What do you think?
The Shrinking Brain: The Role of the Environment in Its Evolution and Future
The Shrinking Brain explores the relationship between human evolution, nutrition, the environment and brain health, arguing that the conditions that enabled the human brain to evolve are now being undermined by modern food systems and environmental degradation.
Michael A Crawford and David E Marsh examine the origins and evolution of the human brain, the role of essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and DHA, and the importance of marine and terrestrial food sources in supporting brain development. Drawing on decades of scientific research, they explore how nutrition before conception, during pregnancy and throughout life can influence mental health, cognitive development and the wellbeing of future generations.
The authors connect declining brain health with wider global challenges including food production, environmental damage, climate change and the growing burden of mental ill-health. They argue that improving nutrition and protecting the natural systems that provide essential brain nutrients could help address several of these crises at the same time.
This revised second edition brings together research on evolution, epigenetics, neuroscience, nutrition and environmental science to make the case for placing brain health at the centre of food, health and environmental policy.
That reflects the book’s own stated explaining the relationship between environmental conditions, nutrition, brain development, mental health and the future of humanity.
Michael A Crawford and David E Marsh examine the origins and evolution of the human brain, the role of essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and DHA, and the importance of marine and terrestrial food sources in supporting brain development. Drawing on decades of scientific research, they explore how nutrition before conception, during pregnancy and throughout life can influence mental health, cognitive development and the wellbeing of future generations.
The authors connect declining brain health with wider global challenges including food production, environmental damage, climate change and the growing burden of mental ill-health. They argue that improving nutrition and protecting the natural systems that provide essential brain nutrients could help address several of these crises at the same time.
This revised second edition brings together research on evolution, epigenetics, neuroscience, nutrition and environmental science to make the case for placing brain health at the centre of food, health and environmental policy.
That reflects the book’s own stated explaining the relationship between environmental conditions, nutrition, brain development, mental health and the future of humanity.
505 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.