Could your drinking put you at risk of early onset dementia?
REGULAR heavy drinking puts you at a higher risk of dementia, especially the early onset type (under 65 years), reveals a study of one million people in France.
The research published in The Lancet online involving 57,000 cases of early onset dementia found the majority (57%) were related to chronic heavy drinking – defined as more than four to five standard drinks a day for men and three for women.
The role played by alcohol in dementia is much greater than was previously believed, say the study authors, who pointed out that: “Alcohol-use disorders should be recognised as a major risk factor for all types of dementia, and one of the main causes of early dementia”.
NIGHT owls tend to die slightly earlier than early risers – possibly because they’re forced to go against their body clocks.
Researchers from Britain and the US tracked about 430,000 people Over a six-and-a-half-year period. Those who said they were evening types were 10% more likely to die than those describing themselves as morning people.
Night owls are also more prone to depression, diabetes and other health problems. The researchers say the difference could be down to schedules that suit early risers. Forced to get up, say, in time for work at 9am, night owls become chronically sleep-deprived, which harms their health.
To go to sleep earlier, night owls could consider taking low doses of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin – but not without consulting their GP.
A VACCINE could help extend the lives of people diagnosed with the same brain cancer that killed former Cabinet minister Tessa Jowell.
Early trials show that a vaccine which stimulates the body’s immune system to tackle the cancer could give an extra six months or so of life.
Glioblastoma patients live on average for 15 to 17 months after surgery. But in a medical study of the DCVax involving 331 patients they survived for an average 23 months.
The longest survivors are still alive more than seven years after surgery.
VITAMIN D deficiency may increase the risk of miscarriage, according to a study.
Researchers measured levels of the vitamin in the blood of women who had suffered a previous loss before they fell pregnant again.
Those getting the recommended vitamin D levels were 15% more likely to have a live birth than those who didn’t.