Full Show Notes: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/stimulatedmind Your brain doesn’t decline with age alone. In this episode, I’m joined by neuroscientist and hybrid athlete Dr. Tommy Wood to get into what actually drives long-term brain performance, from early development through aging, and why how you train, fuel, sleep, and challenge your brain each day directly shapes how your brain functions over time. We get into: - How combining strength, endurance, and complex movement patterns supports memory, executive function, and brain structure - The difference between neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, and how skill-based learning physically reshapes the brain - How home environment, including education, nutrition, and social support, predicts long-term brain outcomes - What individualized brain health looks like, and how to define “fit” based on your cognitive and physical demands - How to use AI to support thinking without replacing it, and what happens when cognitive work gets outsourced Dr. Wood’s work spans neuroscience, clinical medicine, and performance, from newborns with brain injuries to elite athletes and Formula 1 drivers. If you’re thinking about long-term cognitive performance, the way you train, learn, and structure your environment adds up over time. 00:00 Strength vs endurance in competition 08:57 Brain injury research in babies 10:46 Supporting brain development at all ages 16:29 Understanding brain pathology and identity 25:42 How learning reshapes the brain 29:42 Stimulating your brain as an adult 31:47 Exercise benefits for brain health 37:47 Benefits of lactate and BFR training 43:49 Using AI to improve essays 50:34 Lithium and mild cognitive impairment 56:02 Alcohol intake and brain health 01:01:25 Nicotine and cognitive performance 📲 Check out my FREE Top Health Community! - https://joinlifenetwork.com 💊Shop My Curated Marketplace of Vetted Products! - https://shoplifemarket.com 🏋️Sign up for a FREE Coaching Call! - https://jointriumphcoaching.com 📩 Check out my FREE newsletter! - https://bengreenfieldlife.com/newsletter/ 🔗My Website: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/ 🔗My Podcast: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/podcast/ 🔗My Books: https://shopbengreenfieldlife.com/collections/books Connect with me: ⬇️ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bengreenfieldfitness/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BGFitness X https://twitter.com/bengreenfield TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@bengreenfield