Overview

Delving into the recent discovery of the brain's immune system, Dr. Monty Lyman reveals the extraordinary implications for our physical and mental health. Until a decade ago, we misunderstood a fundamental aspect of human health. Although the brain and the body have always been viewed as separate entities--treated in separate hospitals--science now shows that they are intimately linked.Startlingly, we now know that our immune system is in constant communication with our brain and can directly alter our mental health. This has opened up a new frontier in medicine. Could inflammation cause depression, and could arthritis drugs cure it? Can gut microbes alter your mood? Can something as simple as brushing your teeth properly reduce your risk of dementia? Could childhood infections lie behind neurological and psychiatric disorders such as tics and obsessive compulsive disorder? In The Immune Mind, Dr. Monty Lyman explores the fascinating connection between the mind, immune system, and microbiome. A specialist in the cutting-edge field of immuno-psychiatry, Lyman argues that we need to change the way we treat disease and the way we see ourselves. For the first time, we have a new approach to medicine that treats the whole human being.

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9781635769876

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Reviews

"""Dr. Lyman takes the complicated science of neuroimmunology and turns it into an exciting wargame complete with defensive battalions, special forces, reconnaissance ships and friendly fire. While technical and bang up-to-date, the narrative never loses sight of the potential victims, and illnesses both physical and mental. Indeed, The Immune Mind is not so much about biological science or cognitive science but the inseparability of the two and ultimately, what it is to be human."" --Professor Andrew David, neuropsychiatrist and director of the University College London Institute for Mental Health ""A thrilling exploration of how our immune system governs our mental health, all interwoven with Dr. Lyman's practical advice on safeguarding your well-being. As someone with depression and dementia in the family, I found every page to contain an observation that was invaluable. This absorbing and beautifully written book changes the way we need to view health."" --Dr. Joseph Jebelli, neuroscientist and author of In Pursuit of Memory ""It is very common for scientists to specialize in one subject, gradually developing a deep but narrow understanding of their field. In my work developing vaccines against pathogens that have the potential to cause outbreaks and pandemics, I need to work with colleagues from many different disciplines in order to be effective. In this book Dr Lyman makes a fascinating connection that is new to me, delving into interactions between the immune system and the conscious mind. A thoroughly thought-provoking read."" --Dame Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and developer of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Praise for The Remarkable Life of the Skin: A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week Shortlisted for the 2019 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize ""Lyman's goal is . . . to teach readers to appreciate an organ that is often 'invisible in plain sight' . . . Lyman attempts a comprehensive look at skin [with] sections on touch, pain, the history of tattoos, the science of melanin, how different religions view nudity, and how our skin's exposure to the sun affects our broader health . . . In a chapter called 'Skin Safari, ' Lyman gives a tour of the denizens of our skin . . . Bear in mind that the skin microbiome has always been with us, and includes at least as many microorganisms as you have cells in your entire body--maybe three times as many. It is you, in a very real way, and it serves purposes we're only beginning to understand."" --New Yorker ""Peels back the layers of our largest and most versatile organ to reveal its physical, social, and psychological features . . . Lyman conveys both the science of the skin as well as its many wonders and paradoxes while imparting much practical advice on its care . . . This brilliant synthesis will be an engrossing read for anyone interested in human health and biology."" --Library Journal (starred review) ""Our skin is much more than organic bubble wrap that keeps our 'insides' safely where they belong . . . Common dermatological diseases are deftly discussed [and] tantalizing tidbits of information abound . . . The many wonders of skin are superbly detailed in Lyman's thoughtful, informative treatise."" --Booklist (starred review)"

"""Dr. Lyman takes the complicated science of neuroimmunology and turns it into an exciting wargame complete with defensive battalions, special forces, reconnaissance ships and friendly fire. While technical and bang up-to-date, the narrative never loses sight of the potential victims, and illnesses both physical and mental. Indeed, The Immune Mind is not so much about biological science or cognitive science but the inseparability of the two and ultimately, what it is to be human."" --Professor Andrew David, neuropsychiatrist and director of the University College London Institute for Mental Health ""A thrilling exploration of how our immune system governs our mental health, all interwoven with Dr. Lyman's practical advice on safeguarding your well-being. As someone with depression and dementia in the family, I found every page to contain an observation that was invaluable. This absorbing and beautifully written book changes the way we need to view health."" --Dr. Joseph Jebelli, neuroscientist and author of In Pursuit of Memory ""It is very common for scientists to specialize in one subject, gradually developing a deep but narrow understanding of their field. In my work developing vaccines against pathogens that have the potential to cause outbreaks and pandemics, I need to work with colleagues from many different disciplines in order to be effective. In this book Dr Lyman makes a fascinating connection that is new to me, delving into interactions between the immune system and the conscious mind. A thoroughly thought-provoking read."" --Dame Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and developer of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Praise for The Remarkable Life of the Skin: A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week Shortlisted for the 2019 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize ""Lyman's goal is . . . to teach readers to appreciate an organ that is often 'invisible in plain sight' . . . Lyman attempts a comprehensive look at skin [with] sections on touch, pain, the history of tattoos, the science of melanin, how different religions view nudity, and how our skin's exposure to the sun affects our broader health . . . In a chapter called 'Skin Safari, ' Lyman gives a tour of the denizens of our skin . . . Bear in mind that the skin microbiome has always been with us, and includes at least as many microorganisms as you have cells in your entire body--maybe three times as many. It is you, in a very real way, and it serves purposes we're only beginning to understand."" --New Yorker ""Peels back the layers of our largest and most versatile organ to reveal its physical, social, and psychological features . . . Lyman conveys both the science of the skin as well as its many wonders and paradoxes while imparting much practical advice on its care . . . This brilliant synthesis will be an engrossing read for anyone interested in human health and biology."" --Library Journal (starred review) ""Our skin is much more than organic bubble wrap that keeps our 'insides' safely where they belong . . . Common dermatological diseases are deftly discussed [and] tantalizing tidbits of information abound . . . The many wonders of skin are superbly detailed in Lyman's thoughtful, informative treatise."" --Booklist (starred review)"

Author Information

Dr. Monty Lyman, an Academic Clinical Fellow at the University of Oxford, is a medical doctor, researcher, and author who specializes in relationships between the mind and the immune system. His first book, The Remarkable Life of the Skin, was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize, was one of the Sunday Times Best Books of 2019, and was a Radio 4 Book of the Week. An Essay from his second book, The Painful Truth, won the 2020 Royal Society of Medicine's Pain Medicine Prize.

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