Hepatitis spike in children linked to dogs – but the evidence is weak: Nina Buday/Shutterstock The recent spike in cases of sudden, severe hepatitis in children around the world has been widely reported. Recently, several news outlets have highlighted a possible link between cases and contacts with pet dogs. However, the data suggesting this link …
Mental health: new study finds simply believing you can do something to improve it is linked with higher wellbeing: If you want to improve your mental health, start by believing you can. VectorMine/ Shutterstock The number of people struggling with poor mental health and mental disorders has been rising around the world over the past …
Prostate cancer linked to bacteria, raising hope of new test and treatment: Shidlovski/Shutterstock Every year, around 12,000 men in the UK die from prostate cancer, but many more die with prostate cancer than from it. So knowing whether the disease is going to advance rapidly or not is important for knowing who to treat. Our …
Heart disease risk and depression: a new study explores whether the two may be linked: Inside Creative House/Shutterstock For generations, people have been fascinated by the links between mind and body. For example, do people really die of a broken heart? Does a healthy mind indicate a healthy body? Scientists have been studying the associations …
Agriculture is linked with malaria in complex ways: evidence from 16 African countries: When done unsustainably, agricultural development can harm human health. Nikada via GettyImages The African population is expected to triple by 2100. This means that more food, water and agricultural commodities are required. To meet these needs, African governments and development agencies have …
Climate change: greener lifestyles linked to greater happiness – in both rich and poor countries: GuoZhongHua/Shutterstock The idea that being green means sacrifice and going without was epitomised by Boris Johnson’s denigration of the “hair shirt-wearing, tree-hugging, mung bean-eating eco freak”. When the UK prime minister said that in 2020, the message was clear: a …
Sweeteners may be linked to increased cancer risk – new research: The sweetener aspartame is found is many common foods and drinks, such as diet sodas. Kmpzzz/ Shutterstock Sweeteners have long been suggested to be bad for our health. Studies have linked consuming too many sweeteners with conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and …
Alzheimer’s disease linked to circadian rhythm – new research in mice: The cells which clear Alzheimer's plaques from the brain follow a 24-hour circadian rhythm nobeastsofierce/ Shutterstock A good night’s sleep has always been linked to better mood, and better health. Now, scientists have even more evidence of just how much sleep – and more …
Energy poverty is linked to physical and mental health – our research proves it: Kreminska / shutterstock Britain’s energy regulator Ofgem is set to increase its cap on energy prices by 54% this April 2022. This is in response to the skyrocketing price of gas, aggravated by demand picking up as countries relaxed lockdown measures, …
ASMR is linked to anxiety and neuroticism, our new research finds: YuliaLisitsa/Shutterstock The autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, is described as an intensely pleasant tingling sensation originating in the scalp and neck, and spreading down the body. ASMR is elicited by a range of video and auditory triggers, such as watching someone pretend to …
Cannabis: increased schizophrenia risk in young people linked to both low and high use: Previous research suggested it was only high frequency use that was linked with schizophrenia. fotoNino/ Shutterstock An estimated 200 million people use cannabis across the world. Next to alcohol and tobacco, it’s the most widely used drug in many countries. But …
Lack of trust in public figures linked to COVID vaccine hesitancy – new research: An estimated 132 million COVID vaccines were given to people in Britain in 2021. Yet despite this, over a year into the UK’s vaccination programme, a significant number of people still don’t have any vaccine-based protection against the coronavirus. Around one …
When a smell evokes a memory: new research offers clues about how the two are linked in the brain: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock In an episode of the popular TV series Black Mirror called Crocodile, an investigator asks a witness to smell a bottle of beer. The aim is to refresh her memory of a crime scene (the …
Tool use and language skills are linked in the brain – and practising one improves the other: SvedOliver/Shutterstock Language has traditionally been considered a complex skill which mobilises brain networks specifically dedicated to linguistic processing. But in recent years, neuroscience research has returned to this idea and offered new insights. Notably, studies have suggested that …
Heading the ball is linked to cognitive impairment in retired professional footballers: new research: Oleksandr Osipov/Shutterstock The potential long-term neurological effects of concussions and other knocks to the head in professional sport have attracted significant attention and research interest over recent years. Confirmation in 2014 that former England footballer Jeff Astle died as a result …
Cyberbullying among teens: our research shows online abuse and school bullying are often linked: Daisy Daisy/Shutterstock Over recent years, England has faced a concerning rise in cyberbullying compared to other countries. This issue has been compounded by an increase in digital activity among teenagers during COVID-19 lockdowns. Cyberbullying, sometimes called online harassment or abuse, refers …
Multiple sclerosis linked to infection in adolescence – new study: New Africa/Shutterstock Multiple sclerosis (MS) is most often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. Certain genes put a person at greater risk of getting this disease of the central nervous system, but scientists are still trying to understand the triggers. My colleagues and …
How poverty and violence are linked with anxiety in young South Africans: Young people living in urban informal settlement are exposed to high levels of violence and poverty. Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images Over the past 10 years there has been increasing awareness of the importance of promoting good mental health in South Africa. …