Expert profile

Dr. Tommy Wood

Neuroscientist, Performance Scientist

Brain health • cognitive performance • lifestyle and neurological function

1Discussion
115 minAnalysed
Last reviewed: Mar 29, 2026·Credential: PhD, MD·First indexed: Mar 29, 2026

About the expert

Focus: Neuroscience, brain health, and lifestyle-performance optimisation

Dr. Tommy Wood is a neuroscientist and medical doctor whose research focuses on brain health, cognitive performance, and the impact of lifestyle factors on neurological function. He has worked as a performance scientist in elite sports including Formula 1 and applies neuroscience principles to human health optimisation.

Expert discussions with Dr. Tommy Wood

#1 Neuroscientist: "Even A Little Bit Of Alcohol, Caffeine & Sugar Does This To Your Life!"
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee (UK GP and media personality) and Dr. Tommy Wood (Cambridge/Stanford-trained neuroscientist and performance scientist) examine alcohol, caffeine, and sugar through individual-context and dietary-pattern lenses rather than universal good/bad rules. Recent population evidence has strengthened the public-health message that 'less is better' for alcohol even at low moderate intake (UK Biobank brain-volume signal); caffeine timing relative to sleep is now mainstream sleep-medicine guidance; ultra-processed-food evidence supports treating refined-sugar-heavy products as a broader category. The episode also covers continuous glucose monitor use (which can cause anxiety without clear behavioral benefit in non-diabetic users), exercise, and the protein leverage hypothesis. Both experts have substantial media profile and commercial exposure (Chatterjee through books, BBC, podcasts; Wood through performance-science consulting); the underlying scientific framing is generally well-calibrated.