Health

Sleep patterns are significantly influenced by the day of the week, the season, and geographic locations, according to a study. The study, led by researchers from Flinders University in South Australia, is based on data from more than 116,000 adults and over 73 million nights of sleep. The team used an under-mattress device to objectively track sleep duration and timing across 3.5 years, Xinhua news agency reported. The study finds that sleep is shaped not just by personal habits, but by environmental factors like daylight, temperature, and weekly routines. "Our findings underscore the seasonal nature of human sleep, and that it is influenced by demographics and geography," said Hannah Scott, a sleep health expert at Flinders University. People in the Northern Hemisphere sleep 15 to 20...

Love your morning cup of coffee? A new study has shown that it may not only energise you but also help slow down ageing and boost longevity. Caffeine has long been linked to potential health benefits, including reduced risk of age-related diseases. However, the study led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London in the UK revealed how caffeine works inside human cells, and what exactly its connections are with nutrient and stress-responsive gene and protein networks. The researchers found that caffeine affects ageing by tapping into an ancient cellular energy system. They showed that caffeine works by activating an important system called AMPK -- a cellular fuel gauge that is evolutionarily conserved in yeast and humans. “When your cells are low on energy, AMPK kicks in to h...

Even as the latest Lancet paper marked India among eight countries with a high burden of zero-dose children, those who had never received a routine childhood vaccine, the Union government on Saturday said that the country’s large population size, and high vaccination coverage rate must be considered when making such comparisons. The government noted that “India’s antigen-wise immunisation coverage surpasses global averages across all antigens”. In other words, the vaccination strategy deployed in India is targeted against antigens, which can trigger an immune response resisting pathogens (like a virus or bacteria). The global study, led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, US, showed that in 2023, more than half of the world’s 15.7 million ...

A team of international researchers has uncovered a new genetic cause for a rare developmental disorder that profoundly impacts brain growth and function in children. The team led by the University of Otago–Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka from New Zealand pinpointed specific changes in a gene called CRNKL1 that can potentially cause a severe genetic disorder that results in affected individuals having profound pre- and postnatal microcephaly (smaller head circumference), with pontocerebellar hypoplasia (underdevelopment in brain stem and cerebellum), seizures and severe intellectual disability. The finding sheds new light on the complex process by which human bodies create the "instruction manuals" essential for building and maintaining our brains, said Louise Bicknell, Associate Professor, from th...

Along with Trigeminal Neuralgia and Brain Aneurysm, Bollywood actor Salman Khan also revealed that he has been suffering from Arteriovenous Malformations, commonly known as AVM Malformations. Making the revelation on ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ season 3 earlier this month, the ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ actor has got many fans concerned about his health.  With not much known about arteriovenous malformations, mid-day spoke to Dr Shaji Marar, consultant, Vascular & Interventional Radiology at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre and Dr Pradyumna Oak, director, Neurology, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital to highlight more about the condition. The health experts not only explain the causes but also the effects and how people suffering with arteriovenous malformations have to deal with ...

Having an autoimmune condition, in which the body`s immune system mistakenly attacks and damages healthy tissues and organs, could be linked to a near doubling of risk of experiencing persistent mental health issues, a study has found. Researchers from The University of Edinburgh, UK, said that a persistent inflammation, which is a hallmark of autoimmune disorders, could explain the risks. Women were found to be at a higher mental health risk, compared to men having the same conditions, according to the study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Mental Health. The study looked at six autoimmune disorders that included rheumatoid arthritis (affects joints), inflammatory bowel disease and lupus, which can damage kidneys and brain among other organs. The researchers said that in...

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80 per cent of the population globally is at risk of contracting one or more vector-borne diseases. These infections, caused by parasites, bacteria or viruses, account for 17 per cent of all infectious diseases, causing more than 7 lakh deaths annually. While vector-borne diseases can strike any time of the year, the risk of contracting some of these infections such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya, increases during the monsoon season. A recent report by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) revealed a rise in monsoon-related diseases in the first half of June 2025, compared to the same period last year. While 341 malaria cases were registered in the city from 1-14 June this year –as compared to 443 cases in June 20...

Emotional demands at a workplace and in-person confrontations with colleagues could be related with upto a 24 per cent increased risk of developing diabetes, a study has suggested. Risk of the metabolic disorder was found to be highest (47 per cent) in women working emotionally demanding jobs, but had a low social support at work. The analysis is published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Researchers from Sweden`s Karolinska Institutet said the findings support the notion that working in roles requiring a constant engagement with people can be stressful, which can eventually affect workers` metabolic health. They said that factors, such as job strain, insecurity, violence or bullying at workplace, are all known to heighten the chance of developing diabetes. Howev...

An earlier-than-usual onset of puberty could be related with a higher chance of mental health issues, with incidence of depression and ADHD remaining high for at least eight years following onset, a study has found. `Central precocious puberty` is a condition in which physical changes associated with this stage of growth begin early -- before age eight for girls, nine for boys. Researchers, including those from University Hospital Essen, Germany, looked at over 6,500 individuals -- around 1,100 who had early puberty and the rest who did not -- using the country`s health insurance data, following them for 13 years. Findings, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, show that those who attained puberty early were about 50 per cent more likely to be...

India was among the eight countries where more than half the unvaccinated children from around the world lived as of 2023, an analysis published in The Lancet journal showed, "emphasising persistent inequities." Providing global estimates of current vaccine coverage, the study found that the same year, there were 15.7 million children -- 1.44 million in India -- who had received no doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine in their first year. An international team of researchers forming the `Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 Vaccine Coverage Collaborators` updated global, regional, and national estimates of routine childhood vaccine coverage from 1980 to 2023 for 204 countries and territories. In 1980, 53.5 per cent of children who had never received a routine childhood...