As I recently stood in a bustling gallery, surrounded by bold colors, vibrant textures, and intriguing sculptures, I was struck by the realization of how much our environment shapes us. Each new sight, sound, and smell felt like a workout for my mind, sparking curiosity and wonder. Little did I know, this exposure to novelty was not only stimulating my imagination but also contributing to my brain’s adaptability, or neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reshape itself, adapt to changes, and improve mental resilience—a trait that becomes increasingly valuable as we age.

A fascinating 2023 study has shed light on how even simple environmental enrichments can enhance brain health. In this study, researchers found that when older adults were exposed to a pleasant fragrance in their bedrooms for two hours each night over six months, their memory capacity increased significantly. This kind of sensory stimulation—triggered by something as subtle as a scent—can improve our brain’s ability to form new connections, enhancing memory and other cognitive skills.

What is Neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity, or brain plasticity, is essentially the brain’s remarkable ability to evolve in response to experiences. It allows for learning new skills, adapting to different circumstances, and even recovering from injuries. While scientists are still studying the exact mechanisms of neuroplasticity, it’s understood that each new experience can lead to changes in the brain's neural pathways. This adaptability holds promise for not only enhancing cognitive function but also for delaying the onset of age-related mental decline.

How Neuroplasticity Works?

Breaking down the term “neuroplasticity” helps clarify its meaning: “neuro” refers to the nervous system, while “plasticity” points to changeability. Together, they describe the nervous system’s capability to rewire itself. Similar to how lifting weights builds muscle, engaging in challenging mental tasks builds cognitive “muscle.” Each time we tackle something unfamiliar, the brain creates new connections, reinforcing them with repetition.

One of the key ways to encourage neuroplasticity is through environmental enrichment, which includes engaging with diverse sensory experiences. For instance, spending time in nature, surrounding yourself with art, or exploring new places can stimulate your brain. By exposing your mind to fresh and engaging surroundings, you’re essentially training it to stay adaptable, making it more resilient in the face of cognitive decline.

Practical Tips to Build Your Own Neuroplasticity

- Seek out new experiences, whether it's trying a new hobby, visiting a different part of town, or simply changing up your daily routine. The brain thrives on novelty.

- Incorporate sensory elements like scents, music, or textured objects into your environment. These can be powerful tools in triggering neural growth.

- Physical exercise, especially aerobic activities, not only boosts physical health but also supports brain health by promoting neural connectivity.

- Learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, or solving puzzles keeps the brain active and reinforces neural pathways.

- Regular social interactions stimulate mental processes, fostering emotional and cognitive health.

- Practicing mindfulness or meditation can improve focus, emotional regulation, and help reshape neural pathways, reducing stress and enhancing mental clarity.

With a few intentional changes, we can use the concept of neuroplasticity to our advantage, keeping our brains engaged and resilient well into old age. Through new experiences, sensory engagement, and physical exercise, we can stimulate neuroplasticity, turning everyday activities into powerful brain-boosting exercises.

There has been a recent increase in aviation-related headlines and tragic incidents that has triggered renewed anxiety about air travel. This has happened to even those who have previously felt at ease about boarding a flight. Statistics have continued to show that flying is one of the safest ways to travel, whoever, the number of people who have been affected by the fear of flying, or aerophobia has only grown.

This is based on the reports from psychologists, airport staff, and airline crew suggested a noticeable uptick in passengers expressing nervousness about flying. This trend is not just limited to those who have a long-standing fear of air travel. This has now been affecting to even those who were not concerned about it before. This may be due to the increasing media coverage, heightened safety concerns, and ongoing stress from broader life circumstances.

The recent data from the industry reflects a decline in air travel during early spring. While some airlines have suggested economic uncertainty and reduced government travels, the evidence suggest that there have been concerns over safety and psychological toll on recent aviation events, which has led to the decline in numbers.

Flight crews, especially those based near recent accident locations, have also felt the impact. Some crew members have taken time off to cope emotionally, and in a few cases, even left the profession due to increased stress.

What Is Aerophobia?

As per Trauma Research UK, aerophobia is an irrational fear or anxiety related to flying or being in aeroplanes. It is a type of specific phobia, which is an excessive or irrational fear of a particular object, situation, or activity. People with aerophobia may also experience intense anxiety, panic attacks, or avoidance behaviour when faced with situations involving air travel, such as boarding a plane, visiting an airport or even just thinking about flying.

How Does It Start?

It usually starts like how all other phobias start, from a 'learned behaviour'.

Bad Experience: A bad experience can be anything from experiencing turbulence, experiencing some form of trauma whilst abroad, seeing a frightening film as a child or feeling unwell on a plane

Copying A Parent: A lot of behaviour that we often do comes from looking at our parents If as a child, you have witnessed a grown up, who is supposed to be your protector, be scared of flights. Chances are, you will be scared too.

Becoming A Parent: Your parental protection instincts have kicked in and this fear may accelerate and become a phobia.

Transference: This often occurs when facing a stressful event whilst on holiday. As you are sitting on the plane homeward bound, the suppressed anxiety and stress catch up with you, causing an anxiety attack.

Psychologists also suggest that as individuals take on more responsibilities—like starting families or advancing in careers—their sense of vulnerability can increase, sparking fears that didn’t exist before.

Traumatic flight experiences, such as severe turbulence, can also act as a trigger. In some cases, broader anxiety disorders—such as social or travel-related stress—intersect with aerophobia, compounding the fear.

What Are The Symptoms?

For some, the fear of flying can lead to full-blown panic attacks. These may involve shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, or a sense of being trapped. Airline crew members often assist passengers experiencing panic, sometimes administering oxygen or offering calming support during the flight.

How Can You Cope?

Deep breathing: Practicing longer exhales helps activate the body’s relaxation response.

Exposure therapy: This can involve gradually facing flight-related triggers—starting with looking at plane photos, watching flight videos, or using virtual reality simulations.

Mindfulness and acceptance: Learning to tolerate uncomfortable feelings rather than fight them can make anxiety more manageable.

Journaling symptoms: Some therapists recommend keeping a count of anxious moments to foster acceptance and track progress.

As times are changing, all of us are going back to traditional approaches, whether it is Ayurveda, Homoeopathy or Naturopathy. These are alternative medicines and are useful in treating many diseases, especially through lifestyle changes. Most of these alternative medicines focus on preventive care. Today, we try to find out what one might be in for when they choose Naturopathy as a way of healing. What does it do? How does it differ from Ayurveda? How can it complement the regular day-to-day modern medicines?

For this, the Health and Me team spoke to Dr Prashanth Shetty, Principal at SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Science, Ujire.

What Is Naturopathy?

As the doctor explains, Naturopathy is a holistic approach to medicine that believes in the body’s innate ability to heal itself. It focuses on the root cause of illnesses, not just symptoms, and promotes natural healing through diet, lifestyle modifications, herbal remedies, hydrotherapy, and physical therapy.

"Naturopathy emphasizes natural healing, disease prevention, and lifestyle modification, aiming to restore balance and promote long-term wellness,” says Dr Shetty.

Unlike allopathic medicine, which often relies on pharmaceuticals and surgeries to treat disease symptoms, naturopathy works by supporting the body’s self-healing process.

How Does Naturopathy Complement Modern Medicine?

Naturopathy is increasingly being integrated with modern medical practices. It works well as a complementary therapy, especially in managing chronic conditions. For instance, naturopathic therapies such as acupuncture and nutrition counselling can reduce side effects of medications or improve treatment outcomes.

Patients undergoing treatment for diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, or even cancer may benefit from a combined approach—using conventional medications alongside naturopathic suggestions on diet, exercise, and stress reduction. This not only reduces dependency on medication but also empowers patients to actively participate in their healing journey.

Can It Help With Chronic Conditions?

Dr Shetty points out instances where Naturopathy has helped patients who have been battling with chronic diseases:

Diabetes: Naturopathic approaches like dietary changes, herbal supplements, and stress management can complement conventional treatments.

Hypertension: Lifestyle modifications, such as diet, exercise, and stress reduction, can be used alongside medication to manage blood pressure.

Arthritis: Naturopathic treatments like acupuncture, herbal remedies, and physical therapy can help manage pain and inflammation.

Mental Health

Anxiety and Depression: Naturopathic approaches like mindfulness, meditation, and herbal supplements can be used alongside conventional treatments.

Stress Management: Naturopathic techniques like yoga, deep breathing, and relaxation can help manage stress.

Digestive Health

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Naturopathic approaches like dietary changes, probiotics, and stress management can help manage symptoms.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Naturopathic treatments like dietary modifications, herbal supplements, and stress reduction can complement conventional treatments.

Women's Health

Menstrual Disorders: Naturopathic approaches like herbal supplements, dietary changes, and stress management can help regulate menstrual cycles.

Menopause: Naturopathic treatments like herbal supplements, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications can help manage symptoms.

Naturopathy vs Ayurveda: Are They the Same?

Though both systems promote natural healing, they are fundamentally different. “Naturopathy and Ayurveda are not the same—they are distinct systems of natural medicine with different foundations and limitations,” says Dr Shetty.

Naturopathy is grounded in the belief of self-healing through nature, whereas Ayurveda is rooted in the concept of balancing the body's three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Naturopathy commonly uses diet, hydrotherapy, and herbal medicines, while Ayurveda may include massages, herbal formulations, and treatments based on dosha types.

Additionally, naturopathic education is often structured and formalized, while Ayurvedic learning can also be passed down traditionally through apprenticeships.

While both the systems do share certain similarities—like emphasizing prevention, detoxification, and the use of herbal remedies; they follow a different framework and diagnostic methods. Naturopathy focuses more on individual's lifestyle and the environmental factors, whereas Ayurveda relies more on the ancient texts and doshic assessments, points out the doctor.

Personalized and Preventive

What makes naturopathy stand out is that it is personalized in nature and is based on each individual's lifestyle, their dietary habits, what suits them and what does not and their stress levels. It also evaluates emotional well-being, as well as the environment that may be the cause of their diseases or disorders.

At the core of naturopathy is prevention. It focuses more on preventing a disease even before the symptoms show up. By encouraging early lifestyle interventions, regular detoxification, and stress management, naturopathy helps reduce disease incidence, hospital visits, and the long-term burden on healthcare systems.

Reducing Healthcare Burden

There is an overgrowing burden on the healthcare system. While it is not to say that this must not be changed however, with alternative medicines like naturopathy, which emphasizes on preventive care, it can help lessen the burden. Naturopathy also focuses on educating individuals to take control of their health. The approaches used are: balanced nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness. As Dr Shetty notes, this not only empowers patients but also reduces the reliance on medication and minimizes hospital visits—ultimately easing the strain on healthcare infrastructure.

At 36-year-old Liam Handley, a fit, non-smoking man from Derbyshire, U.K., walked into his doctor’s office for the first time complaining of chest pain and palpitations, cancer was the last thing anyone suspected. Diagnosed instead with anxiety—a condition he had quietly battled for much of his adult life—Liam was sent home with increased doses of medication. What followed was a tragic and avoidable series of delays, assumptions, and overlooked warning signs that would eventually lead to his untimely death from terminal lung cancer.

Liam’s story is a heartbreaking reminder that lung cancer is not confined to those who smoke. It’s a wake-up call to patients, families, and healthcare professionals alike: lung cancer can strike anyone—regardless of lifestyle, age, or medical history.

Liam, who had red hair and dyslexia, often found himself subject to ridicule growing up. Later, his anxiety became a quiet undercurrent of his identity—something that doctors all too readily used as a blanket explanation for any new symptoms. When he reported persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations, these signs were attributed to psychological stress.

His mother, Lynn Handley, still wonders how such critical symptoms could be missed. “Liam did not fit the stereotypical image of a lung cancer patient. He was young, a non-smoker, and in relatively good shape,” she said. “It wasn’t in our heads—and it clearly wasn’t in the GP’s either. And that’s the problem.”

How Early Signs Were Overlooked

When Liam’s symptoms intensified in mid-2020, his father took him to the hospital fearing a heart attack. Doctors discovered blood clots in his lungs—a red flag for a more serious underlying issue—but treated the clots with blood thinners and planned a CT scan that never happened due to COVID-19 delays.

As weeks passed, Liam's pain spread to his shoulders and lower back. He was prescribed stronger pain medication, but still, no further imaging or diagnostic testing was conducted by the public healthcare system. Eventually, the family paid out-of-pocket for a private CT scan. That scan changed everything.

Liam was diagnosed with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, a form of non-small cell lung cancer that had already spread to his liver, spine, lymph nodes, and bones. The subtype—EGFR Exon19 positive—is a genetically driven mutation that disproportionately affects non-smokers and younger patients.

Despite being given just 5-6 weeks to live, Liam initially responded well to targeted therapy with Osimertinib, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. He even married his long-term partner Louise in a quiet ceremony. For a brief moment, life seemed to regain some normalcy.

But by April 2021, the cancer had progressed. His treatments stopped working, and Liam’s health began to deteriorate rapidly. Dependent on oxygen, and weakened by disease, Liam passed away in October 2021—just shy of his 37th birthday.

Lynn Handley is now committed to raising awareness about lung cancer in people who don’t smoke. “We were angry. It took nine months for Liam to get a diagnosis. Those were months we could have used to fight harder, to plan better, to say goodbye on our own terms.”

Her advocacy isn’t just rooted in grief—it’s a call to action for healthcare systems and patients around the world.

Can Non-Smokers Get Lung Cancer?

Contrary to long-held assumptions, a significant proportion of lung cancer cases now occur in people with no history of smoking. The American Cancer Society reports that approximately 10-20% of lung cancers in the U.S. are found in non-smokers, often attributed to genetic mutations like EGFR, environmental exposures, or radon gas.

These cases are more common in women, younger adults, and individuals of East Asian descent, but—as Liam’s story demonstrates—they can affect anyone.

Early Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For

Lung cancer symptoms can mimic less serious conditions, which is why they’re often dismissed or misdiagnosed. If you experience the following symptoms persistently, don’t ignore them—regardless of your age or smoking history:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Unexplained shortness of breath
• Persistent cough or wheezing
• Shoulder, back, or rib pain
• Fatigue or sudden weight loss
• Blood in sputum (though not always present)

Liam’s story is not just about a misdiagnosis—it’s about systemic bias. The assumption that lung cancer is a “smoker’s disease” delays diagnoses in healthy, younger adults. Primary care physicians and specialists must rethink their criteria for imaging and referrals. As Lynn Handley put it, “Why wasn’t a chest X-ray even considered?”

The COVID-19 pandemic added another barrier to care—delaying critical scans and overwhelming systems worldwide. But the cost of that delay, in Liam’s case, was irreversible.

If you're experiencing unexplained respiratory symptoms—don’t hesitate to ask for further investigation. Insist on imaging. Seek second opinions. Cancer doesn’t always follow the rulebook, and neither should your approach to protecting your health.