How to Win the Brain Game in an Overstimulated World:

Yes, we live in a chronically overstimulated world. Yes, our attention is increasingly fragmented. And yes, we’re constantly monitoring email, WhatsApp, Slack, social media and more. But what if the solutions to winning the brain game aren’t nearly as complicated as the problem makes them seem? That’s what I love about returning guest Dr Tommy Wood: he keeps it gentle, truthful, practical and simple. The challenges facing our brains are real, but this episode is genuinely hopeful because protecting your brain, improving your cognitive performance and building resilience doesn’t require turning your life upside down. It truly is possible to win the brain game—with realistic, consistent effort.

Dr Tommy Wood is Assistant Professor of Paediatrics and Neuroscience at the University of Washington, where he conducts research focusing on ways to increase resilience and treat injury in the developing brain. He holds a degree in biochemistry from Cambridge, a medical degree from Oxford, and achieved his PhD in physiology and neuroscience in Oslo. When it comes to brain health and longevity, Tommy’s knowledge is second to none. He has an impressive range of experience across a variety of different disciplines, which gives him both a broad perspective and an incredibly specialised area of expertise.

Join us as we explore:

• The shifting landscape of mental health, burnout, dementia burden and cognitive decline.
• Are you running out of brain room?
• How to win the brain game?
• How to structure your workday for brain benefits, re-training for attention and the power of the pomodoro technique.
• The most impactful down-regulating tactics.
• The most objective and reputable ways to measure your brain health and performance.
• The most impactful types of exercise for brain health and cognitive longevity.
• The most critical micronutrients to prevent trophic-driven dementia.

Mentions:

• Assessment – BetterBrain, https://www.betterbrain.com
• Assessment – Creyos, https://creyos.com
• Assessment – Food For The Brain, https://foodforthebrain.org/the-cognitive-function-test/ 
• Book – Attention Span, https://gloriamark.com/attention-span/
• Study – Hallbeck, M. S., Lowndes, B. R., Bingener, J., Abdelrahman, A. M., Yu, D., Bartley, A., & Park, A. E. (2017). The impact of intraoperative microbreaks with exercises on surgeons: A multi-center cohort study.Applied Ergonomics, 60, 334-341.