Summer Highlights: Build a More Resilient Brain with Dr. Tommy Wood

How do we build a brain that can stay resilient as we age? In this summer highlight, Dr. Annie Fenn revisits her conversation with Dr. Tommy Wood, author of The Stimulated Mind: Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia and Stay Sharp at Any Age. Tommy explains the idea of cognitive headroom: building more brain reserve and resilience now so we have a greater buffer against aging, stress, and disease later. He also shares why even brief “exercise snacks” can benefit the brain, especially when they break up long periods of sitting. Finally, Annie and Tommy explore why many everyday memory lapses may begin with attention. Constant task-switching, scrolling, and information overload can make it harder for the brain to encode what we are trying to remember. You’ll learn how small, practical choices—moving more often, taking real breaks, focusing on one thing at a time, and continuing to challenge the brain—can support cognitive health at any age. Chapters 00:00 Introducing Summer Highlights 03:38 Building cognitive headroom 09:39 Exercise snacks and sedentary time 15:51 Memory, attention, and overstimulation 22:15 Three takeaways to use now Links Mentioned Dr. Tommy Wood https://www.drtommywood.com/ The Stimulated Mind https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/751292/the-stimulated-mind-by-dr-tommy-wood/ Better Brain Fitness Substack https://hdrmdocs.substack.com/ Full Brain Health Kitchen episode with Dr. Tommy Wood https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-build-a-brain-that-lasts-the-science/id1869700282?i=1000757728384 Brain Health Kitchen Substack https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com/ Thank you to our founding sponsors, NeuroReserve and BetterBrain, for helping keep the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast open to everyone. NeuroReserve creates science-backed brain health nutrition products, including Relevate, Brain Health Kitchen Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Revanta creatine. Visit neuroreserve.com and use code BHKPODCAST for 10% off. BetterBrain provides brain health testing, expert coaching, and personalized action plans that are covered by insurance for most people. Learn more at betterbrain.com/annie.