Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia & The Lifestyle Levers That Keep You Sharp with Neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood

The Rich Roll Podcast

Rich Roll

Education, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 13.3K Ratings

🗓️ 23 March 2026

⏱️ 136 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	The best way to minimize your risk of dementia is not sit at home by yourself chugging supplements.
0:07.0	It's going to be much more about.
0:09.0	Dr. Tommy Wood is a UK trained physician.
0:12.0	His research focuses on brain health across the lifespan.
0:15.0	How things like exercise affect dementia.
0:18.0	If some proportionate dementia is preventable, then we must be able to change the trajectory
0:21.6	of cognitive function and cognitive decline.
0:24.6	What is driving this and what else should I be focused on or thinking about?
0:29.6	How we use our brains is the primary determinant of how they will function.
0:34.6	Low HDL cholesterol, high triglysteroides, high blood sugar or high blood pressure.
0:38.8	These are all significant risk factors for dementia, and they are effects of...
0:48.3	Tommy, so nice to meet you.
0:52.9	I am thrilled to have you here. I think your work is vitally important.
0:57.0	It touches me personally because I have dementia in my family and it's been a very difficult past couple of years.
1:05.0	I've been witness to just how devastating the diseases of dementia, Alzheimer's, et cetera, you know, have on not just
1:14.3	the individual who's victimized by it, but also the families, et cetera. And then the basically
1:22.1	inhumane way in which modern healthcare kind of like manages this right now.
1:28.3	And so I think your book and your message is one that, you know, I'm proud to help amplify here and to get into with you today.
1:36.3	So thank you.
1:37.3	Thanks so much for having me and I appreciate that and I'm looking forward to talking with you about it.
1:42.3	Cool.
1:43.3	Is it true that the adult brain is destined for an inevitable decline?
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Rich Roll, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Rich Roll and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.