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A Neurologist’s 60-Second Word Drill for Practicing Faster Recall

By Freedom251 Team · · 4 min read

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The 60-second trick is a timed word-retrieval drill: choose a category, set a one-minute timer, and say or write as many matching words as you can. Neurologist Rhonda Voskuhl recommends matching practice to the specific ability that feels weaker; this drill targets rapid verbal recall and processing speed, not every kind of memory problem. It is a practical exercise, not a proven treatment for brain fog or dementia.

Fox News reported Voskuhl’s advice after the UCLA neurology professor spoke at the Livelong Women’s Health Summit. The report discusses verbal memory and processing speed, particularly around perimenopause and menopause.

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How do you do the 60-second memory trick?

Pick one category, start a one-minute countdown, and retrieve as many distinct items in that category as possible before time runs out. You can speak the answers aloud or write them down; the point is to practice finding words quickly.

  1. Choose a familiar category. Try animals, foods, cities, or tools.
  2. Set a one-minute timer. A phone countdown is enough; no special equipment is required.
  3. List as many different examples as you can. Say them or write them, and avoid repeating an item.
  4. Try another category. Notice whether you are mainly struggling to find words, keep your attention on the task, or work quickly.
  5. Stop if it feels distressing. Treat the drill as practice, not a medical self-test.

Voskuhl described the exercise as being about processing speed. In the Fox News report, she stressed that cognitive exercises should fit the difficulty a person wants to address: “You can’t just do random cognitive exercises. They’ve got to fit the problem.”

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What ability is the drill meant to practice?

The category game is aimed at rapid verbal retrieval: bringing words to mind when needed, and doing so quickly. The source distinguishes retrieval from encoding—the process of taking in and storing information—but that explanation is not a diagnosis of what is happening when any particular person experiences brain fog.

That distinction matters when choosing an exercise. If the difficulty is finding words, a math puzzle may not practice the same task. As Voskuhl put it, “Doing math is not going to help … You need an exercise that will help you with words.” The recommendation is to match the activity to the ability that seems weaker, rather than assuming one game improves every aspect of memory.

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What other quick exercises can you try?

The report describes two alternatives that also emphasize language and retrieval, but use different response formats:

  • Read and summarize: Read a short article quickly, then summarize it aloud in two or three sentences. This combines reading with concise spoken recall.
  • Name a prompt: Use flashcards or picture prompts and name the object or person as quickly as possible. This gives you a visual cue to respond to, rather than asking you to generate every word from a category.

These formats are options, not established superior treatments. The advice in the report is to choose an exercise that fits the particular difficulty; it does not compare the drills in a clinical trial.

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Can a one-minute word game treat brain fog?

The report presents the drill as expert advice for practice, not as a clinically proven treatment. It gives no named study, control group, effect size, or duration of benefit showing that the exercise produces lasting memory improvement. It also does not establish that the drill prevents or treats dementia, or addresses a medical cause of brain fog.

So it is reasonable to try the activity as a brief way to practice word retrieval, but not to use a score or a difficult round to diagnose yourself. One session cannot establish whether memory has changed or why a person feels foggy.

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When should you seek medical advice?

A short word game cannot determine the cause of cognitive symptoms. If memory or concentration problems are persistent, worsening, sudden, or distressing, contact a health professional rather than relying on this exercise or repeated self-testing. The Fox News report focuses on perimenopause and menopause, but its advice should not be taken to mean those are the cause of symptoms for every reader.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I say the words aloud or write them down?

The report allows either spoken or written responses. Speaking may be convenient when practicing quick recall in conversation; writing can make it easier to see duplicates. The source does not say one response mode works better.

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What should I do if I get stuck during the word game?

Keep going with any distinct examples that come to mind, or switch to a different familiar category on another round. If the activity causes distress, stop rather than treating difficulty as a diagnosis.

Does the report say brain fog during menopause is always caused by hormones?

No. It discusses the exercise in the context of perimenopause and menopause but does not establish the cause of any individual’s symptoms. A clinician can help assess persistent or changing problems.

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Are there proven long-term results for this exact 60-second exercise?

The cited report provides no clinical trial, effect size, or duration-of-benefit data for the specific drill. It reports a neurologist’s recommendation rather than evidence that the exercise produces lasting improvement.

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