Health

An analysis of previously published studies has found that de-prescribing preventive medications among old, frail adults did not increase the risk of death, hospitalisation, or major heart-related events. Findings published in the journal BioMed Central (BMC) Geriatrics also suggest that de-prescribing was not related with an increased risk of falls -- a leading cause of disability among older adults -- fractures or a reduced quality of life. Researchers, including those from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections, Kolkata, and Sweden`s Karolinska Institutet, added however that evidence certainty -- a measure of confidence that the true effect of de-prescribing is close to one estimated from research -- was low and more studies are ...

Tuberculosis, or TB as it is popularly known, is an infectious disease commonly affecting the lungs, but it also affects other parts of the body, including the brain, intestines, bones, and even the reproductive organs. Experts warn that genital tuberculosis is a common cause of infertility, more commonly in women. With India carrying one of the highest TB burdens in the world, doctors are increasingly highlighting the need for early detection and timely treatment to prevent long-term complications such as infertility. Many people are unaware that TB bacteria can spread from the lungs to other organs through the bloodstream. When it affects the reproductive system, it is known as genital TB. Because the symptoms may be mild or unclear, the condition often remains undiagnosed until couples...

People with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of developing dementia, according to a study. Type 2 diabetes is also linked to an increased risk of dementia compared to those without diabetes. However, the findings show only an association and do not prove that diabetes causes dementia. Type 1 diabetes is relatively rare, accounting for about 5 per cent of all diabetes cases. "As advances in medical care have extended the lives of people with type 1 diabetes, it`s becoming increasingly important to understand the relation of type 1 diabetes to the risk of dementia," said study author Jennifer Weuve, MPH, ScD, of Boston University. "We have known that type 2 diabetes is linked to an increased risk of dementia, but this new research suggests that, unfortunately, the association may be even ...

Amid serious concerns over recent introduction of multiple generic variants of GLP-1 based weight loss drugs in the Indian market, the government on Tuesday, March 24, said it has intensified regulatory surveillance against the drug’s unauthorised sale and promotion.  In order to ensure ethical pharmaceutical practices in the supply chain of Weight Loss Drug (GLP-1), the Drugs Controller of India has intensified its regulatory surveillance, according to Health Ministry. Concerns have emerged regarding their on-demand availability through retail pharmacies, online platforms, wholesalers, and wellness clinics.  These drugs, when used without proper medical supervision, may lead to serious adverse effects and related health risks. “Regulatory surveillance will continue to be intensified i...

A new type of blood test that analyses the folding of amino acids rather than their amounts may detect earliest biological signs of Alzheimer`s disease, according to a study. Analysis of blood plasma samples from over 500 individuals show that structural differences in three proteins, one involved in immune signalling, another in protein folding, and a third that transports fats in bloodstream -- are strongly linked to Alzheimer`s status, according to the findings published in the Nature Aging journal. Researchers, including those at The Scripps Research Institute, US, said structural differences of plasma proteins helped accurately distinguish cognitively normal individuals, from those with Alzheimer`s and mild cognitive impairment -- the preceding stage. The method could eventually al...

Changes to one`s hippocampus, the brain`s memory centre, in response to prolonged pain could be an important factor for why some people develop depression in chronic pain, while others do not, according to a study. "Our findings suggest that the hippocampus acts as a control centre that helps the brain regulate emotional responses to long-term pain. Depression is not inevitable -- it depends on how this system responds over time," co-lead author Jianfeng Feng, professor of computer science at the UK`s University of Warwick, said. The study, published in the journal Science, analysed brain scans from population cohorts, including data from the UK Biobank, and a rodent model. People living with chronic pain but without depression tended to show a slightly larger volume of and an increased ...

Between the exhausting traffic and corporate hustle of Indian metropolitan cities, stress has become the default setting for the Indian urbanite. We have long been conditioned to believe that happiness is a distant destination—a reward found only during a Himalayan trek or a Goan sabbatical. However, as people mark the International Day of Happiness, observed on March 20 every year, a new perspective is emerging: happiness isn`t just an internal state, it is a biological negotiation with our environment. To move beyond surface-level self-care, mid-day spoke to mental health experts Rima Bhandekar, psychologist and head of Mpower toll-free mental health helpline, and Mehezabin Dordi, clinical psychologist at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital. Together, they share an urban zen blueprint...

The AIIMS-Delhi is studying links between exposure to air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter 2.5, and the risk of developing lung cancer. The AIRCARE study, which the institution claimed is the first of its kind, is being led by Dr Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, AIIMS. Dr Shankar said that as air pollution continues to be an increasingly significant public health concern, there is a need for research to inform policy and disease management. He said India is home to some of the most polluted cities in the world, and there is an urgent need to scientifically look at the effects of pollution on people`s health. "Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers among males in India, and there is a high number of non-smoking lung cancers among females a...

Nearly 18,000 people in the age group of 18-45 died due to heart attacks or heart failures in Haryana between January 2020 and January 2026, the Assembly was informed on Wednesday, March 18. The government shared this information in the House in a written reply to a question from a Congress MLA, who had sought to know the "year-wise and district wise number of youths in the 18-45 years of age group who have died due to heart attack/heart failure in Haryana from the year 2020 till date, and whether the government has conducted any study or survey to ascertain whether these deaths have any co-relation with COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 vaccinations; if so, the findings of such study/survey together with the action taken by the government in this regard". The House was informed that no suc...

A comprehensive study has identified a direct correlation between rising atmospheric toxicity and male infertility, revealing that men living in highly polluted regions (AQI >151) experience an 11 per cent decrease in normal sperm integrity compared to those in cleaner environments. The research by Indira IVF, titled “Evaluating the impact of environmental pollution on sperm DNA Fragmentation: A retrospective cohort analysis”, highlights that as the Air Quality Index (AQI) escalates in industrialised cities, there is a corresponding "boom" in male infertility. The study introduces the concept of “pollution bias”, highlighting that worsening air quality is linked to higher levels of abnormal sperm and a steady decline in normal sperm counts. To ensure high diagnostic standards, the stud...