Your brain is not necessarily doomed to significant cognitive decline with age.
But it does need a reason to keep adapting.
That is the premise behind The Stimulated Mind, and it is why this conversation with neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood may change how you think about aging, retirement, frustration, and the things you normally avoid because they feel difficult.
Tommy is an associate professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington. He studied biochemistry at Cambridge, earned his medical degree from Oxford and his PhD from Oslo. He also works with Formula 1 drivers as head scientist for motorsport at Hintsa Performance and is the author of The Stimulated Mind: Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia and Stay Sharp at Any Age.
Your brain needs meaningful challenge.
Adults tend to hate feeling like beginners. We avoid unfamiliar technology, difficult skills, and situations where we might look incompetent. But Tommy explains why that frustration may be evidence that the brain is doing exactly what it needs to do.
Some highlights from the episode:
06:00 The counterclockwise study
08:00 Beliefs about aging
11:00 Age limits and cognitive ability
14:00 Cognitive baseline testing
16:00 Challenge and brain adaptation
19:00 Why frustration can be beneficial
21:00 Reading versus listening
23:00 Hearing and vision loss
26:00 Alzheimer's versus dementia
30:00 The best exercise for the brain
34:00 Overstimulation versus real stimulation
37:00 Retirement and cognitive decline
39:00 Food and brain health
41:00 Dementia biomarker testing
44:00 Improving cognition after decline
46:00 Advice for caregivers
48:00 Do crossword puzzles and brain games work?
Enjoy!
For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com
