We may resent the intrusion of smartphones in our daily lives, but researchers at King’s College London are finding they can be a unique aid to help people with depression. Smartphones can track sufferers’ symptoms and the impact they have on their lives, and … Read More
Lymph study is a big leap forward for bone healing
The lymphatic system isn’t an easy concept to grasp, not even for a medical student. Suffice to say it’s a network of vessels that branch throughout the body, and play an important role in the draining of excess fluid from … Read More
Living in the countryside linked to having a better memory in over 50s
Living in a city or living in the country have their own different appeals and advantages, such as access to shops and public transport, versus access to nature. It seems country folk in England have a surprising advantage over their townie … Read More
Gene therapy found to wind hearts BACK 10 years and protect people from ageing
Some people are lucky. They have an anti-ageing gene that can wind the heart’s age back about 10 years. Yes, startling. This magical gene was discovered in centenarians, people who live 100 years or longer, by Bristol University researchers. Carriers … Read More
Chickenpox vaccine plan is overwhelmingly supported by parents for their kids
Chickenpox is often seen as a rite of passage – but should children really have to go through it? Well, almost three-quarters of parents would support a chickenpox vaccine being added to the childhood vaccination schedule. Researchers Professor Helen Bedford of UCL Great … Read More
Problem of pricey ear wax removal must be solved and quickly as GPs stop service
Something as simple as earwax can cause anyone problems, but particularly, it seems, for people in care homes where nearly half of residents with dementia have issues with it. This situation can only get worse as earwax removal by GPs has now been stopped. … Read More
Scientists looking deep into genes inside cells to find out how drugs work
We can now peer inside cells and genes in a way that sounds like pure science fiction. Honestly, I feel some of our best medical research is getting near to the centre of life itself. One project is looking at … Read More
Artificial intelligence can save NHS time and money with heart scans
We’re going to be seeing more AI tools in medicine as it is introduced into further areas of medical practice. There’ll be none more important than that devised by Sheffield University scientists to speed up the diagnosis of heart disease. Astonishingly, they’ve got … Read More
Exciting research shows link between vitamin D levels and Alzheimer’s disease
Some exciting research has brought together two subjects we’re perennially focusing on – Alzheimer’s and vitamin D. There’s a lot of research surrounding the latter and it’s touted almost as a panacea, from promoting the absorption of calcium from the … Read More
Women’s complaints aren’t treated seriously enough in the medical profession
Women’s gynae complaints have traditionally been downgraded by our predominantly male medical profession. I’ve written about my frustration over this before. A prime example is endometriosis. The average delay in both the UK and Australia from symptoms starting to a diagnosis is eight years. … Read More