Tommy Wood, M.D. and assistant professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington, sits down with Mike Giardina to discuss how muscle mass and metabolic health affect cognition. Dr. Wood also explains why the gut may be more metabolically flexible than most people think.
What does muscle mass have to do with cognition? According to Dr. Wood, muscle mass increases strength and physical function, which seems to be the biggest contributor to cognitive function. There are a few reasons for this. One is the process of training and neurological stimulus that comes with it. Think about learning complex movements like the snatch, clean and jerk, or even a double-under. A lot of neurological adaptation is required to become efficient in these movements. Other explanations include lactate and its effect on the brain as well as increased glucose uptake with an increase in muscle mass. And lastly, more function allows for more stimulus in areas outside the gym.
When it comes to the metabolic flexibility of the gut microbiome, Dr. Wood uses ancestral culture in the extremes to help explain how the microbiome can be as flexible as humans. Just like humans, the gut microbiome can use different macronutrients for fuel. The key to a healthy gut is not necessarily eating high amounts of fiber but making sure your food sources are of a high quality.
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Mike Does MHS: Training To Increase Cognition, Eating for a Healthy Gut