1001 Days: How Our First Years Shape Our Lifelong Health

We often think of infancy and old age as opposite ends of life’s spectrum but they are more deeply connected than we realize. Our earliest experiences, beginning before birth, can shape our lifelong mental and physical health, laying the foundation for wellbeing or future health challenges.

In 1,001 Days, acclaimed psychotherapist and author Sue Gerhardt explores the critical and often overlooked factors in early development that influence our health across the lifespan. Drawing on cutting-edge research in medicine, neuroscience, and psychobiology, she reveals how many of today’s most common health issues, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, and dementia, can be traced back to prenatal and early childhood experiences.

Gerhardt challenges prevailing cultural and political narratives that place blame on individual “lifestyle choices” and instead highlights the urgent need to rethink how we approach prevention, treatment, and health policy.

While there’s no single explanation for an individual’s health outcomes, understanding how early life continues to shape your wellbeing can offer a powerful sense of insight, and the encouragement to seek support where it’s needed most.