Change Your Mind with New Scientist

Have you noticed that ADHD seems to be everywhere these days? More and more people are talking about it, and diagnoses are on the rise. But does that mean more of us are actually developing ADHD, or are we simply getting better at recognising something that has always been there? We often associate ADHD with childhood hyperactivity, but the condition is more complex, and growing awareness is prompting more people to seek a diagnosis. So what distinguishes ADHD from everyday traits, and what’s happening in the brain? In this episode of Change Your Mind, health journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson explore the science of ADHD. They discuss how it can affect attention, motivation and emotional regulation, why it may be missed in girls and women, and how hormonal changes could influence symptoms. Joining them is neuroscientist Professor Ellie Dommett of King’s College London. Together, they look at what research can tell us about ADHD, the role of medication, and what evidence suggests about exercise and other ways to manage symptoms. Produced by Emily Bird Get in touch at [email protected] Find out more about ADHD at New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/topic/adhd/  Sources: ADHD history: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2585608-calling-adhd-a-myth-is-pseudoscientific-and-dangerous/ Two to three times more common in boys: https://aacap.org/AACAP/aacap/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/ADHD_Resource_Center/ADHD_A_Guide_for_Families/How_Common_is_ADHD.aspx Hormonal influence in women: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145478/ Explosion in diagnoses https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371467-adhd-whats-behind-the-recent-explosion-in-diagnoses/ Listen to Cat’s friends podcast Behaviour Blueprint about ADHD medication in children  https://open.spotify.com/show/1zoPMe66io0FcAnmQUHLXe?si=7934bd51fae9426e 

Chances are you’ve eaten something ultra-processed already today, but should you be worried?  Many of us have a sense that ultra-processed food could be harming our bodies, but what impact does it have on our brains? In this episode of Change Your Mind with New Scientist health Journalists Helen Thomson and Cat de Lange ask whether the food we eat is damaging our mental health, increasing our risk of dementia or even making us age prematurely. With help from doctor, broadcaster and researcher Chris van Tulleken they explore how ultra-processed food really impacts the brain and whether we should be making changes to our own diets.  Produced by Emily Bird  Get in touch at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about Ultra-processed foods at New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2519704-how-worried-should-you-be-about-ultra-processed-foods/ Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2499135-why-not-all-ultra-processed-foods-are-bad-for-you/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438428-is-ultra-processed-food-unhealthy-heres-why-no-one-can-agree/  Calories from UPF: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/oct/toddlers-get-nearly-half-their-calories-ultra-processed-foods https://www.ukri.org/news/families-left-in-dark-on-upfs-risks-to-children-ukri-dialogue/  Daniel Lieberman interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puRaNQpwW6U

We all know how important sleep is for our health, it’s a chance to rest our body and mind, but what if it’s also a vital opportunity for the brain to clear away waste?  In this episode of Change Your Mind, health journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson explore the glymphatic system, a hidden cleaning network deep in the brain that has alluded scientists for years. They’re asking how it helps keep the brain healthy, and why sleep could play such an important role. Joining them is Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist whose research helped uncover the system. Together, they look at how fluid moves through the brain, what scientists are learning about its links to sleep and conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and what might help support it. Produced by Emily Bird  Get in touch at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Find out more about the glymphatic system at New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2590514-can-we-harness-the-brains-deep-cleaning-system-to-prevent-alzheimers/

Series 3 of Change Your Mind with New Scientist is on it's way! But we couldn't leave you with nothing whilst we put together our next batch of myth-busting interviews with top brain experts. Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson share the very best tips and tricks they've picked up in their decades as Health Journalists. We learn how avoiding AI could give our brains a dopamine hit and How to really make a habit stick. Produced by Emily Bird

Bonus Brain Tips! Series 3 of Change Your Mind with New Scientist is on it's way! But we couldn't leave you with nothing whilst we put together our next batch of myth-busting interviews with top brain experts. Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson share the very best tips and tricks they've picked up in their decades as Health Journalists. We learn how protecting your hearing could be the secret to protecting against dementia and how to fight habituation and feel more alive. Produced by Emily Bird