An Existential Crisis for Alzheimer's Research?
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
Release Date: 02/28/2026
Can This Vaccine Help Prevent Alzheimer's?
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
Can a shingles vaccine cut your dementia risk by 20%? A series of landmark studies — published in Nature, Cell, and JAMA — say yes. In this episode, Tommy unpacks the research: how natural experiments in four countries produced one of the most compelling signals in dementia prevention, what might explain the effect beyond infection prevention, and what it means for your own vaccination decisions. In this episode: 00:00 — Introduction 00:52 — The new data on shingles vaccination and Alzheimer's risk 01:48 — The Stanford group and their regression discontinuity methodology 03:15 —...
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Can a Blood Test Predict Alzheimer's?
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
A claims a blood test can predict when you’ll develop Alzheimer’s disease, and it got a lot of attention. But how well does it actually work, and should you rush out and get tested? In this episode, we break down the study behind the headlines to understand what it really shows, where the major limitations lie, and what it means for anyone thinking about getting this kind of test. Topics and Questions Covered What P-Tau 217 is and why it’s become the leading blood-based biomarker in Alzheimer’s research. How researchers built a predictive “clock” from blood test data and what...
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An Existential Crisis for Alzheimer's Research?
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
In this episode, we discuss a study published in PLOS One that compared living brain tissue to post-mortem brain tissue and found dramatic molecular differences between the two. The findings raise serious questions about decades of Alzheimer’s research built on post-mortem analysis and may help explain why pharmaceutical treatments for the disease have been so disappointing Study: -------------- To submit a question for us to answer on the podcast, go to . To subscribe to the free Better Brain Fitness newsletter, join us when we record live, and get our Guide and Checklist to...
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Video Games That Boost Brain Function
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
In this episode, we explore a examining how action video games, particularly first and third-person shooters, affect cognitive function in young adults. The research reveals promising evidence that these games can enhance processing speed and selective attention, with the strongest benefits coming from games requiring rapid environmental responses and decision-making under time pressure. What we discussed: How action video games like Halo and Call of Duty improve processing speed and selective attention more than traditional brain training apps Why games requiring rapid responses to the...
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Does Computerized Brain Training Help?
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
In this episode, we dig into a recent McGill University study on computerized cognitive training and its effects on brain chemistry in older adults. What you’ll learn: Why certain brain training games reversed a decade of age-related cognitive decline in just 10 weeks—and how researchers finally measured actual biological changes in the brain The critical difference between activities that genuinely enhance your brain versus mental junk food like Candy Crush or Solitaire The single organizing principle you can use to evaluate whether any cognitive activity is actually helping your...
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What's Wrong With The New Food Pyramid.
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
In this episode, we dive into guidelines to figure out what all the fuss is about, whether that fuss is warranted, and whether we should even be issuing dietary guidelines to begin with! Topics and Questions Covered The updates: A breakdown of the specific shifts regarding protein prioritization, full-fat dairy, and whole grain recommendations. The visual shift in nutrition: The transition from the “MyPlate” model to the inverted pyramid visual and the symbolism and subtext behind the change. Individualization vs. Population health: Why a “one-size-fits-all” approach to nutrition...
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#90: This Brain Aging Study Is Our New Favorite!
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
Much of what we talk about on Better Brain Fitness resolves around the demand-driven decline model we published. Well...a new study just published in Nature Communications gave that model the best test to date, and the results are pretty darn exciting. So of course we had to do an episode about it! The study looks at the relationship between brain aging and creative activities like music, dance, art, and video gaming. Tommy walks through the study and explains why this matters for anyone thinking about their long-term cognitive health. What You’ll Learn: A more sensitive way to measure...
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#89: How to Neutralize the Impact of Hearing Loss on Dementia Risk
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
In this episode, we tackle a question from listener Carolyn in Michigan about the potential cognitive impacts of long-term hearing loss. What You’ll Learn: The research linking hearing loss to increased dementia risk and what the evidence actually shows How hearing aids impact the risk of cognitive decline The mechanisms behind why hearing loss might affect brain health Practical strategies for maintaining cognitive health when dealing with hearing loss Innovative technologies for hearing loss that could provide new forms of cognitive stimulation To submit a question for us to...
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#88: Are Microplastics Causing Dementia?
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
You may have heard the alarming headline about a recent study that showed the typical brain had about a teaspoon of microplastics inside of it. And that amount appears to be increasing each year. In equally alarming fashion, that same study also revealed that those with dementia had over 5 times the amount of plastic in their brains as those without. Needless to say, it’s an issue worth paying attention to. So, in this episode, we break down what is known about microplastics and their impact on brain health, and we discuss the specific measures we’re both taking to reduce our own exposure...
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#87: Hacking the Brain: TMS, Brain-to-Brain Communication, and Predicting Your Cognitive Future (with Dr. Andrea Stocco)
Better Brain Fitness with Drs. Josh Turknett and Tommy Wood
To submit a question for us to answer on the podcast, go to . To subscribe to the free Better Brain Fitness newsletter, join us when we record live, and get our Guide and Checklist to essential blood tests and nutrients, go to: . Intro and Outro music composed and produced by .
info_outlineIn this episode, we discuss a study published in PLOS One that compared living brain tissue to post-mortem brain tissue and found dramatic molecular differences between the two.
The findings raise serious questions about decades of Alzheimer’s research built on post-mortem analysis and may help explain why pharmaceutical treatments for the disease have been so disappointing
Study: A Study of RNA Splicing and Protein Expression in the Living Human Brain
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To submit a question for us to answer on the podcast, go to brainjo.academy/question.
To subscribe to the free Better Brain Fitness newsletter, join us when we record live, and get our Guide and Checklist to essential blood tests and nutrients, go to: betterbrain.fitness.
To learn more about how you can boost brain fitness with neuroscience-based musical instruction, head to brainjo.academy.
Intro and Outro music composed and produced by Julienne Ellen.