About this episode

Angela Foster and Dr. Tommy Wood discuss the link between leg strength and brain health in women over 40.

Angela and special guest Dr Tommy Wood explore the surprising, evidence-backed link between leg power and brain longevity. They discuss how relative leg strength acts as a primary predictor of cognitive processing speed in older adults, driven by the release of exerkines like IGF-1 which protect the brain’s white matter. They also reveal that you don't need to be an elite athlete to reap these benefits; simply reaching the top 25% of your demographic can significantly slash your risk of dementia and cognitive decline. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN Relative leg power (strength in proportion to body size) is a critical predictor of how quickly the brain processes information as we age. Strength training triggers the release of hormones like IGF-1, which are essential for maintaining the structure and insulation of the brain's white matter, You don't need infinite strength to protect your brain; reaching the top 25% to 33% of your demographic provides the most significant protection against mortality and dementia. Achieving these health benefits is possible with a modest commitment, such as two 45-minute sessions per week focusing on full-body resistance training. VALUABLE RESOURCES • Take…

People in this episode

Host: Angela Foster

Guest: Dr. Tommy Wood

Topics covered

• leg strength
• brain health
• cognitive processing
• dementia prevention
• strength training

Keywords

• leg power
• brain longevity
• cognitive decline
• IGF-1
• strength training

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BioSyncing

More episodes of High Performance Health

• Always Bloated, Foggy, and Exhausted in Perimenopause? Your Cell Membranes May Be Why | Jessica Kane · April 24, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Why Eating Tomatoes Shrinks Belly Fat in Perimenopause (The Brown Fat Trigger) | Dr. William Li · April 24, 2026 · 14 min
• Why Your Gut Is the Missing Link in Perimenopause | Cynthia Thurlow · April 20, 2026 · 1h 10m
• The Real Reason Women Over 40 Can't Lose Abdominal Fat (It's Not Calories) | Sarah Berry · April 17, 2026 · 8 min
• How Estrogen Decline Destroys Your Energy in Perimenopause (And How to Reverse it) · April 13, 2026 · 51 min
• Perimenopause Doctor: This is how you Fix Belly Fat, Brain Fog and Bloating with Mary Claire Haver, M.D · April 6, 2026 · 39 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the High Performance Health podcast page.