Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Are we destined for cognitive decline as we age, or do we have more control than we think?
In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with neuroscientist and researcher Dr. Tommy Wood to explore a powerful shift in how we think about brain health, aging, and dementia prevention.
Dr. Wood challenges the common belief that cognitive decline is inevitable, highlighting how lifestyle, environment, and daily habits can meaningfully shape our brain’s trajectory over time. He introduces his “3S Framework”—Stimulus, Supply, and Support—to explain how brain function is built, maintained, and optimized across the lifespan.
In this interview, you’ll learn:
- Why cognitive decline isn’t inevitable
- How mindset and engagement can influence brain aging
- The role of metabolic health and energy supply in brain function
- How nutrition, sleep, exercise, and social connection interact to support the brain
- Where ketogenic therapy and ketones may fit into brain health and cognitive decline
- How to navigate modern challenges like technology, AI, and information overload from a brain health perspective
Dr. Wood also shares insights from his upcoming book, _The Stimulated Mind_, offering a practical framework to help individuals “future-proof” their brain and stay sharp in an ever-changing world.
The key takeaway: brain health isn’t about a single intervention. It’s about consistently engaging, fueling, and supporting the brain in ways that promote resilience over time.
💡 To learn more about metabolic approaches to brain and mental health, visit metabolicmind.org
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.
#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #Dementia
*Expert Featured:*
- Dr. Tommy Wood
- drtommywood.com
- instagram.com/drtommywood
*Resources Mentioned:*
Dr. Wood's Book
- drtommywood.com/stimulated-mind
*Google effects on memory: cognitive consequences of having information at our fingertips*
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21764755
*Adult Changes in Thought study: dementia is an individually varying convergent syndrome with prevalent clinically silent diseases that may be modified by some commonly used therapeutics*
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22471861
*Dietary cholesterol or egg consumption do not increase the risk of stroke, Finnish study finds*
- sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190520093448.htm
*Multimodal strategy to rescue the brain in mild cognitive impairment: Ketogenic oral nutrition supplementation with B vitamins and aerobic exercise*
- pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9541319
Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.
Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at metabolicmind.org
About us:
Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.
Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.
*Timestamps:*
0:00 - Introduction
2:08 - What is the biggest misconception about brain health that medicine gets wrong?
7:10 - What does a healthy brain look like?
9:32 - Future proofing your brain against dementia and the unknowable future.
14:30 - How to engage with AI and LLMs tools to support brain health and function.
16:18 - What’s the one thing people can do for brain health?
19:25 - The 3 S’s: Stimulate, Supply, Support.
25:10 - Where do supplements, food, and specialized diets fit in?
30:07 - The dark matter of nutrition and strategic supplements
31:48 - How does family history and genetic risk play a role?
34:53 - What about the specific role of ketones for dementia?
38:15 - Exciting next steps for future of brain health
Are we destined for cognitive decline as we age, or do we have more control than we think?
In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with neuroscientist and researcher Dr. Tommy Wood to explore a powerful shift in how we think about brain health, aging, and dementia prevention.
Dr. Wood challenges the common belief that cognitive decline is inevitable, highlighting how lifestyle, environment, and daily habits can meaningfully shape our brain’s trajectory over time. He introduces his “3S Framework”—Stimulus, Supply, and Support—to explain how brain function is built, maintained, and optimized across the lifespan.
In this interview, you’ll learn:
- Why cognitive decline isn’t inevitable
- How mindset and engagement can influence brain aging
- The role of metabolic health and energy supply in brain function
- How nutrition, sleep, exercise, and social connection interact to support the brain
- Where ketogenic therapy and ketones may fit into brain health and cognitive decline
- How to navigate modern challenges like technology, AI, and information overload from a brain health perspective
Dr. Wood also shares insights from his upcoming book, _The Stimulated Mind_, offering a practical framework to help individuals “future-proof” their brain and stay sharp in an ever-changing world.
The key takeaway: brain health isn’t about a single intervention. It’s about consistently engaging, fueling, and supporting the brain in ways that promote resilience over time.
💡 To learn more about metabolic approaches to brain and mental health, visit metabolicmind.org
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.
#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #Dementia
*Expert Featured:*
- Dr. Tommy Wood
- drtommywood.com
- instagram.com/drtommywood
*Resources Mentioned:*
Dr. Wood's Book
- drtommywood.com/stimulated-mind
*Google effects on memory: cognitive consequences of having information at our fingertips*
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21764755
*Adult Changes in Thought study: dementia is an individually varying convergent syndrome with prevalent clinically silent diseases that may be modified by some commonly used therapeutics*
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22471861
*Dietary cholesterol or egg consumption do not increase the risk of stroke, Finnish study finds*
- sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190520093448.htm
*Multimodal strategy to rescue the brain in mild cognitive impairment: Ketogenic oral nutrition supplementation with B vitamins and aerobic exercise*
- pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9541319
Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.
Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at metabolicmind.org
About us:
Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.
Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.
*Timestamps:*
0:00 - Introduction
2:08 - What is the biggest misconception about brain health that medicine gets wrong?
7:10 - What does a healthy brain look like?
9:32 - Future proofing your brain against dementia and the unknowable future.
14:30 - How to engage with AI and LLMs tools to support brain health and function.
16:18 - What’s the one thing people can do for brain health?
19:25 - The 3 S’s: Stimulate, Supply, Support.
25:10 - Where do supplements, food, and specialized diets fit in?
30:07 - The dark matter of nutrition and strategic supplements
31:48 - How does family history and genetic risk play a role?
34:53 - What about the specific role of ketones for dementia?
38:15 - Exciting next steps for future of brain health
