Neurologists say finger dexterity exercises may help brain health amid dementia concerns
Neurologists say complex finger movements engage multiple brain networks simultaneously
A ten-second finger exercise nicknamed "pinky time" may help predict and potentially protect against dementia, experts have said, as the trend spreads rapidly across social media. The exercise involves crossing the middle and index fingers on both hands, touching ring fingers to thumbs, and moving both pinkies up and down for several seconds. Neurologists say that while the specific routine has not yet been formally studied, similar finger and hand exercises have demonstrated measurable brain-boosting properties in recent research.
What is 'pinky time' and where did it come from?
The trend has been popularised by wellness influencers including Ana Lučić, who claims on TikTok that "just seven to 10 seconds a day of this exercise can help protect against Alzheimer's and improve brain plasticity." Lučić also suggests that easy pinky movement is itself a diagnostic signal, saying it is "a sign your brain is in great shape" because "loss of fine motor control often mirrors cognitive decline." The trend has gained traction as seven million Americans are currently living with dementia, a figure expected to nearly double by 2050.
Why neurologists say the science has merit
Experts say the underlying neuroscience gives the trend credibility, even without studies specific to this exercise. "The hands occupy a disproportionately large amount of the brain's motor and sensory cortex," Miami-based Neurologist and Pain Medicine Specialist Dr Shaheen Lakhan told HuffPost. "Activities that require dexterity, coordination, timing and learning can engage multiple brain networks simultaneously."
The motor cortex, located in the brain's frontal lobe, controls voluntary muscle movements including those involving the hands. The sensory cortex, which spans regions of the cerebral cortex, processes sensory information such as touch, sight and sound. Stimulating both areas promotes neuroplasticity — the nervous system's capacity to adapt, learn, and compensate for injury or damage.
Chief of Inpatient Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center in Boston Dr Michelle DiBlasi told Good Housekeeping that the bilateral nature of the exercise is particularly significant. "Pinky time requires that you move your fingers in complex ways on both hands at the same time," she said.
"When you do this, you're helping both sides of your brain to communicate with one another, which deepens the connection between the left and right sides of your brain." She also noted that the focused attention required by the exercise can calm the nervous system, reducing cortisol and other stress hormones that damage the brain cells responsible for memory and executive function.
What the research shows
No studies have yet examined pinky time specifically, but recent findings support the broader principle. A 2025 study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that repeated finger exercises may improve cognitive performance by strengthening hand-brain coordination. A 2026 study published in the journal BMC Geriatrics, involving 47 older adults in nursing homes, found that hand exercises improved motor function in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) — a recognised precursor to dementia.
DiBlasi was careful to qualify the trend's limitations while endorsing its spirit. "We don't have enough evidence to show that pinky time has the strength to prevent Alzheimer's," she said. "However, I do think that this trend is important. Pinky time reminds people that there are ways we can help to prevent Alzheimer's and cognitive decline."
The broader picture on exercise and dementia
The pinky time trend sits within a well-established body of evidence showing that physical activity reduces dementia risk by boosting blood flow to the brain and curbing harmful inflammation that allows toxic plaques to kill off cells. Aerobic activities such as swimming and jogging, as well as weightlifting and yoga, have all been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing dementia. Finger exercises represent a low-barrier entry point to that broader preventive approach.