Your morning coffee might protect your brain as you age – here’s the sweet spot

Barillo_Images/Shutterstock.com Scientists have found that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day may significantly reduce your risk of developing dementia, but drinking more won’t help protect your brain any further. A major study tracked 131,821 American nurses and health professionals for up to 43 years, starting when they were in their early 40s. […]

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Autistic people seem to feel joy differently – here’s what it can tell us about neurodivergence

ViDI Studio/Shutterstock When people talk about autism, they often think about a child who is different and may be distressed by their surroundings. Or if the conversation moves beyond childhood, the focus might be about an autistic adult with analytical superpowers, such as The Good Doctor or Patience, who still has difficulty with their surroundings […]

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How our lab is helping develop an Alzheimer’s test that can be done at home

These tests could be done at home, making Alzheimer's diagnosis more accessible. nito/ Shutterstock Imagine diagnosing one of the most challenging neurological diseases with just a quick finger-prick, a few drops of blood and a test sent in the post. This may sound like science fiction, but we are hoping our research could soon help […]

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Bamboo: superfood or superfad? Here’s what our study actually said

boommaval/Shutterstock.com According to the New York Post, our research team has discovered a much-overlooked “superfood”: bamboo shoots. Before you rush out to harvest the ornamental bamboo growing in your garden, there are a few things you should know. We systematically reviewed all the available evidence on bamboo as a food and its effect on human […]

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The unanswered questions in the NHS’s new cancer plan

Frame Stock Footage/Shutterstock.com NHS England’s new national cancer plan focuses on catching cancer earlier and treating it faster. The government has also promised to meet all cancer waiting-time targets by 2029. This includes a long-missed target, namely that most patients should start treatment within 62 days of being referred by their GP. Why does the […]

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Haemochromatosis: the iron overload condition that too often goes undiagnosed

The condition causes the body to absorb too much iron from food. AtlasStudio/ Shutterstock When we think about iron imbalance, most people are familiar with iron deficiency and the health problems it can cause. What many may not realise is that the opposite problem, iron overload, can be just as serious – yet many aren’t […]

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Why raising NHS spending on new drugs by 25% is the wrong decision – health economist’s view

A quiet policy change on NHS drug pricing could have big consequences for patients and prevention. Stephen Barnes/Shutterstock For nearly three decades, decisions about which medicines the NHS pays for have not been made by ministers, but by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, known as Nice. Its job has been powerful: to […]

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House burping: what is this German habit and is it good for your health?

CTatiana/Shutterstock.com “House burping” is the latest thing cluttering people’s feeds: short clips of people flinging open every window and door, announcing they’re “burping” their home to get rid of stale, germ-filled air. Behind the playful name is a serious question: does this actually make a home healthier, or are people just swapping indoor germs for […]

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From bodybuilding to the local gym: how performance-enhancing drugs can damage the heart

Gym-goers who use IPEDs may not be aware of their heart harms. Andrii Iemelianenko/ Shutterstock Image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs), such as steroids and human growth hormone, can harm the heart – and it isn’t just elite bodybuilders who are at risk. With a growing number of everyday gym-goers taking these drugs to improve their […]

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The truth about energy: why your 40s feel harder than your 20s, but there may be a lift later on

Some of us remember having more energy in our 20s. We could work late, sleep badly, have a night out, recover quickly and still feel capable the next day. By our 40s, that ease has often gone. Fatigue feels harder to shake. It’s tempting to assume this is simply the ageing process – a one‑way […]

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