Cognitive decline as you age is not inevitable — but whether you keep your edge depends almost entirely on what you do right now. I sit down with Dr. Tommy Wood, a neuroscientist and performance consultant who works with Formula 1 teams. His book, The Stimulated Mind, changed how I think about staying mentally sharp.
We get into why sleep may be the most important factor in preventing cognitive decline, why retirement may be the most dangerous thing you can do to your brain, and the science behind "super agers" who keep their 50s brains into their 80s. Then we confront the question of A.I.: is it quietly making us dumber? We also cover the surprising exercise that beats the gym for your mind: dancing. And finally, we explain why you should be willing to suck when trying new things.