Can you change the adult brain? Join Dr. Tommy Wood, as we delve deep into the nuances of cognitive health and the preservation of neurological vigor during the aging process. Dr. Wood challenges the prevailing notion that cognitive decline is an inevitable consequence of growing older, thanks to the remarkable adaptability of the adult brain. Comparing neuromuscular and cognitive development, we’ll talk about how the brain thrives on challenges or skill development like reading or dancing.

We’ll also touch on the importance of comprehensive blood testing in assessing and maintaining neurological health, emphasizing the critical role of biomarkers such as HbA1c, iron status, vitamin D levels, homocysteine, and omega-3 index.

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Key Takeaways:

[00:04:26 ] From Couch Potato to Neuroscience and Performance Consulting

[00:10:52 ] Assessing and Tracking Brain Function Over Time

[00:14:14 ] Essential Blood Tests for Long-Term Health Monitoring

[00:19:42 ] Juggling Education, Business, and Patient Care

[00:26:41 ] Optimizing Brain Health Through Diverse Cognitive Activities

[00:29:58 ] The Importance of Arts and Physical Education in Development

[00:32:25 ] The Misuse of Biomedical Devices and Data Interpretation

[00:35:59 ] Debating the Impact of Wearables on Stress and Health

[00:37:44 ] Alcohol's Impact on Health and Brain Volume

[00:43:17 ] Optimizing Brain Health Requires Balanced Omega-3s and B Vitamins

 

Memorable Quotes:

“We've been told this story that you can't change the adult brain, which is just completely untrue. The way that we develop the brain in the first place is by trying things out. And that could be language skills, motor skills, social skills, and it's that effort and failure to learn new things that really drives and crafts the brain. But we stopped doing that as adults. So it's not that we can't do it, it's usually just that we don't do it.” -Dr. Tommy Wood 

 

“You don't need to do everything so you can kind of focus on something that you really enjoy, and it's beneficial to you because each of those are actually ticking multiple boxes at the same time. Just start with one of those broad skills that we know uses large, numerous parts of the brain and start there, hopefully something that you enjoy as well, because then you're more likely to stick with it.” -Dr. Tommy Wood 

 

About Dr. Tommy Wood, BM BCh, PhD:

Dr. Tommy Wood is a neuroscientist, elite-level professional nerd, and performance consultant to world-class athletes in a dozen sports. He is the author of the forthcoming book FUTURE PROOF YOUR BRAIN: Improve Focus and Cognition at Any Age (Harmony, 2026). He received an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, a medical degree from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in physiology and neuroscience from the University of Oslo. Tommy is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neuroscience at the University of Washington, where his laboratory focuses on brain health across the lifespan, including in babies born preterm, adults who experience brain trauma, and the confluence of factors that can affect long-term cognitive function and risk of dementia. Tommy has published dozens of scientific papers and lectured all over the world about brain health, metabolism, physical activity, and human performance. Alongside his career in medicine and research, Tommy has also been a performance consultant to professional athletes in multiple sports, including several Olympians and world champions, and helped to found the British Society for Lifestyle Medicine, the fastest-growing lifestyle medicine society in the world.

 

Connect with Dr. Tommy Wood, BM BCh, PhD:

Website: https://www.drtommywood.com/

Better Brain Fitness: https://betterbrain.fitness

Better Brain Fitness Podcast: https://www.brainjo.academy/the-better-brain-fitness-podcast/

 

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