The Immune Mind

You've heard that a healthy body means a healthy mind - but why?

Following the exciting discovery of new anatomy in the brain, Dr Monty Lyman reveals the extraordinary implications for our physical and mental health.

Could inflammation cause depression, and arthritis drugs cure it?

Can gut microbes shape your behaviour through the vagus nerve?

Can something as simple as brushing your teeth properly reduce your risk of dementia?

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.

In The Immune Mind, Dr Monty Lyman explores the fascinating connection between the mind, immune system and microbiome, offering practical advice on how to stay healthy. A specialist in the cutting-edge field of immunopsychiatry, 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.

Review

Rich, playful and illuminating... a breezy and delightful read... I highly recommend for its comprehensive, eye-opening overview of the interplay between the immune system, mind and gut microbiome. -- Grace Wade ― New Scientist

It is very common for scientists to specialise 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, author of Vaxxers

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 Anthony David, author of Into the Abyss: a neuropsychiatrist’s notes on troubled minds

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 view health. -- Dr Joseph Jebelli, author of How the Mind Changed

Superbly written with excellent insights into the connection between our immune system and mental wellbeing. Highly recommended, and one of the best non-fiction books I've read! -- Dr Rupy Aujla, MBBS, BSc, MRCGP, The Doctor's Kitchen

About the Author

Dr Monty Lyman is a medical doctor, researcher and author who specializes in the relationship between the mind and the immune system. He is an Academic Clinical Fellow at the University of Oxford. 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.