For years, I’ve followed the research on ageing that seeks to slow down the process. So are we any closer to achieving what could be the Holy Grail of medicine? Studies from Edinburgh University investigating which proteins could influence how … Read More
Drinking beetroot juice regularly could help us avoid dementia as we get older
How brains age and why people develop dementia is still a mystery. But there’s some exciting research that’s hoping to shed light on it – and how beetroot could boost our grey matter. More than 25,000 people aged over 40 have already … Read More
There’s massive demand for safe ways to get molecules into the brain to treat diseases
There’s no better way to describe the brain research going on at King’s College and Imperial College London than “epic”. To get the gist, here’s a little anatomy. The brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier. Whereas the skull guards against physical … Read More
Kinds learned more words during lockdown compared to before the pandemic
One by one, the long-term effects of Covid are revealing themselves. Some of them are physical, like a distorted sense of smell, and some are mental, such as being unable to concentrate. One of the more serious may affect our … Read More
It is vital to know the psychiatric symptoms of dementia – including anxiety
Anyone who knows someone with dementia understands that the most distressing aspects of the condition are the psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety and agitation. A review published in 2015 revealed up to 90% of patients with dementia living at … Read More
Women have been overlooked in our hunt for the ultimate hangover cure
Waking up after a heavy night, feeling at death’s door and wondering how you’ll get through the day, is never fun. And it’s tempting to try any weird and wonderful concoction that promises to ease your hangover. But you might … Read More
We should do anything to stop people smoking – including e-cig licences
When I was a feisty junior doctor I considered not treating patients who were smokers. I reckoned I couldn’t help them anywhere near as much as they could help themselves by quitting. I didn’t of course, but I firmly believe … Read More
Sexual violence can affect women’s health for life and lead to serious illness
Sexual violence against women is bad enough, but who would have thought it’s a cause of long-term illness? So while women may survive the experience of sexual violence, the ongoing effects may emerge later in the form of illnesses like … Read More
Clever mini stomachs grown in a dish are used by scientists to study Covid
This is mind-boggling research. A lab-grown model of the human stomach that can be used to study how infections affect the gastrointestinal system has been developed by a UK-led team of international scientists. Great Ormond Street Hospital and a veterinary institute … Read More
People are reluctant to discuss embarrassing body complaints so diagnosis is delayed
One of my friends, who’s also in her eighties, has an embarrassing problem that is causing her real distress. She suffers from excruciating rectal pain after going to the toilet properly – so severe she fears she’s got cancer. I … Read More