Healthy ageing & wellness
Nearly a third of adults eligible for bowel cancer screening in England do not complete the home test, new research shows, risking missed cases and preventable deaths. Bowel Cancer UK analysed the latest data from NHS integrated care boards and found average uptake across England is 71 per cent, meaning 29 per cent of those [...]
Keeping the brain busy while sitting, through puzzles or knitting, may cut dementia risk, a study suggests. Researchers surveyed more than 20,800 Swedish adults, mostly women aged 35 to 64, about their weekly physical activity and how much time each day they spent in what they classed as 'mentally active' and 'mentally passive' sedentary behaviour. [...]
Gut-friendly foods such as kimchi and kombucha may carry hidden risks for heart health when eaten in excess, the British Heart Foundation warns. The charity said foods marketed as prebiotic, probiotic or otherwise good for the gut can support the microbiome, but some may also be high in salt or sugar, which can raise the [...]
People with diabetes may have undiagnosed heart failure that could be detected by a simple screening blood test, research suggests. The TARTAN-HF trial found that one in four patients with diabetes who had at least one other risk factor for heart failure had undiagnosed heart failure detected through screening with a blood test and ultrasound [...]
The UK has launched a £6.3m men's health fund to back local projects aimed at helping men and boys live longer, healthier lives. The Men's Health Community Fund is a partnership between the Department of Health and Social Care, Movember and People's Health Trust. The government is contributing £3m, while the two charities are more [...]
By Ruth Dixon, Programme Lead, Challenge Works Humans are social creatures – connection to others is vital for good health and wellbeing. Despite this, research conducted last year showed that almost one out of every four older individuals in the world feels lonely - a significant and saddening statistic. Research has consistently shown that people [...]
Swapping TV time for reading or office work could lower dementia risk, a 19-year study suggests. The finding comes from what is described as the first study to distinguish between mentally passive and mentally active sitting in relation to dementia. Most adults spend about nine to 10 hours a day sitting, and earlier research has [...]
Night shifts are undermining diabetes management for workers with type 2 diabetes, a study has found. The findings by King’s College London, as part of a series of studies, underline the need for tailored support to help this group improve their health and wellbeing. While previous research has compared dietary intake and blood sugars between [...]
Routine blood pressure checks could help flag dementia risk, according to two studies tracking changes in blood vessel stiffness over time. The findings add to growing evidence that uncontrolled high blood pressure may contribute to dementia by speeding up the ageing and stiffening of blood vessels. Dr Newton Nyirenda is an epidemiologist at Georgetown University [...]
Routine dental check-ups may help detect undiagnosed diabetes, with research finding more than 35 per cent of tested patients had blood sugar levels linked to pre-diabetes or diabetes. The research screened 911 patients during routine dental visits using a simple finger-prick blood test. None of those flagged had previously reported a history of diabetes. The [...]
