The Biological Root of Collective Confusion

Why Biological Collapse Might Be the Invisible Engine Behind the Fall of the West

Biological Collapse: The Hidden Force Behind Western Decline

We are living through a period of immense turmoil: economic growth is stagnating while debt explodes, tax burdens rise, and social chaos intensifies. Today, 1% of the world's population holds nearly 45% of global wealth. Simultaneously, the collective moral compass seems to be disintegrating, with younger generations sinking into apathy and nihilism. Political scandals, corruption, cronyism, and opaque lobbying saturate the news, while bloated administrations—rife with "rent-seekers"—paralyze any sense of momentum. Poverty, drug addiction, chaotic immigration, and homelessness are no longer marginal phenomena; they have become the daily backdrop of life.

Explanations abound: the loss of religion, consumerism, mass immigration, Marxist or fascist ideologies, smartphones, and Artificial Intelligence. But these remain surface-level. They are not the root cause, but rather the visible manifestations of a more fundamental phenomenon: the biological decline of the population.

When Bodies Degrade: The Cultural and Political Shockwave

"It should be obvious that changing just a few parameters of the human body is enough to radically transform the way individuals think, act, and live." — Peter Niemann

Societies are built by human organisms—living bodies. Every thought, value, invention, and policy stems from the physical state of the individuals who produce them. When a population becomes weaker, sicker, less intelligent, and metabolically or hormonally unbalanced, the culture and politics emerging from that soil become unhealthy and unstable.

In short: Biology → Culture → Politics.

IQ, Drugs, Chemicals, Screens, and Hormones

The data paints a sobering picture. For most of the 20th century, the average IQ in the Western world rose steadily—a phenomenon known as the "Flynn Effect," which drove many scientific and technological breakthroughs. However, at the start of the 21st century, this progression stalled and then reversed. Studies across Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand now show an average annual decline of 0.1 to 0.3 IQ points, gradually erasing decades of cognitive gains.

At the same time, cannabis consumption has skyrocketed. In 1970, only 4% of American adults reported using it in the past year; today, that figure is roughly 22%, with daily use increasing five to ten times over. Even in Europe, where cannabis is often illegal, it remains easily accessible, with opaque black markets leading to a decline in product quality. Scientific literature is clear: regular exposure to THC, especially during adolescence, is associated with a permanent decline in adult IQ.

Pesticides represent another silent assault. Children living within five miles of treated agricultural areas score an average of 2.6 points lower on IQ tests. Yet, pesticide residues now permeate much of the global food supply. This is not limited to the West; similar concerns are emerging in Asia, where intensive agrochemical use is widespread. Beyond pesticides, chemicals like plastics (Bisphenol A), heavy metals, VOCs, and agricultural antibiotics disrupt health by affecting the endocrine system and metabolism, contributing to chronic disease and antibiotic resistance.

Added to this is massive screen exposure. Children often spend over four hours a day on tablets and smartphones; adults spend six to seven. Neuroscience links this digital overstimulation to reduced gray matter volume, shortened attention spans, and weakened academic performance. The accompanying sedentary lifestyle hinders neuronal development—not to mention the use of AI, which tempts people into cognitive laziness, and the harmful effects of blue light, which disrupts natural sleep cycles, causes eye strain, and may damage the retina over time.

Obesity is rising in tandem, bringing a host of comorbidities. The cause is well-identified: an industrial diet dominated by ultra-processed products, refined sugars, high-glycemic carbohydrates, industrial seed oils, and chemical additives.

• United States: 15% adult obesity in the 1970s vs. 43% today; 74% are overweight.

• Western Europe: Nearly 60% of adults are overweight or obese.

• Asia & Africa: Rates have climbed to approximately 31%.

These nutrient-poor, calorie-dense foods disrupt insulin, trigger chronic inflammation, and directly degrade cognitive performance and natural bodily processes. In other words, the progressive "dumbing down" of the population is largely the consequence of metabolically dysfunctional bodies.

Furthermore, average testosterone levels in Western men have declined by about 1% per year since the 1970s—a 30% to 50% drop in just two generations. A twenty-year-old man today has a hormonal profile comparable to that of a fifty-year-old man a generation ago. Testosterone is not just about aggression; it supports energy, emotional stability, confidence, resilience, and the capacity for calculated risk-taking. Its collective decline fosters risk aversion, dependence on authority, and a loss of initiative.

Taken together, these phenomena describe a population whose physical and mental health has been methodically degraded by chemistry, lifestyle, propaganda, and environment—with profound repercussions for culture, politics, and the capacity for self-governance.

The Weakening of the Individual

For several decades, the Western individual has been under continuous assault. Industrial food, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, alcohol, legal and illegal psychotropic drugs, mediocre entertainment, social fragmentation, and the erosion of collective landmarks have produced a population that is intoxicated, screen-dependent, cognitively weakened, and emotionally fragmented.

When intelligence declines, the ability to grasp the complex politics behind official propaganda collapses. Lower testosterone reduces the inclination to resist injustice. Obesity and chronic fatigue fuel apathy and escapism. This creates fertile ground for authoritarianism, surveillance, centralized control, and the restriction of fundamental freedoms.

The Good News: Biology is Reversible

History shows that civilizations have teetered on the brink of collapse before turning themselves around. But, as Niemann emphasizes, reconstruction begins with a "detox" of the body.

Escaping this vicious cycle requires concrete habits: healthy eating, reduced screen time, daily movement and physical effort, restorative sleep, limiting drugs, and reducing endocrine disruptors. These are individual choices, but their effects are collective. When each individual raises their biological baseline, collective intelligence rises with them.

Reclaiming Your Body, Mind, and Strength

We are at a civilizational turning point. Blaming "culture wars" or "media bias" only masks the true disease: a mind clouded by chemicals and a sedentary, metabolically broken body that erodes freedom from the inside out.

The same qualities that once propelled Western progress—discipline, curiosity, and relentless self-improvement—can be turned inward. Here are the concrete habits an "awakened" individual can adopt today:

1. Clean the Fuel Tank

• Eliminate added sugars and refined carbs: Replace sodas and pastries with water, unsweetened tea, and whole foods.

• Prioritize whole foods: Choose organic grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish, organic eggs, and leafy greens.

• Avoid hidden chemicals: Read labels; flee from high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and MSG.

2. Move the Body Every Day

• Aerobic Base: 30 minutes of brisk walking, jogging, or cycling daily.

• Strength Training: 2-3 sessions per week of compound lifts (squats, deadlifts, presses). This boosts testosterone and insulin sensitivity.

• Micro-movements: Stand and stretch for 2-3 minutes every hour to break up prolonged sitting.

3. Restore Hormonal Balance

• Sleep Hygiene: 7–9 hours in a dark, cool room. Use blue-light blockers in the evening.

• Cold Exposure: Cold showers or ice baths to stimulate norepinephrine and metabolic health.

• Stress Reduction: Practice mindfulness or breathwork to lower cortisol.

• Intermittent Fasting: Improves metabolic health, reduces inflammation, and stimulates cellular regeneration.

4. Reduce Digital Overload

• Screen Limits: Set strict boundaries for recreational use.

• Digital Fasting: Designate screen-free evenings for reading or outdoor activities.

• Curate Content: Say no to algorithm-induced addictions (pornography, infinite scrolling, outrage-bait). Follow sources that challenge you intellectually.

5. Detoxify Your Environment

• Water & Air: Use high-quality filters (HEPA for air, carbon/RO for water).

• Household Products: Switch to fragrance-free, phthalate-free cleaners and personal care items. Avoid non-stick pans (PFAS).

6. Create Community and Purpose

• Social Connection: Join a local club or sports team. Strong social ties bolster mental health.

• Skill Mastery: Learn a new language or instrument to foster neuroplasticity.

• Service: Volunteering combats apathy and strengthens the sense of agency and purpose.

Small Decisions, Massive Consequences

Your next habit—choosing water over soda, taking a 30-minute walk, or turning off your phone an hour early—acts as a lever. When enough individuals adopt these practices, the global effect restores the biological foundation that supports free thought, resilient societies, and the strength to resist technocratic authoritarianism.

Start now. The future of personal liberty and societal vitality depends on the choices you make today.

Source and Inspiration: Peter Niemann; Academy of Ideas