604 --> 00:39:17,189 -That's where we walked from. -(EXHALES DEEPLY) 611 00:39:17,648 --> 00:39:20,192 -Long way. -It is a long way. 612 00:39:20,359 --> 00:39:22,236 Gives you some perspective, doesn't it? 613 00:39:27,699 --> 00:39:28,700 (MUSIC FADES) 614 00:39:28,826 --> 00:39:31,495 As I look out at how far Otis and I have come, 615 00:39:32,204 --> 00:39:33,956 the beauty of this landscape, 616 00:39:34,581 --> 00:39:37,584 I think about what the elder said to us before we set off. 617 00:39:38,502 --> 00:39:40,045 "Listen with your own ears 618 00:39:40,879 --> 00:39:42,423 "and see with your own eyes." 619 00:39:44,174 --> 00:39:45,926 And now it makes perfect sense. 620 00:39:46,427 --> 00:39:50,305 If we block out the noise and truly tune in to the natural world, 621 00:39:50,764 --> 00:39:51,849 we'll live better. 622 00:39:55,394 --> 00:39:56,895 It's been a long two days, 623 00:39:58,647 --> 00:40:00,607 but we've made it here for the corroboree, 624 00:40:02,151 --> 00:40:03,277 the gathering. 625 00:40:04,445 --> 00:40:06,613 (MALE VOICE CHANTING IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE) 626 00:40:07,072 --> 00:40:09,908 (CLAPSTICKS BEATING RHYTHMICALLY) 627 00:40:10,242 --> 00:40:14,079 (MALE VOICES SINGING) 628 00:40:16,331 --> 00:40:18,542 ELDER: (IN ENGLISH) On behalf of the three nations, 629 00:40:18,750 --> 00:40:21,128 we want to invite you to come dance with us. 630 00:40:22,379 --> 00:40:23,380 -Sure. Thank you. -Yeah. 631 00:40:24,882 --> 00:40:26,842 -I'm not much of a dancer. -MALE VOICE: That's all right! 632 00:40:27,551 --> 00:40:30,095 You know, I really thought I was gonna be just observing. 633 00:40:31,597 --> 00:40:33,724 And now, I feel really nervous. 634 00:40:34,057 --> 00:40:34,975 (CHUCKLES) 635 00:40:41,857 --> 00:40:44,193 (SPEAKS INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE) 636 00:40:51,450 --> 00:40:53,952 -(IN ENGLISH) Paddle left. Paddle right. -Paddle left, paddle right. 637 00:40:54,036 --> 00:40:57,623 Low, low, shoulder, shoulder. 638 00:40:57,998 --> 00:40:59,041 All right. 639 00:40:59,416 --> 00:41:01,877 CHRIS: There's such a beautiful welcoming from everybody there, 640 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:04,713 and encouragement, that I pretty quickly get into it. 641 00:41:09,259 --> 00:41:12,262 (CHANTING IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE) 642 00:41:19,353 --> 00:41:21,313 CHRIS: (IN ENGLISH) And I look over at Otis, 643 00:41:23,857 --> 00:41:27,110 and, uh, I start to see what it means for him. 644 00:41:31,657 --> 00:41:33,367 The meeting of these three nations. 645 00:41:33,534 --> 00:41:35,410 (DIDGERIDOO DRONING) 646 00:41:35,577 --> 00:41:37,287 OTIS: I feel empowered. 647 00:41:38,372 --> 00:41:41,500 I feel a sense of belonging as well. 648 00:41:42,793 --> 00:41:46,672 Because this gathering is to waken our ancestors 649 00:41:46,797 --> 00:41:49,508 in the memories and our stories from the earth. 650 00:41:52,219 --> 00:41:57,599 Not only am I creating new and beautiful memories... 651 00:42:00,978 --> 00:42:04,982 but I get to share that with Chris, and we get to talk about that 652 00:42:05,065 --> 00:42:06,275 for the years to come. 653 00:42:08,694 --> 00:42:11,488 -(CLAPSTICKS BEATING RAPIDLY) -(DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) 654 00:42:11,738 --> 00:42:13,407 I started this journey concerned 655 00:42:13,532 --> 00:42:15,576 that I might lose my memories when I'm older. 656 00:42:19,454 --> 00:42:23,208 But I've realized just how much of this is in my own hands. 657 00:42:23,750 --> 00:42:26,712 (CHANTING AND SINGING DISTANTLY) 658 00:42:26,878 --> 00:42:30,424 CHRIS: The prescription is simple. Eat and sleep well. 659 00:42:31,675 --> 00:42:34,761 Challenge my mind and body with new experiences, 660 00:42:35,095 --> 00:42:37,055 and immerse myself in nature 661 00:42:37,681 --> 00:42:40,642 away from the distractions and stress of modern life. 662 00:42:42,894 --> 00:42:45,772 And crucially, share all of this with the people I love. 663 00:42:49,943 --> 00:42:52,613 None of these simple acts are bitter medicine. 664 00:42:54,990 --> 00:42:56,992 They're things I love to do anyway. 665 00:42:58,952 --> 00:43:00,537 Things I want to do more often. 666 00:43:02,039 --> 00:43:05,417 And hopefully, I'll not only live a happier and more rewarding life, 667 00:43:06,251 --> 00:43:10,881 bringing joy to my family and my friends just as my grandpa did, 668 00:43:12,716 --> 00:43:15,927 but together we'll forge precious new memories 669 00:43:16,261 --> 00:43:18,430 that will live with me for the rest of my life. 670 00:43:18,555 --> 00:43:19,556 (MUSIC FADES) 671 00:43:20,140 --> 00:43:23,685 (THEME MUSIC PLAYING) 672 00:44:21,159 --> 00:44:22,911 (MUSIC ENDS)