Massive new @Nature study: castration increases lifespan across vertebrates (zoo mammals, rodents, wild animals). This aligns with historical human data: Korean eunuchs lived 14-19 years longer than their peers. Your move, @Bryan_Johnson.

US pop music has grown darker and simpler over 50 years: words related to stress, anxiety and pressure increased from 1973 to 2023, tracking rising depression and anxiety. But during COVID, the trend reversed - listeners chose happier, less anxious music.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues, but the parent of all of the others.” – Cicero Now we have the data to back it up: gratitude increases happiness, builds stronger relationships, and lowers depression.

New OHSU study on life expectancy analysed 6 years of CDC data across U.S. counties. Insufficient sleep correlated with reduced life expectancy more strongly than: • Diet • Exercise • Loneliness Get your 7-9 hours.

A pattern I’ve noticed in successful people 1. Relentless persistence - willing to bang their head against a wall a million times 2. Ruthless prioritisation - able to focus on what matters and ignore what doesn’t 3. Irrational self-belief - delusional about their own capabilities

New review links microplastics to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s progression via: • Oxidative stress • Neuroinflammation • Blood-brain barrier disruption • Mitochondrial dysfunction • Direct interaction with disease proteins (β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein)

A common antidepressant (sertraline) cut repeat domestic violence reoffending by 44% when paired with counseling. First randomised controlled trial of medication for domestic violence prevention.

Plastic has been found in 77% of human blood samples tested. It's in our lungs, brains, and placentas. 10 ways to lower your exposure: 1. Ditch plastic tea bags. A single bag at 95°C releases 11.6 billion microplastics. Use loose-leaf with a steel infuser.

Almost 6 in 10 GPs surveyed by the BBC believe mental health problems are being over-diagnosed.

I’m a neuroscientist. You’d never keep your dog inside for 10 hours without a walk, skip its meals, or keep it up all night - so why treat your brain that way? Take yourself for a walk.

As a neuroscientist, here are 7 ways to trick your brain into doing difficult things: 1. Shrink the task to just two minutes. Your brain resists big commitments. So don't make one. - "Work out" → do one exercise. - "Clean the house" → pick up three items.

Neuroplasticity - your brain’s ability to rewire and adapt - doesn’t slow to a halt as you age. It stays active your whole life. As a neuroscientist, here are 6 ways to boost it at ANY age:

New study shows that a one-hour walk in the forest led to measurable changes in the brain’s stress centre.

Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee daily may slow biological aging in people with mental illness by ~5 years, based on new research from @BMJMentalHealth But the effect disappears above 4 cups.

Fluoride in drinking water does not negatively affect cognitive ability - and may actually provide benefit.

I regret to inform you that the things that matter most - a calm mind, a healthy body, and a loving home - cannot be bought. They must be earned. Slowly. Daily. Deliberately.

The happiest people I know have shorter to-do lists. Fewer ambitions. Fewer commitments. Fewer things demanding their attention. They’re not doing less - they’re doing less that doesn’t matter. You can fill your calendar or refine it. One looks successful. The other actually is.

A 40-year study found that staying active in midlife and beyond is linked to 40% lower dementia risk. The simplest thing you can do for your brain is take a walk.

As a neuroscientist, I observe this cycle daily: - Oversleep and miss morning light - Feel exhausted by afternoon - Can’t fall asleep at bedtime - Wake up late again Your brain requires morning light to set its internal clock. Skip it, and the pattern continues.

Living in a walkable place might be the most underrated health advantage. Coffee shop, restaurant, park - each destination adds steps you didn’t plan for.

A habit worth building: Tell people the specific impact they had on you. Not "thanks for everything." But, “the way you handled that meeting taught me confidence." Generic praise is forgotten. Most people have no idea what they do well. Show them.

New Nature study on the "Batman effect": When a pregnant woman boarded Milan trains alone, 38% offered seats. But when Batman boarded the same train, that jumped to 67%.

Handwritten notes beat typing for academic performance - even though typing produces MORE notes, according to a meta-analysis of 3000 students.

Repetition rewires Repetition rewires Repetition rewires As a neuroscientist, I can tell you: the brain doesn't distinguish between the habits that serve you and the ones that destroy you. The question isn't whether you'll change, but what you'll become.

Friendship might have a smell. A 2022 study found people with similar body odours were far more likely to instantly “click” as friends – an electronic nose even predicted positive stranger pairings with ~71% accuracy.

A new study finds testosterone is linked to men acting on conviction, not audience. Men got testosterone or placebo and chose between getting money or giving it to charity. Placebo men became more generous when watched while men on testosterone didn't.

Oxytocin receptors act as friendship accelerators. Prairie voles lacking them need double the time to bond. Warmth + time = connection. Keep showing up, even in small ways.

Don’t talk about your plans. Finish them. As a neuroscientist, sharing goals feels good, but it tricks your brain into thinking you’ve already won. Stay quiet. Do the work. Let your results speak for you.

Pets completely protect against mental decline from living alone. 9-year study of 7,945 older adults: People living alone with pets kept their mental sharpness just as well as those living with family. Your dog or cat might be saving your brain.

A single 25g dose of creatine boosts cognitive performance during sleep deprivation within 4 hours: - Language processing speed +29% - Numeric processing speed +24% - Logic processing speed +16% - Word memory +10% Brain scans confirmed increased cerebral creatine uptake.

Evening exercise reduces mortality risk by 61% in adults with obesity. Morning exercise only reduces it by 33%.

Google mapped ONE millimeter of brain tissue - revealing 57,000 cells and 150 million synapses. Every one of those connections can strengthen, weaken, or rebuild based on your daily choices. Here are 6 evidence-based ways to reshape your brain through neuroplasticity:

As someone with an MD doing a PhD in neuroscience, I can tell you this: the smartest people are all self-taught, even if they went to school.

“Equating time with money undervalues life. Life cannot be measured in hourly wages. Time is the substance of living, not merely currency to trade.” This scientist reveals how to rewire your brain to invest time in what truly matters to you.

I’m a neuroscientist. You’d never keep your dog inside for 10 hours without a walk, skip its meals, or keep it up all night - so why treat your brain that way? Take yourself for a walk.

A 15-year study of 1,688 adults found that people using saunas 4-7 times per week had a 77% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular events compared to once-weekly users.

Biggest fitness myth? That weights are a young man's domain. The reality is the gym is for everyone: 70-year-olds deadlifting, women crushing PRs, folks treating their anxiety and depression. Strength training is everyone's tool for a stronger brain & body.

Caffeine can increase how long people persist in trying to complete difficult tasks when stressed. Coffee may help you power through when times get tough.

Tired of being tired? As a neuroscientist, here’s 10 proven fixes to help you rest better at night: 1. Keep a consistent schedule. Same 30-minute window = 36% less insomnia.

Researchers @TheLancet identified 12 lifestyle choices that impact your dementia risk. Here what to do to reduce your risk: 👇 1. Protect your ears Mild hearing loss doubles risk of dementia

Light exposure predicts mental health in a study of 85,000 people. 1. More daylight → ↓ depression, anxiety, PTSD 2. More light at night → ↑ 30% risk for depression

Study finds that L-theanine (found in tea) combined with caffeine improves reaction time, accuracy, and alertness more than caffeine alone. Tea may beat coffee for cognitive performance.

Regular caffeine consumption is linked to a 25% lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease in a meta-analysis of 26 studies. The protective effect persists even after accounting for other lifestyle factors.

New study found blocking mobile internet for 2 weeks led to: 1. 73% better well-being 2. 70% improved mental health 3. 59% sharper focus/attention Why? This study found making phones “just phones” led to more exercise, socialising & time in nature.

Elite athletes turned off devices 30 min before bed + used morning bright light for 2 weeks. Result: Better jumps, faster reactions - but sleep stayed the same. Light timing may matter more than you think.

Stop taking your phone to the bathroom. Stop using your phone when you’re eating. Stop checking it during every moment of downtime. The brain wasn’t designed for this level of stimulation. Try experimenting with doing nothing again.

Meditation practitioners showed cortical thickening in sensory, cognitive, and emotional processing regions—evidence of adult neuroplasticity through mental training. Neuroplasticity doesn't expire with youth.

That coworker who’s always people pleasing? That friend who always needs to be the center of attention? The traits in others that trigger you most are often ones you recognise in yourself. Jekyll’s real horror wasn’t meeting Hyde - it was recognising him.

Cataract surgery linked with a 29% lower dementia risk in a study of 3038 adults. Treating vision loss through cataract removal could be a dementia prevention strategy.

Study finds >7g/day of olive oil (about ½ Tbsp) associated with 28% lower dementia-related mortality, regardless of overall diet quality. Consider replacing butter or vegetable oil with olive oil when cooking.