The pancreas, a slim pad of tissue which sits in the curve of the small intestine under the stomach, performs two roles. For the first, its beta-cells produce insulin that regulates blood sugar. We need pancreatic beta-cells to survive. In … Read More
Exercising at right time each day could synchronise body clock for healthy joints
I did know about our main body clock in the brain that keeps our body systems working in unison but I was unfamiliar with the independent body clocks in our joints and spine. Manchester University researchers claim consistent patterns of daily exercise and rest … Read More
Covid lateral flow tests can spot the return of a brain tumour
Remember all those lateral flow tests we used to do during the Covid pandemic and occasionally still do? Well, that useful technology has a life beyond Covid – it can detect brain tumours. A team at Nottingham Trent University is developing a simple test … Read More
These words from a doctor can motivate anyone to lose weight
Most patients would have something to say about how doctors speak to them – and not all of it flattering. Intuitively, we’d say good communication gets better results than bad. And fascinating research illustrates how doctors talk to patients with … Read More
Not getting enough sleep at night can lead to the risk of developing depression
We know lack of sleep is not good for us – and the latest harm to come to light from consistently getting less than five hours a night is the risk of developing depression. Poor sleep has always been seen as a … Read More
If more people are identifying as transgender, then care must catch up
Undoubtedly, we’re seeing an increase in the number of people who identify as transgender and a new study led by UCL researchers confirms this. The numbers may not look big but they’re significant all the same. Carrying out the first large-scale study … Read More
Walking faster significantly lowers risk of developing Type 2 diabetes
There are three simple tests you can do to assess your fitness and see how long you might live. Test your grip strength, by unscrewing a tight jar lid, test your quad strength by getting out of a chair without … Read More
Huge advance in treatment of multiple sclerosis after stem cell therapy trial
Two of my close friends have had multiple sclerosis – one who died in her fifties and the other who, happily, is alive, but confined to a wheelchair. I had many chats with both of them about possible treatments. Who would have … Read More
Potential new drug for stroke and dementia sufferers on the horizon
As we get older, our small blood vessels tend to leak. If these leaky blood vessels are in the brain, they can lead to stroke and vascular dementia. But could we devise a drug to plug the leaks and even prevent small vessel … Read More
Music therapy found to help patients suffering from stroke or aphasia
There’s already some evidence that music therapy can help patients with stroke and aphasia – where they struggle to communicate. It can even improve memory and mood. However, a trial at University College London Hospital (UCLH) will be the first … Read More