Studies show that around 79% of autistic people have mental health issues and rate their anxiety as the number one problem in their lives. 63% meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder. Indeed, the key patient group for child and adolescent psychiatrists is autism. How can people with a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder like autism, affecting […]
Microglia cells, which are the cells in the brain responsible for detecting and fixing minor damage renew themselves more quickly than previously thought, new research has shown. A study, led by the University of Southampton and published in Cell Reports, shows that the turnover of these specialist cells is 10 times faster, allowing the whole population of […]
The first thing to remember is that weight loss may have a variety of causes, and it’s important not to jump to conclusions. If you notice that your child is too thin, or has lost a significant amount of weight, get them seen by a GP who can provide a thorough physical assessment. The situation […]
Health professionals are at the forefront of tackling the problem of alcohol misuse in our society. For many people, problem drinking may only be flagged up when they go to see their GP on another matter or attend A&E in a crisis. It’s an ongoing project at the Medical Council on Alcohol to educate medical professionals […]
Brussels sprouts could provide an answer to treating Alzheimer’s – the most common cause of dementia. A supercharged version of the acid derived from our Christmas dinner veg is the basis of new research aimed at developing a new drug to treat the progressive brain disease. Experts at the University of Aberdeen are working on […]
Read More… from Brussels sprouts could hold the key to treating Alzheimer’s
There has been a strong link between human exposure to aluminium and the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease for half a century or more. However, without definite proof, there is still no consensus in the scientific community about the role of this known neurotoxin in this devastating brain disease. The latest research from my group, published […]
Read More… from Strong evidence linking Aluminium and Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is by far the commonest form of dementia, affecting around 1.5 per cent of all people over the age of 65. There is still no cure, but research has shown that loss of higher brain functions is caused when normal amyloid proteins change their shape and settle as coils of fibrous material on […]
It’s always sad around this time of year to hear about the growing problem of loneliness amongst the elderly, however, it’s also a major issue for young people within modern society. At Dame Kelly Holmes Trust (which is a national charity that uses world class athletes to transform the lives of young people facing disadvantage […]
The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review Programme (LeDeR) in 2015 studied the mortality rates for people with learning disabilities (LD). Although LD is not shown on death certificates, it is clear that people with LD have a shorter life expectancy and increased risk of early death compared to the general population. Some of this is disability-specific. […]
All animals well up with tears to clean or remove irritants from their eyes, but we are the only species who cry because of emotional upset. Professor William Frey, professor of pharmaceutics at the University of Minnesota and a tear expert, believes that the ultimate aim of crying is to reduce stress. “Stress triggers crying and our chemical […]