Tommy Wood MD PhD: Brain Health, CTE & Dementia Risk – TFP #033
Tommy Wood MD PhD: Brain Health, CTE & Dementia Risk – TFP #033  
Podcast: The Feldman Protocol
Published On: Sun Jun 07 2026
Description: In this episode of The Feldman Protocol, can the environment you go home to matter more than the brain injury itself? Tommy Wood (MD PhD) makes the case that how you use your brain is the primary driver of how it functions — then digs into CTE mechanics, the myth of the brain "sloshing" in the skull, why animal models of concussion may fundamentally miss the point, ketogenic diets and mental health, AI as orthotic vs. prosthetic, and why obsessing over sleep data might hurt you more than poor sleep.🔥 This episode is sponsored by us --Own Your Labs 👉 `https://ownyourlabs.com/sp/33` Private blood testing services🩸Over 300 blood tests💰Extremely affordable❤️ We love our customers(Yes, we are literally funding the entire podcast from our own company -- so if you want to show your support, keep getting your private blood testing through our service. Thank you! 🙏)🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN:Main Channel: `https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldman`X/Twitter: `https://x.com/realDaveFeldman`Instagram: `https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldman`Website: `https://thefeldmanprotocol.com`⏱ Chapters3:04 – Tommy's background & book origin6:03 – Medicine vs. research career path9:27 – UK vs. US medical debt & freedom13:40 – How Tommy became a brain person17:14 – The Stimulated Mind: core themes21:37 – Use it to improve it: the science26:34 – Brain specialization trade-offs34:32 – Human cognition: 10 bits/second39:06 – Blindfolded Rubik's Cube & subroutines43:31 – Myth of multitasking46:03 – Neonatal brain injury research50:09 – Therapeutic hypothermia explained54:44 – Home environment predicts recovery58:39 – Rugby vs. American football & CTE1:00:19 – What CTE actually is1:06:40 – Brain doesn't slosh — the real mechanism1:11:05 – Why animal concussion models fail1:17:44 – The Q-collar: does it work?1:21:33 – Valsalva & protecting the brain1:28:32 – Nutrition & the brain: three levers1:38:28 – Ketogenic diet: then vs. now1:46:05 – Energy availability U-shaped curve1:51:26 – Insulin resistance & fat cell dynamics1:58:48 – Calories in/out vs. carb-insulin debate2:03:37 – The BROAD Study & behavior change2:12:36 – AI & LLMs: net benefit or detriment?2:17:09 – Orthotic vs. prosthetic framework2:21:08 – MIT essay study unpacked2:33:20 – Google effect & changing memory use2:40:11 – AI slop flooding academia2:47:15 – Artificial sweeteners & neurotoxicity2:50:04 – Why sleep is critical for the brain2:52:11 – Orthosomnia: when sleep tracking backfires2:57:58 – Where to find Tommy & the book#FeldmanProtocol #DaveFeldman #TommyWood #BrainHealth #Neuroscience #CTE #Concussion #KetogenicDiet #Ketones #AnimalModels #SleepScience #AIAndTheBrain #CognitiveFitness #Dementia #NeonatalBrainInjury #MetabolicHealth #NutritionScience #BrainTraining #PublishOrPerish #TheStimulatdMind