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In 2019, my father was given a mixed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. I didn’t know much about the illness, despite three of my four grandparents also having had it. Stepping in to be the main caregiver has taken me on a seven-year journey of discovery. Whilst sad, it’s been a transformational experience. Each day, I’ve been exposed to how the mind we take for granted interacts with a body we also often take for granted.

“My name is Robyn, and I am a nurse.”The first time I said those words as I walked through the door of my first job, after qualifying in December 2023, they felt strange. I remember thinking, I’m not a real nurse. I’m just a student Apparently that part was over. I had the qualification, the responsibility, and the title. But that isn’t what I’m here to talk about today. I want to talk about the journey of being a student nurse.

Two Kashmirs live on the same valley’s soil: one in its streets, the other in the memory of those who fled. Indian-administered Kashmir valley, once remembered for its breathtaking location, physical beauty and distinct culture, is now more often defined by politics, borders and history, while far less focus is given to the mental state of Kashmiris. The land of mystical poets, now entangled in geopolitical debates, highlights how geography shapes mental states differently ac

Our minds are built to react quickly and loudly to signs of danger, even when the real solution lies in addressing the underlying cause rather than the noise it creates. We panic at the symptoms and overlook the structure that produced them. And this is exactly where we find ourselves in the UK today. Crime and personal safety feel like growing concerns, yet the policies shaping our justice system are moving in the opposite direction of what communities may actually need.

With misinformation spreading through the rise of fake news and pseudoscience, the public is often left confused about science and research. This makes it even more important for scientists to share their work with the public in an accessible way, so we can learn directly from the source. Now, when I refer to scientists, this should also include future scientists or those studying the sciences. And it starts early. As students, we are constantly writing reports and essays.

Research increasingly shows that our mental and physical health are intertwined, influencing each other in complex and often surprising ways. One such example is the relationship between chronic illnesses and mental health disorders, where conditions like metabolic disease and depression can shape and reinforce one another over time. This connection becomes particularly evident when examining specific conditions in which mental and physical health interact in measurable and i

Back in 2023, we published a scientific article, along with a blog version, showing that the body’s immune response is linked to adolescent depression, and that these biological signals look different in boys and girls. We ended by asking whether bringing together what we know about adolescents’ backgrounds and their biology could help us identify who is at risk of developing depression. And here we are today, trying to answer that very question.

For some people, the days before a period bring mild irritability or low mood. For others, the emotional shift is so intense it can feel like becoming a different person entirely. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is far more than the occasional premenstrual mood swing. It is a severe, cyclical mood disorder that can disrupt relationships, work, social life, and a person’s sense of self.

Years of navigating a body that was misunderstood by the medical system, and inevitably missed by me, sparked a deep curiosity about the relationship between the physical and psychological experience. I now have the privilege to study that relationship formally, because I believe that science and lived experience should inform one another. I was in my early teens when my body began raising alarms – over and over again – alarms no one else could hear.

On April 15, we celebrate the birthday and legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, a true Renaissance master whose boundless curiosity bridged art, science, and invention. With an extraordinary talent for observation, he redefined creativity, leaving a timeless imprint as both an artist and a scientist, inspiring generations to come. In his research projects he showed us that creativity is born from infinite curiosity, from observing the world closely, and from being a good friend of ti

‘She’s a right little madam.’ You might think that was quite a mean thing for a parent to say about their child, wouldn’t you? Now imagine there is a little more context, that the parent said: ‘Oh Zoë’s a lovely little girl. She’s funny, sweet… except when she doesn’t get a lolly before bed, then she’s a right little madam!’ We can go a little further. Imagine the parent laughed after they said that. Suddenly not quite so bad, huh?

It was November 2004 when I received my comorbid diagnosis: Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia and Major Depressive Disorder. At age 14, this had been a huge relief and also the first time I encountered what the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) were. For the first time, I had a valid explanation for my feelings of impending doom, my breathlessness and dizziness, and my rapid heart rate.

As I approach the end of my master’s degree and find myself once again confronted by the question of what comes next, I am reminded of Sylvia Plath’s 1963 semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar. In this book, Plath beautifully illustrates indecision and future possibilities through her fig tree analogy. “I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked."

Pregnancy is a remarkable time of profound transformation for both the mother and the fetus. During these nine months, the pregnant person undergoes significant physical changes, including complex shifts in hormones and metabolism, which are essential to support the developing fetus. Alongside these physical demands, emotional challenges can increase levels of perceived stress and, in some cases, lead to mental health issues.

The impact of eating disorders on oral health is well documented, yet it remains an overlooked consequence of these complex mental health conditions. Research consistently shows that individuals with eating disorders often experience significantly poorer oral health than the general population, with an increased risk of dental erosion, tooth decay, gum problems, and dry mouth. Dentists are frequently among the first healthcare professionals to notice physical signs of underly

Food and nutrition are rarely thought of as an approach to improve symptoms of neurological disorders, yet for some people with epilepsy, changing what they eat can significantly reduce seizures. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes recurrent and unprovoked seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain and affects approximately 70 million people worldwide. The most common treatment for epilepsy is anti-seizure medication and for many people this treatme

“Everyone has ADHD nowadays”. It’s a phrase that has become almost unavoidable- repeated across social media, echoed by politicians and woven into everyday conversation. However, as a woman in my mid-twenties who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and autism, it is one that I find difficult to accept. For many people like me, receiving a diagnosis is not a trend, but a long-overdue explanation for patterns of behaviour that we have spent years trying to manage and make sen

A recent comment actor Timothée Chalamet made about ballet and opera in a recent interview with fellow actor Matthew McConaughey for Variety has dominated the headlines in the past few weeks. The Oscar-nominated Hollywood star has faced a strong backlash in response to his presumptuous remark that people no longer care about these art-forms – unlike they do about cinema. Some even speculated this misstep cost him the Academy Award for Best Actor for his leading role in Marty

There are countless approaches to try to explain why people think and behave in the ways that they do, and like many Inspire the Mind readers, I have always been interested in this question. As a teenager, I had heard about the ‘nature vs nurture’ debate, where scientists disagree over how much our traits and behaviours are determined by our genes, and how much they are shaped by the environment around us. Of course, the general answer tends to be: it’s a bit of both.

For many, football is a celebration. But for some families, match day can bring fear instead of excitement. During major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup or the European Championships, football often dominates conversations, social plans, and media coverage. Sport events for fanatics are a way to come together and support their favourite team, which creates a sense of unity, excitement, and shared identity. However, match days can bring anxiety and fear rather than enjo

What if the path to healing didn't start in your mind, but in your body? For many people living with trauma, chronic stress, or unexplained neurological symptoms, conventional approaches haven't brought relief. Somatic yoga is opening up new possibilities—not as a replacement for medical care, but as a powerful complement of working directly with the body's own capacity for regulation and change. I'm writing this as a somatic yoga practitioner and honorary researcher at King

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily known for its motor symptoms. However, a substantial proportion of people living with Parkinson’s have a wide range of non-motor symptoms, among which visual hallucinations are very frequent. Approximately 60% of patients are estimated to develop this symptom within 12 years of diagnosis. Dementia can be defined as a decline of thinking skills (for example, memory, language) that significantly interferes with dail

When I turned to my GP regarding the issues with my menstrual cycle, I expected more clarity. But after I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), I was more confused than ever before. It wasn't clearly explained what that meant but I was frankly advised to consider going on the oral contraceptive pill or changing my lifestyle to lose weight. At the time, that suggestion only fuelled my insecurities and anxiety.

In 1989, the reign of Romania’s Communist leader came to a sudden, brutal end when Nicolae Ceauşescu was executed by firing squad on live television. In the revolution that followed, an intrigued Western world rushed into a nation long sealed off from view – only to discover nearly 170,000 abandoned children being raised in warehouse-like orphanages.