Incorporating Reaction-time Training Into Your Fitness Regimen

WHO:

CNN - Dana Santas, known as the “Mobility Maker,” is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and mind-body coach in professional sports.

CNN - Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN.

WHAT:

CNN - Reaction time is defined as the interval between perceiving a stimulus and initiating a physical response.

CNN - Reaction time begins to decline as early as the 20s and accelerates after 60.

CNN - Slow reaction time is a significant contributing factor to falls, which are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults 65 and older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CNN - A landmark study funded by the National Institutes of Health, known as the ACTIVE trial, followed more than 2,800 older adults over 20 years.

CNN - The ACTIVE trial tested three types of cognitive training: speed of processing, memory, and reasoning.

CNN - The speed of processing training was the only intervention to show a statistically significant protective effect, with participants 25% less likely to develop dementia than those who received no training.

WHERE:

CNN - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is referenced as the source for statistics on falls.

WHEN:

CNN - The ACTIVE trial followed participants over a duration of 20 years.

WHY:

CNN - Reaction time is crucial for preventing falls and maintaining cognitive health as it reflects the efficiency of the mind-body connection.

HOW:

CNN - Reaction-time training can be done through various drills, including clock taps, wall bounces, ball drops, and lateral shuffling.

CNN - Clock taps involve calling out random numbers and tapping corresponding sticky notes as quickly as possible.

CNN - Wall bounces require throwing a tennis ball against a wall and catching it on the rebound.

CNN - Ball drops involve a partner dropping a tennis ball for the individual to catch before the second bounce.

CNN - Lateral shuffling requires quick movement in response to a partner's cues.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 15:17 UTC)

Dana Santas, known as the "Mobility Maker," is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and mind-body coach in professional sports, while Dr. Sanjay Gupta serves as the Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN. A landmark study funded by the National Institutes of Health, called the ACTIVE trial, followed over 2,800 older adults for 20 years and found that reaction time, which declines with age, is crucial for preventing falls, a leading cause of injury-related death among adults 65 and older. The study revealed that speed of processing training significantly reduced the likelihood of developing dementia, with participants 25% less likely to face this risk compared to those who received no training, highlighting the importance of drills like clock taps and wall bounces to improve reaction time.