In this episode of The Lancet Pulse, Niall Boyce and Matt Gilbert speak with Professor Daniel Smith about the emerging connection between diet and mental health, with a focus on the ketogenic diet and bipolar disorder. Together, they explore what bipolar disorder is, why its depressive phases can be so difficult to treat, and why researchers are beginning to investigate whether changes in metabolism and brain energy use could play a role in improving symptoms.

The conversation also looks at the bigger picture: how much evidence is there so far, what makes this area of research so promising, and where caution is still needed. From early feasibility studies to questions about long-term safety, affordability, and dietitian support, this episode offers a thoughtful look at a fast-evolving field — and asks whether nutritional approaches could become a meaningful add-on to mental health care in the future.

The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

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Professor Tien Yin Wong, from Tsinghua University, talks to Lancet editors Helena Wang and Ben Abbott about Tsinghua’s world-first AI hospital project, providing insights into both its enormous potential and some of the reality checks that have occurred along the way.

Professor Wong also paints a picture of China’s overall health challenges and its readiness and enthusiasm for AI as a potential solution to some of these, acknowledging that there is much that AI cannot (yet) solve.

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The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

Follow us today at...

The field of pathology is starting to look very different, as we increasingly understand the potential for AI to support clinical diagnosis and decision-making, alleviate high clinician workloads, and perform complex tasks that humans can't. 

But the adoption of AI isn't without challenges. Sebastian Försch and Inti Zlobec join Ben Abbott and Chloe Wilson, from The Lancet, to discuss.

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The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

Follow us today at...

Professor Rachel Yehuda from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai describes psychedelics as “heart openers” and Dr. Liliana Galindo from the University of Cambridge likens their action to a surgeon’s scalpel, but each agree that psychedelic-assisted therapy may offer lasting relief to people struggling with a wide range of mental health problems. 

Both join Lancet editors Jonathan and Matt to discuss the burgeoning field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. LSD, MDMA, 5-MeO-DMT, psilocybin, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance-use disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder; potentially-pivotal phase 3 trial data are maturing amid growing interest from regulators and investors, but many practical questions remain before the patients most in need may benefit from this psychedelic renaissance.

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The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

Follow us today at...

Professor Alexandre Loupy, joins editor Chloe Wilson to discuss innovation in xenotransplantation as well as the challenges from gene editing, immunological barriers, and the complex ethical and regulatory frameworks guiding progress in xenotransplantation.

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The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

Follow us today at...

 In this short introductory episode, meet Lancet editors Chloe, Ben, Jonathan, and Matt as we talk about what’s coming up in the podcast and the topics we’re excited to explore further.

"we hope that these podcasts will be an informative, more digestible, and accessible way to learn and to get some of the latest updates from trusted experts."

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The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

The Lancet Pulse is part of the Lancet Group podcast offering. 

Editorial team: Chloe Wilson, Ben Abbott, Matthew Gilbert, and Jonathan Pimm

Podcast editing and production: Matteo Simonetti

Visit https://www.thelancet.com/multimedia to learn more about our multimedia offering. 

Find the best science for better lives at https://www.thelancet.com

Follow us today at...