In short:
Jim Penman believes the global birth rate crisis cannot be fixed through subsidies or social policies.
In this episode, he explains how neuroscience, epigenetics, and targeted treatments may offer a real solution to falling fertility and widespread mental health decline.
His team at La Trobe University is developing research that could reshape wellbeing, community stability, and long-term population growth.
Introduction
In this episode of Conversations with Jim Penman, Jim shares new research developments focused on understanding and solving the birth rate crisis.
The discussion explores neuroscience, animal studies, and the creation of a new institute working on treatments that may influence long-term behaviour and wellbeing.
This topic matters because global fertility is falling faster than at any time in recorded history.
Jim believes the cause is psychological, biological, and rooted in modern prosperity rather than financial pressure.
To learn more about Jim’s ongoing projects, visit the Jim’s Group website.
Governments have struggled for decades to increase fertility.
Jim says the real breakthrough will not come from policy changes, but from science that increases human resilience, motivation, and family-oriented behaviour.
What Research Breakthroughs Is Jim Penman Pursuing to Address the Birth Rate Crisis?
Jim and his team have created a dedicated institute inside La Trobe University to advance research on behaviour, psychology, and fertility.
We are looking to reproduce the beneficial effect of food restriction through treatments that improve mental health and parental care.
The team has tested about 1,000 drugs on brain cells and identified 61 promising candidates.
Their next steps involve toxicity screening and animal trials.
Key areas of research:
- Mimicking the psychological benefits of mild food restriction.
- Reducing anxiety and improving resilience.
- Studying parental behaviour in animals.
- Exploring treatments that affect dopamine systems.
According to the OECD, more than half of developed countries have fertility rates below 1.5 children per woman, which is far beneath replacement level.
This scientific work aims to address the root cause of the decline.
How Does the La Trobe University Partnership Advance This Research?
Jim explains that the new institute gives his team independence, stable funding, and the ability to conduct long-term studies.
Why Stable Funding Matters
- Researchers do not need to seek grants constantly.
- Teams can focus on deep, multi-year projects.
- The institute supports a long-term scientific strategy.
Instead of spending time fundraising, our team spends time doing experiments.
Jim says the institute currently includes about 12 full-time staff and continues to grow.
What the Lab Environment Looks Like
- Shared building with technology companies.
- High levels of collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- Access to advanced biomedicine and neuroscience equipment.
Jim visits regularly and participates in the planning and design of experiments.
Why Does Jim Believe Neuroscience Holds the Key to the Birth Rate Crisis?
Jim’s approach is based on understanding how the brain responds to prosperity.
Comfort and abundance change behaviour, motivation, and long-term priorities.
What Happens When Prosperity Changes Psychology
- Anxiety and depression rise.
- Addiction becomes more common.
- Individuals become less long-term focused.
- Parenting instincts become weaker.
Jim argues these changes influence fertility decisions far more than financial costs.
Our treatment aims to reduce depression, reduce anxiety, and make people more positive about their families.
Why Neuroscience Can Shift Fertility Trends
- Improved mental well-being increases interest in the community.
- Stronger long-term thinking increases the desire for stable relationships.
- Reduced stress correlates with stronger parenting behaviour.
This approach could raise fertility naturally without incentives or pressure.
What Animal Models Is Jim Using to Understand Human Behaviour?
Jim’s research team is working with species that mirror human social patterns.
Why Prairie Voles and Mole Rats Matter
- Prairie voles are monogamous and share parental duties.
- Mole rats show strong social hierarchies and cooperative behaviour.
- Both species provide insights into bonding and motivation.
Prairie voles are very interesting because males look after the offspring, just like humans.
These models help scientists understand how treatments affect bonding and community-oriented behaviour.
What Tests Show Behavioural Changes
- Open field tests measure anxiety in animals.
- Maze tests measure willingness to explore.
- Parental care behaviours are monitored in controlled studies.
These tests identify compounds that strengthen resilience and social behaviour.
How Could Treatments Inspired by Weight Loss Drugs Influence Fertility?
Jim explains that some weight loss drugs affect brain pathways that also influence addiction, behaviour, and mood.
Why Ozempic-Type Drugs Are Relevant
- Users often drink less alcohol and smoke less.
- These drugs affect dopamine systems.
- They provide clues for designing new treatments.
You find a drug that does what you want, then you tweak it to remove side effects.
Jim’s team is studying these effects to develop more targeted and safe treatments.
How Could CRISPR and Epigenetics Help Solve the Birth Rate Crisis?
Jim believes future breakthroughs will involve precise epigenetic changes rather than altering DNA.
What CRISPR Could Do
- Switch on genes that were switched off by early life stress.
- Reverse the harmful effects of poor upbringing.
- Improve emotional stability and community engagement.
Why Epigenetic Change Is More Suitable Than Gene Editing
- DNA remains unchanged.
- Only gene expression is adjusted.
- Effects can be targeted to specific brain regions.
You can make precise changes that affect behaviour without touching the DNA.
Jim believes these tools could one day reduce depression, addiction, and social disconnection at scale.
What Impact Could This Treatment Have on Society?
Jim says a successful treatment would improve mental health, strengthen families, and raise fertility naturally.
What Positive Changes Jim Predicts
- Lower rates of anxiety and depression.
- Stronger marriages and fewer breakups.
- Higher interest in children and family life.
- Greater work ethic and long-term focus.
Jim shares that people with young children often report lower day-to-day happiness, but those who deeply love children feel happier overall.
A shift in mindset could make families more appealing again.
How This Could Reverse the Birth Rate Crisis
- People would be less overwhelmed by stress.
- Family life would become rewarding again.
- Parenthood would be seen as a positive choice.
Jim believes this solution could have a larger impact than weight loss drugs or antidepressants.
FAQ
What is Jim’s research focused on?
His team studies neuroscience and epigenetics to improve mental health and encourage family-oriented behaviour.
How many drugs has the team tested so far?
They have screened about 1,000 compounds and identified 61 promising candidates.
Why is this research relevant to the birth rate crisis?
Jim believes psychological change, not financial policy, drives fertility decisions.
What role does CRISPR play in Jim’s vision?
CRISPR may allow precise epigenetic adjustments that reverse harmful developmental patterns.
Could this treatment affect economic productivity?
Yes. Jim says it may increase motivation, discipline, and long-term planning.
Key Takeaways
- Jim’s research team is testing scientific methods to address falling fertility.
- The work focuses on anxiety, resilience, dopamine, and parental behaviour.
- Animal studies and advanced screening tools help identify promising compounds.
- CRISPR and epigenetics offer long-term possibilities for behavioural change.
- Jim believes scientific treatments, not subsidies, will solve the birth rate crisis.
Want to hear Jim’s full insights?
Watch the podcast episode to learn how neuroscience and epigenetics could help reverse the global birth rate crisis.
Want more updates from Jim Penman?
Visit jimpenman.com.au to subscribe to his mailing list and receive updates on his research and upcoming book.