Dr Rangan ChatterjeeNeuroscientist: 7 Habits That Protect Your Brain & Reduce Dementia Risk | Dr. Tommy Wood
Episode Details
EPISODE INFO
- Released
- September 23, 2026
- Duration
- 2h 0m
- Channel
- Dr Rangan Chatterjee
- Watch on YouTube
- ▶ Open ↗
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Get your FREE Break Free from Stress guide - Feel calmer, starting today. Go to https://drchatterjee.com/feelcalmer This episode is brought to you by: DO HEALTH: Join thousands who have already started their Do Health journey. Sign up today. Go to https://dohealth.co/livemore and use code LIVEMORE. THE WAY APP: Get 30 FREE days and begin your journey towards peace, calm and wellbeing. https://thewayapp.com/livemore What if some of the things you’re doing to protect your health could actually be getting in the way of healthy ageing? In this episode, I’m joined by neuroscientist and longevity expert Dr Tommy Wood to explore the common mistakes people make when it comes to brain health, ageing and protecting our cognitive function. Tommy explains why our mindset around ageing matters more than we might think, and why trying too hard to fight the ageing process can sometimes work against us. We explore the surprising benefits of stress, why not all stress is bad, and how the right kind of challenge can help the brain adapt and become more resilient. We also discuss why social connection could be one of the most overlooked factors in brain health. Tommy explains why obsessing over perfect sleep, nutrition, exercise and supplements can sometimes come at the expense of spending time with the people we care about — and why feeling connected and purposeful may be more important than following a perfect health routine. Tommy shares the health markers he believes are worth keeping an eye on, including blood pressure, fasting insulin and homocysteine, and explains why understanding your personal health trajectory can be more useful than waiting for something to go wrong. We also explore dementia risk and the things we can do to support long-term brain health, including the role of omega-3s, B vitamins, supplements, oral health and exercise. Tommy explains what the research actually tells us about multivitamins and creatine, and why some supplements may be more useful than you think. Finally, we discuss environmental exposures, including microplastics, air pollution and drinking water, and how to think about reducing your exposure without letting fear of toxins take over your life. If you want to protect your brain, age well and understand what really makes a difference to your long-term health, this conversation is packed with practical insights and surprising research. 🌱 Want to feel better and live more? Subscribe for new conversations that could change how you think about your health and your life. ________________________________________ Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:30 Mistake 1: How You Think About Ageing 10:57 How Stress Helps Us Adapt 20:06 Mistake 2: Over-Optimising Your Health 33:17 Why Social Connection Matters 38:56 Mistake 4: Test Before Symptoms Appear 47:44 Mistake 3: Why Blood Pressure Matters 53:37 Fasting Insulin & Homocysteine 01:01:43 How to Reduce Dementia Risk 01:03:01 Key Nutrients for Brain Health 01:11:42 Mistake 5: Are Supplements a Waste of Money? 01:12:35 Can Multivitamins Protect Your Brain? 01:18:45 Creatine for Brain Health & Performance 01:29:12 Mistake 6: Don't Ignore Oral Health 01:31:16 Xylitol & the Oral Microbiome 01:34:13 Mistake 7: Understanding Toxic Load 01:35:34 The Truth About Microplastics 01:44:50 Should You Filter Your Water? 01:49:37 Sweating, Exercise & Saunas 01:51:14 Air Pollution & Brain Health 01:56:02 It's Never Too Late to Start #feelbetterlivemore Connect with Dr Wood: Website https://www.drtommywood.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drtommywood/ Publications https://www.drtommywood.com/publications X https://twitter.com/DrRagnar Podcasts: Better Brain Fitness https://www.drtommywood.com/podcast Dr Wood’s book: The Stimulated Mind Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia and Stay Sharp at Any Age UK https://amzn.to/3Nlzlzy US https://amzn.to/3P4hTjB #feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast ------- The Thrive Tour: Transform Your Health and Happiness, a live show: Book Your Tickets https://drchatterjee.com/live ----- Follow Dr Chatterjee at: Website: https://drchatterjee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee
hostUK physician and host of the podcast Feel Better, Live More, focused on lifestyle and preventive medicine.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Dr Rangan Chatterjee, featuring Dr. Rangan Chatterjee and Dr. Tommy Wood, Neuroscientist: 7 Habits That Protect Your Brain & Reduce Dementia Risk | Dr. Tommy Wood explores seven brain-protective habits: mindset, connection, blood pressure, and smart prevention The episode is structured around common brain-health mistakes, starting with mindset: negative beliefs about aging and stress can worsen physiology and behavior, while acceptance and reframing can support resilience and engagement.
RELATED EPISODES
