Change Your Mind with New Scientist – Details, episodes & analysis

In the very first episode of Change Your Mind, New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson tackle one of the most common, and misunderstood, mental health challenges: anxiety. Why do some people bounce back from stress while others feel trapped in a constant state of alarm? And why is anxiety rising so sharply, especially among younger generations? Helen opens up about her own experiences with overwhelming anxiety, from panic on a flight home to the quieter daily dread that so many people hide beneath the surface. Together, Cat and Helen cut through the social media quick fixes to explore what neuroscience really tells us about anxious minds. They’re joined by psychotherapist, former NHS clinical lead and bestselling author Owen O’Kane, whose radically compassionate approach reframes anxiety not as a flaw to eliminate, but as a protective system that’s working overtime. Drawing on neuroscience, therapy and personal experience, Owen explains why calming the body must come before calming the mind and shares practical strategies that can genuinely help. We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to changeyourmind@newscientist.com Learn more about Anxiety:  https://www.newscientist.com/definition/anxiety/ Learn more our sponsor Alzheimer’s Association:  newscientist.com/alzheimers-society

Change Your Mind from New Scientist brings you the brain health advice you really need to know. Every week, award‑winning science journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson cut through wellness hype to find out what actually keeps your mind sharp, your mood steady and your memory strong. As friends, they’ve spent decades swapping stories, testing trends and exploring the latest neuroscience, and thought it was about time to share the tips and tricks that have genuinely changed their own lives.From cold plunges to coffee, supplements to sleep, Ozempic and AI they speak to leading experts and ask: does this really work? Expect smart conversations, clear answers, and practical takeaways - with plenty of laughs along the way.Because when you understand your brain, you really can change your mind - for the better. Look out for our first episode tomorrow and subscribe so you never miss our episodes each Thursday.

If the wellness industry has you wondering whether your daily supplements are helping your brain, or just draining your bank account, this episode is for you. New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson reveal the science behind multivitamins, omega-3s, vitamin D, creatine and more, separating the snake oil from the evidence that actually stands up. Along the way, they unpack why even the most scientifically minded people can fall for wellness trends, how social media has transformed the supplement boom, and what researchers are really discovering about brain health as we age. They’re joined by Harvard professor and physician JoAnn Manson, who has led some of the largest and most rigorous studies ever conducted on supplements and cognition. From surprising findings on multivitamins to the truth about chocolate, fish oils and “brain boosting” pills, this episode explores what’s worth paying attention to, and what might be better left on the shelf. We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to ⁠changeyourmind@newscientist.com⁠ Learn more about supplements:  https://www.newscientist.com/article-topic/supplements/ Learn more our sponsor Alzheimer’s Association:  ⁠newscientist.com/alzheimers-society⁠ Produced by Emily Bird

Manifestation has gone mainstream. From vision boards and affirmations to TikTok trends promising abundance and success, millions of people believe they can turn their thoughts into reality. But is there any science behind it? In this episode of Change Your Mind, New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson investigate the neuroscience of manifestation. Can visualising your goals really change your behaviour? Why does the brain focus so heavily on negative outcomes? And could techniques often dismissed as "woo" actually help you achieve what you want? Joining them is neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan, who explains what happens in the brain when we focus our attention, challenge limiting beliefs and imagine future success. Together, they explore the surprising links between manifestation, neuroplasticity and goal-setting and reveal why the real power may not lie in the universe, but in your own mind. We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to ⁠changeyourmind@newscientist.com⁠ Learn more about Manifesting https://www.newscientist.com/article/2480659-can-imagining-a-better-future-really-make-it-come-true/ Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer’s Society: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.newscientist.com/alzheimers-society/⁠⁠⁠ Produced by Emily Bird

If you’ve ever wondered whether the cold‑water swimming craze is a genuine brain booster or just a very chilly fad, this episode is for you. New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson plunge into the science behind cold dips, ice baths and saunas, asking whether they really can lift mood, protect the brain and build resilience, or if a warm pool and a chat with friends would do just as much. Along the way, Cat and Helen explore why so many people feel transformed by getting into very cold water, and what might really be driving those post‑swim highs. Is it something special happening inside the brain and body or the simple magic of nature, community and ritual?  They’re joined by Professor Mike Tipton, a world‑leading expert in how our bodies respond to extreme environments. Together, they ask: in an age of central heating and air conditioning, have we made ourselves too comfortable for our brains and bodies’ own good?  We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to changeyourmind@newscientist.com Learn more about Cold-water swimming:https://www.newscientist.com/article/2506082-cold-water-swimming-has-benefits-for-the-brain-as-well-as-the-body/  Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer’s Society: ⁠⁠https://www.newscientist.com/alzheimers-society/⁠⁠ Produced by Emily Bird

What if the key to a healthier brain isn't in your head at all? This week on Change Your Mind, Health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson dive into the fascinating world of the gut microbiota, to ask whether the trillions of microbes living inside us could be influencing everything from our mood and stress levels to how we think and feel. With microbiome testing kits, probiotics and gut-health products booming in popularity, how much of the hype is backed by science? Can changing what you eat really alter your mental health? And do fermented foods, fibre supplements and expensive gut tests actually deliver on their promises? To separate fact from fiction, we speak to one of the world's leading microbiome researchers, Professor Ted Dinan, to find out what decades of research reveal about the gut-brain connection.  Produced by Emily Bird We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to ⁠⁠changeyourmind@newscientist.com Find out more about the microbiome at New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article-topic/microbiome/  Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer’s Society: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.newscientist.com/alzheimers-society/⁠⁠⁠ Sources:  https://www.factmr.com/report/gut-microbiome-testing-kit-market  https://mybioma.com/en/pages/analysis  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5501039/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23910373/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21876150/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2502203-the-gut-microbiome-may-play-a-role-in-shaping-our-personality/  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33609-xhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28661940/

In this episode of Change Your Mind, Science Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson ask whether brain training is finally shaking off its flaky reputation and if a simple computer game could really cut your risk of dementia. For years, Sudoku and brain game apps promised to “keep your brain young”, then were largely dismissed as only making you better at the game itself. So why is brain training back in the headlines now? Cat speaks to Professor Marilyn Albert, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins, about her study that recently linked a specific kind of speed‑processing training to a 25% lower risk of dementia.  But is this finding too good to be true? Or should we all be signing up to give this brain training game a go?  Produced by Emily Bird We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to ⁠⁠⁠changeyourmind@newscientist.com⁠ Find out more about Brain Training and dementia at New Scientist Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer’s Society

Microplastics can be found everywhere from freshly falling Antarctic snow to the bottom of the Mariana Trench and our brains are no exception. In this episode of Change Your Mind with New Scientist, Health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson trace the origins of microplastics and nanoplastics to tell the story of how they end up in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. There’s no question that these tiny plastic particles are in all of our bodies, but are they causing any harm there?   With the help of “godfather of microplastics” Professor Richard Thompson, they explore what decades of animal studies really show about development, fertility, behaviour and brain health and why it’s so hard to get definitive answers in humans. Are microplastics really building up in our brains, and if so, what might that mean for memory, mood or dementia risk? Should you be worried about your non-stick pans, plastic water bottles or synthetic clothes?  Produced by Emily Bird We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to ⁠⁠⁠changeyourmind@newscientist.com⁠ Find out more about the microplastics at New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article-topic/microplastic/ Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer’s Society: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.newscientist.com/alzheimers-society/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sources:  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr8243#sec-3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36867907/ https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/924520 https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822 https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1120173  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04324-7

Health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson just want some time to themselves... but not everyone feels that way, for others moments alone can be deeply uncomfortable. Research shows that solitude could be incredibly important for our mental health, so whether we’re craving it or avoiding we should probably learn how to do it right,  In this episode of Change Your Mind from New Scientist, Helen and Cat explore the surprising science of solitude. Including how it differs from loneliness, and why time alone can sometimes even improve our connections with other people. They’re joined by Professor Netta Weinstein, a psychologist at the University of Reading and co-author of Solitude: The Power and Science of Being Alone, to ask how much time alone is actually good for your brain? And how do you make the most of your alone time to restore your mood, creativity and patience?  Produced by Emily Bird We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to ⁠⁠⁠⁠changeyourmind@newscientist.com⁠⁠ Find out more about the Solitude at New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134840-400-how-mastering-the-art-of-being-alone-can-boost-your-mental-health/⁠  Make space for solitude over the holidays: ⁠https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835751-800-why-it-is-important-to-make-space-for-solitude-over-the-festive-season/⁠ Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer’s Society: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.newscientist.com/alzheimers-society/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sources Mindset: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11705512/ Digital strain https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26935790-200-the-internet-feels-super-lonely-right-now-heres-why/