Health

The `13th Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit` in Washington, DC, over the weekend revealed how cutting-edge research on gut microbiome science is being applied to clinical practice.  The summit showcased the latest microbiome research on coronavirus, plant and dairy-based protein, as well as probiotics. A novel study found that the gut microbiome in children is altered post-COVID-19 infection, much like it is in adults. Researchers found a significant decrease in beneficial bacteria, like Lacticaseibacillus and Bifidobacterium, in children who had COVID-19 compared to those who didn’t. These bacteria help reduce inflammation and support gut health. Children with lingering symptoms also showed different types of bacteria, in addition to elevated markers of inflammation and decreased...

Australian researchers have identified a surprising mechanism focusing on telomeres -- protective caps at the ends of chromosomes -- that can help cells defend against cancer. Telomeres are known to play a key role in ageing and cancer prevention. However, with age, these structures naturally shorten, signaling ageing cells to stop dividing -- a crucial safeguard against cancer, according to the study by Sydney-based Children`s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. "Our data shows telomeres are much more active. They can acutely respond to stress and actively open up to turn on a cellular response that looks like ageing. They do this to avoid cancer," said Tony Cesare of the Genome Integrity Unit at CMRI. Cesare and his team worked with their collabo...

Scientists at Osaka University in Japan have devised a new AI model to estimate a person’s biological age — a measure of how well their body has aged, rather than just counting the years since birth.  Using just five drops of blood, this new method analyses 22 key steroids and their interactions to provide a more precise health assessment.  The team’s breakthrough study, published in Science Advances, offers a potential step forward in personalised health management, allowing for earlier detection of age-related health risks and tailored interventions. “Our bodies rely on hormones to maintain homeostasis, so we thought, why not use these as key indicators of aging?” said Dr Qiuyi Wang, co-first author of the study.  To test this idea, the research team focused on steroid hormones, whic...

The new study conducted among urban Indian corporate employees, has found that vitamin B12 deficiency, crucial for neurological function and energy metabolism, was significantly higher among men, with 57.16 per cent showing insufficient or deficient levels. Meanwhile, 49.9 per cent of women also exhibited deficiencies, emphasising the importance of dietary adjustments and supplementation for overall well-being. The study was released earlier this week by Indian digital healthcare company MediBuddy highlighting nutrient deficiencies among Indian corporate professionals aged 40–50. It analysed data from around 4,400 individuals (3,338 men and 1,059 women) in the age group, brings to the fore the urgent need for targeted health interventions and preventive care strategies, particularly for m...

Trying to lose weight? A new study claims replacing animal products with plant-based foods like soy milk and vegan meat that are ultra-processed, can lead to significant weight loss.  The research by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine looked at the role of plant-based processed foods in weight loss. High-processed foods -- rich in sugar, salt, and fat -- are known to be unhealthy and contribute to weight gain, obesity, and a host of diseases. “Our research shows that choosing a bagel instead of bacon for breakfast or a veggie burger instead of a hamburger for dinner is the best option if you are looking to lose weight,” said Hana Kahleova, director of clinical research for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “Filling your plate with plant-based foods -- ev...

The quality of diet and waist-to-hip ratio in midlife are associated with brain connectivity and cognitive performance in later life, according to a study. Researchers from Oxford University and University College London in the UK found that people in midlife engaging in healthy eating had an increased hippocampal functional connectivity to the occipital lobe and cerebellum; as well as a better white matter. These improved working memory, executive function, and overall cognitive performance in middle-aged adults. On the other hand, those with higher waist-to-hip ratio in midlife had a widespread decrease in white matter integrity, leading to implications in memory and executive function. Reduced fractional anisotropy in these regions was linked to poorer cognitive performance. “Healt...

Bones form an integral support system for the body, providing structure, protecting essential organs and facilitating movement. With an increase in age generally comes a decrease in bone density. Hence, it becomes important to prioritise and protect your bone health, especially after the age of 30. There are two basic pillars for ensuring bone health – nutrition and exercise. Nutrition for maintaining bone health after 30 It is important to focus on nutrition when it comes to maintaining bone health. One has to have a balanced diet, which contains ample proteins. Calcium is an important nutrient that strengthens bones. “Calcium is generally found in dairy products and non-vegetarian food. However, vegetarians and vegans can opt for calcium supplement if required, as per doctor’s advice...

IKEA has launched its largest global sleep study surveying over 55,000 people across 57 markets and has some very interesting points from India as well. The global report highlights several intriguing quirks on how Indians sleep.While 71 per cent of Indians feel they sleep enough, stress remains a key obstacle, with nearly half (48 per cent) of Indians identifying it as the primary barrier to good sleep. General stress affects 30 per cent, while work stress impacts 18 per cent, with women experiencing higher levels of stress (38 per cent) compared to men (23 per cent). Sleeping arrangements also play a role, as 48 per cent of Indians rarely or never sleep alone. Among usual companions, 71 per cent share their beds with partners, while 28 per cent sleep with their children, highlighting how...

More teenagers report good mental health, but those who are struggling rate their depressive symptoms much higher than prior cohorts did at the same age, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg. The study examined changes in how young teenagers in Sweden rated their depressive symptoms over two decades. Researchers compared two groups of 13-16-year-olds: one from 2004 and one from 2019-2020. Both groups rated their depressive symptoms using the internationally established Children`s Depression Inventory (CDI), a self-report assessment. The results show that the overall proportion of adolescents reporting depressive symptoms increased from 21 percent in 2004 to 29 percent in 2019-2020--an increase that is not considered dramatic in this context. However, a key shift is ev...

In a first, an Australian man has become the first in the world to live with a durable total artificial heart implant -- made of titanium -- for more than 100 days, and to be discharged from hospital.  The implant of a BiVACOR total artificial heart -- the first in Australia and sixth in the world has been -- “an unmitigated clinical success,” according to a statement on Wednesday by St Vincent’s Hospital, Monash University, and BiVACOR -- the US-Australian company which developed the device. The patient in his 40s, who declined to be identified, was experiencing severe heart failure. He underwent a six-hour procedure for the implant of an artificial heart on November 22, 2024, at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. The man lived with the device for 105 days before receiving a donor heart tra...