We received a question from listener George in Dallas who asked about our thoughts on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a therapeutic tool for the brain. So we decided to bring in an expert on that topic, Dr. Andrea Stocco of the University of Washington, and pick his brain on it!
What you’ll learn:
How TMS actually works – from its origins in diagnosing motor neuron diseases to its current uses in research and clinical treatment, including the surprising limitations of this “brain surgery with a sharp stone”
The real evidence for TMS in treating depression and Alzheimer’s – what the clinical trials show, why regulatory approval has been challenging, and why personalization may be the missing piece
Brain-to-brain communication experiments – the straight from science fiction story of how Dr. Stocco and colleagues used TMS to transmit thoughts between people in different locations, controlling one person’s hand movements with another person’s brain signals!
Why brain age matters more than chronological age – how cognitive trajectories diverge dramatically in our 60s and 70s, and why measuring your “brain age” could be the key to prevention
The breakthrough cognitive test you can’t study for – Dr. Stocco’s adaptive assessment tool that measures your true cognitive capacity, predicts Alzheimer’s risk years in advance, and may soon be available for personal use
Simple lifestyle levers with massive impact – why walking after dinner, reducing sugar, and staying socially engaged could dramatically alter your cognitive trajectory (and why timing matters)
The future of accessible cognitive monitoring – how rural communities and organ transplant patients are already benefiting from at-home brain health tracking
