Author: Dale Roby

The case of athlete Caster Semenya reignited a global debate about sex, gender, and fairness in sport. Whatever our views on policy, most people can agree that medical evaluations should be handled with privacy and care. Public scrutiny can be profoundly distressing, as previous high-profile cases have shown. Sex, Gender, and Sex Characteristics It helps to separate a few related ideas. Gender usually refers to social role and identity. Biological sex is a broad term covering chromosomes, hormones, reproductive anatomy, and secondary sex characteristics. For many people these align neatly; for others, they do not. Variations in sex development (often…

What traits reliably predict attraction—and how should men interpret the research? Several studies have explored what makes men appear more desirable to women. One line of research (e.g., work attributed to Mark Prokosch and colleagues) suggests that, when observers watch short clips of men doing routine tasks, those who come across as more intelligent tend to be rated as more attractive. Observers are often surprisingly accurate at estimating a person’s cognitive ability from brief behavioural samples—though “intelligence” here is an impression, not a full IQ assessment. Intelligence and perceived desirability Why might intelligence signal desirability? From an evolutionary point of…

Research by Tony Cassidy and colleagues at Ulster University, reported in Therapy Today, suggests that families with more girls may fare better through divorce because girls are said to encourage a more “open attitude” and talking about feelings. The implication is that this communication helps buffer some of the stress of family breakup. The article then generalizes that boys—like many men—tend to keep problems to themselves and try to work them out alone. That broad pattern is familiar enough, but it’s easy for a headline to slide into an unhelpful narrative: if “sisters make people happy,” does that mean boys…

We all know exercise helps us live longer with fewer physical illnesses. What’s talked about less is that movement is a powerful boost for the brain, too. Regular activity can lift mood, sharpen focus, improve sleep, and reduce stress—benefits many men notice when they “work things out” on the pitch, track, or in the gym. How exercise strengthens mental health How much do you need? A practical target is about 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (or 75 minutes vigorous), plus two days of strength work for major muscle groups. If you’re starting out, begin with 10–15 minutes and…

Coeliac disease is a chronic, immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by dietary gluten (proteins in wheat, barley, and rye). In genetically susceptible people, gluten exposure leads to inflammation of the small intestine with villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia. This disrupts nutrient absorption and can cause gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal symptoms. With a strict gluten-free diet, the mucosa usually heals and long-term risks fall substantially. Key Facts Common Signs & Symptoms Presentation is variable. Some individuals have classic GI symptoms, while others have extra-intestinal or silent disease: Symptoms overlap with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. For a comparison…

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare, immune-mediated inflammatory disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord. It most often follows a recent infection and, far less commonly, can occur after vaccination; in some cases, no clear trigger is found. ADEM is typically monophasic (a single attack) and has an abrupt onset. Key Points What Happens in ADEM? In ADEM, the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective myelin sheath around nerve fibers, leading to widespread (disseminated) inflammation, especially in the brain’s white matter. This disrupts normal nerve signaling and causes neurological symptoms. Common Symptoms Symptoms tend to start suddenly and…