Tommy Wood

Dr. Tommy Wood is a neuroscientist, physician, associate professor at the University of Washington, and the author of “The Stimulated Mind.” I came into this one with a lot on my mind. My mother has Alzheimer's, and for two years I've been watching this disease dismantle someone I love. What Tommy gave me was something I didn't expect: not more cause for fear, but a genuine roadmap. Cognitive decline is not inevitable. The levers of change are already in our hands. This one is personal. I hope it lands that way for you, too. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today's Sponsors: LMNT: Get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase👉🏼 https://www.drinklmnt.com/richroll Momentous: High-caliber human performance products for sleep, focus, longevity, and more. For listeners of the show, Momentous is offering up to 35% off your first order👉🏼 https://www.livemomentous.com/richroll Birch: For 20% off ALL mattresses👉🏼 https://www.BirchLiving.com/richroll Go Brewing: Use the code Rich Roll for 15% OFF👉🏼 https://www.gobrewing.com Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors👉🏼 https://www.richroll.com/sponsors Find out more about Voicing Change Media at https://www.voicingchange.media and follow us @voicingchange

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush What if the biggest predictor of dementia isn’t your genes — but your metabolic health? In this episode, neuroscientist and performance coach Dr. Tommy Wood reveals why blood sugar regulation and blood pressure are more powerful predictors of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline than amyloid plaques or even genetics like ApoE4. For decades, Alzheimer’s has been framed as either a genetic lottery or the inevitable buildup of amyloid in the brain. But emerging research shows that metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, and vascular health may play a far greater role in determining long-term brain outcomes. Instead of focusing on fear, this conversation delivers a practical blueprint for building cognitive reserve and “cognitive headroom” — the brain’s ability to stay resilient, adaptable, and high-performing as you age. You’ll learn why crossword puzzles aren’t enough, how high-intensity exercise and resistance training stimulate brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), why lactate may act like “Miracle-Gro” for your neurons, and how to interpret early warning signs like subjective brain fog. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why Alzheimer’s isn’t just about amyloid plaques The powerful link between blood sugar and cognitive decline How genetics (like ApoE4) increase risk — but don’t seal your fate What “cognitive headroom” means and how to build it Why high-intensity exercise may act as Miracle-Gro for the brain The surprising role of resistance training in brain health What subjective brain fog might be telling you How menopause affects cognition — and what’s reversible Why boredom and focus matter more than we think The kinds of skills you should keep practicing as you age For women navigating perimenopause and menopause, Dr. Wood explains what cognitive changes are hormonally driven, what’s reversible, and how to protect long-term brain health. Whether your goal is preventing Alzheimer’s disease, improving focus and processing speed, or becoming a cognitive “superager,” this episode provides evidence-based strategies to help you build a brain that is robust, metabolically healthy, and built to last. Key Highlights: (00:00) – Brain Health & Cognitive Longevity Intro (00:35) – Brain Evolution & Survival Mechanisms (02:53) – Diabetes & Alzhe

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 14-Day Trial to Virtual Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Tommy Wood BM BCh, PhD is a neuroscientist, elite-level professional nerd, and performance consultant to world class athletes in a dozen sports. 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 and Visiting Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. His research focuses on brain health and brain injury treatment across the lifespan, as well as developing easily-accessible methods with which to track health, performance, and longevity in both professional athletes and the general population. Tommy serves as deputy editor of the Wiley Journal Lifestyle Medicine, is a Director of the British Society for Lifestyle Medicine, and consults for a number of digital health companies and charities that focus on how lifestyle and the environment can affect long-term health and chronic disease. We really appreciate Tommy’s unique perspective working as a physician and neuroscientist from pediatrics up through aging adults. This episode is packed with practical information about brain health and maintaining cognitive function as we age. SPONSORS This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT, a tasty electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don’t. That means lots of salt — with no sugar. If you are drinking tons of water, but are peeing constantly, you may actually be getting dehydrated. LMNT is the tastiest way to add some electrolytes to your water and avoid this situation. Order through our link and receive a free sample pack with all of LMNT’s flavors. Go to DrinkLMNT.com/TRS and check it out! • This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by Momentous, a leading high performance lifestyle company making the best supplements and sports nutrition products for individuals looking to optimize all parts of their lives. We always recommend getting your nutrients from whole foods. But if you are looking to supplement that, one of the best and e

For the final episode of the first season of Community Talk with Tommy, the production staff flips the table on Tommy and interview him about what it was like for him during the Almeda Fire and how he's using his podcast to lift up the positives stories and voices from the community in the Rogue Valley. Thank you all so much for your support we hope you enjoyed it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/message