In this episode of the Cutting Edge Health: Preventing Cognitive Decline podcast, host Jane Rogers interviews Dr. Chris Ring, a researcher from the University of Birmingham, about groundbreaking findings on brain endurance training (BET). Dr. Ring explains how combining cognitive exercises with physical workouts can enhance both mental and physical performance. His latest research shows that the negative effects of aging on performance, especially when feeling fatigued, can be mitigated by (1) regular physical activity and (2) combined cognitive and exercise priming before exercise. Originally designed for elite athletes, this approach involves doing short bursts of cognitive tasks—like memory games or attention tests—before or during exercise sessions.

Dr. Ring shares insights from a recent pilot study conducted in a small Spanish village, where older women who practiced BET showed notable improvements in both fitness and cognition compared to control groups. The conversation also touches on accessible ways for the public to implement BET using apps or simple brain tasks, even during workout breaks. Dr. Ring emphasizes the flexibility of the method and its potential to transform how we approach aging and brain health. The episode encourages listeners to rethink their fitness routines and incorporate mental challenges to boost long-term well-being.

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Professor Christopher Ring is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Birmingham's School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, where he has been a faculty member since 1995. He holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Hull and earned his MSc and PhD in Psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, specializing in cardiac psychophysics. Following his doctorate, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in respiratory psychophysiology at Ohio University.

Professor Ring's research encompasses a broad range of topics, including the role of baroreceptors in pain perception, cognitive and sensorimotor deficits in hypertension, the effects of exercise and mental stress on immune responses to vaccination, and psychological factors influencing athletic performance, such as choking under pressure and moral decision-making in sports. His work has garnered significant recognition, with over 150 research articles published and more than 11,000 citations.

In addition to his research, Professor Ring is a dedicated educator, teaching a popular third-year module on the psychophysiology of sport. He has supervised 30 doctoral students who have gone on to academic positions worldwide. University of Birmingham

Outside of academia, he is an avid golfer, continually exploring ways to improve his performance on the course.

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Cutting Edge Health podcast website: https://cuttingedgehealth.com/

Cutting Edge Health Social and YouTube:

YouTube channel: youtube.com/@cuttingedgehealthpodcast

Instagram - https://instagram.com/cuttingedgehealthpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Cutting-Edge-Health-Podcast-with-Jane-Rogers-101036902255756

Please note that the information provided in this show is not medical advice, nor should it be taken or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The Cutting Edge Health podcast, its employees, guests and affiliates assume no liability for the application of the information discussed.

Special thanks to Alan and Maria on the Cutting Edge Health team!

Transcript with time code: https://cuttingedgehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Transcript-49-Dr-Annie-Fenn.pdf

In this episode of the Cutting Edge Health: Preventing Cognitive Decline Podcast, host Jane Rogers interviews Dr. Annie Fenn, a former OBGYN who shifted careers after her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis to focus on preventing cognitive decline through nutrition. Dr. Fenn founded the Brain Health Kitchen and now educates others about the connection between food and brain health. She discusses the MIND diet, a scientifically-backed, brain-specific adaptation of the Mediterranean diet, highlighting 10 brain-healthy food groups—such as berries, leafy greens, nuts, legumes, and olive oil—and emphasizing the need to limit processed foods, red meat, and alcohol.

Think moderate drinking, especially red wine, is good for your brain? Dr. Annie Fenn challenges this long-held belief, citing groundbreaking research like the UK Biobank study. Discover the shocking truth: even moderate alcohol consumption (defined as 1 drink/day for women, 2 for men) can shrink your brain faster. Learn why this level is too much for healthy brain aging and why those with cognitive concerns should avoid alcohol altogether. Rethink your drink for better brain health!

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ANNIE FENN is a physician, chef, and author of The Brain Health Kitchen: Preventing Alzheimer’s Through Food (Artisan 2023), a science-based cookbook and care manual for the brain. She founded the Brain Health Kitchen, the only cooking school focused exclusively on helping people prevent cognitive decline through food and lifestyle. After twenty years as a board-certified ob-gyn, she traded in her stethoscope for an apron to pursue her passion for the culinary arts. But it was her mother's diagnosis with dementia that helped Fenn find her path and her new calling, one that enabled her to not only help her mother but also create significant and meaningful impact for others.

Dr. Fenn hosts Brain Health Retreats in Italy, Mexico, and Costa Rica. She writes Brain Health Kitchen, a twice-weekly newsletter on Substack to a large community of food-loving brain health enthusiasts, where she provides cooking classes, in-depth lifestyle guides, and recipes. Dr. Fenn is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Cincinnati and Harvard University, where she lectures young adults and medical students about brain health. Fenn lives in Jackson, Wyoming, where she enjoys skiing, cycling, foraging for mushrooms and berries, and exploring the Teton mountains with her husband and dogs.

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Cutting Edge Health podcast website: https://cuttingedgehealth.com/

Cutting Edge Health Social and YouTube:

YouTube channel: youtube.com/@cuttingedgehealthpodcast

Instagram - https://instagram.com/cuttingedgehealthpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Cutting-Edge-Health-Podcast-with-Jane-Rogers-101036902255756

Please note that the information provided in this show is not medical advice, nor should it be taken or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The Cutting Edge Health podcast, its employees, guests and affiliates assume no liability for the application of the information discussed.

Special thanks to Alan and Maria on the Cutting Edge Health team!

Transcript with time code: https://cuttingedgehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Transcript-48-Dr-Gill-Livingston.pdf

In this episode, host Jane Rogers speaks with Dr. Gill Livingston, leader of the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care. Dr. Livingston shares groundbreaking insights on 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia—including the latest additions of high cholesterol and uncorrected vision impairment. She explains how proactive lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline, covering topics like hearing loss, physical inactivity, depression, and air pollution. The conversation also explores the latest research, public policy initiatives, and the evolving global understanding of dementia prevention. Tune in to learn practical steps for safeguarding brain health and why it’s never too late to make a difference.

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Gill Livingston, MD, is an academic psychiatrist in the UK specializing in dementia research. As the leader of the Lancet Standing Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care, she has spearheaded landmark reports in 2017, 2020, and 2024. These reports provide new research, meta-analyses on life-course risk factors, and an overview of current interventions—offering critical insights into preventing and delaying a significant proportion of dementia cases.

Dr. Livingston works directly with individuals with suspected or confirmed dementia and their families. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates epidemiological and biopsychosocial research to develop and test evidence-based interventions. She recently co-led the successful DREAMS trial, which focused on improving sleep in dementia patients, and is now conducting a two-year follow-up study. Additionally, she and her colleagues are developing ENHANCE—an app-based intervention with personalized coaching designed to help individuals at high risk of cognitive decline maintain brain health.

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Cutting Edge Health podcast website: https://cuttingedgehealth.com/

Cutting Edge Health Social and YouTube:

YouTube channel: youtube.com/@cuttingedgehealthpodcast

Instagram - https://instagram.com/cuttingedgehealthpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Cutting-Edge-Health-Podcast-with-Jane-Rogers-101036902255756

Please note that the information provided in this show is not medical advice, nor should it be taken or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The Cutting Edge Health podcast, its employees, guests and affiliates assume no liability for the application of the information discussed.

Special thanks to Alan and Maria on the Cutting Edge Health team!