What the scientists are saying…

Take aspirin after a “funny turn” If you suffer a “mini-stroke”, take aspirin straight away, scientists have advised. Transient ischaemic attacks (or TIAS), which affect around 46,000 people in the UK each year, can be a sign that a major stroke is on the way – in many cases, in the next few days. But taking an aspirin reduces the chances of this happening by up to 80%, according to a study published in The Lancet. TIAS are caused by a blood clot temporarily blocking the flow of blood to the brain, and are marked by many of the same symptoms as strokes – including dizziness, weakness of the arms, face or legs, and sudden problems with speech or sight. But because their effects are shortlived, they are sometimes dismissed as “funny turns”, and sufferers don’t always seek medical advice. Even when patients do see a doctor, aspirin – to help thin the blood and prevent further clots – may not be prescribed quickly enough, said study leader Professor Peter Rothwell, of Oxford University. “Doctors should give aspirin immediately if a TIA or minor stoke is suspected, rather than waiting for specialist assessment and investigations,” he said.

Blood pressure link to dementia Having high blood pressure in middle age may increase a person’s chances of developing dementia, according to new research. Scientists analysed data on 4.28 million people, and found a link between raised blood pressure and vascular dementia, the second most common form after Alzheimer’s. Vascular dementia is caused by the disruption of the blood supply to the brain – and it is thought that, over time, high blood pressure exacerbates this by causing vessels to become blocked or damaged. The correlation was most marked, the study found, among people in their 30s and 40s: for each increase of 20 mmhg (millimetres of mercury) in blood pressure, this group had a 62% increased risk of developing vascular dementia. For those aged between 50 and 70, the increase was 26%; for over-70s there seemed to be no raised risk (probably because other risk factors emerge in old age). The good news is that by taking steps to lower their blood pressure, through exercise, diet and/or drugs, people can probably reduce the dementia risk, said Professor Kazem Rahimi, of The George Institute for Global Health, who led the study.

Healthy lifestyles and cancer More than half of cancer deaths could be prevented by people living healthier lives, US scientists claim. A team at Harvard University interviewed 136,000 health professionals about their lifestyles before dividing them into two groups – “lowrisk” and “high-risk”. To qualify as “low- risk”, participants needed to not smoke, exercise regularly, drink only in moderation, and have a body mass index between 18.5 and 27.5. Those who didn’t meet these criteria were judged “highrisk”. The researchers then compared cancer rates between the groups in order to calculate the proportion of cancers attributable to “high-risk” lifestyles. Overall, they estimated, a quarter of the women’s cancers, and a third of the men’s, would have been preventable had sufferers lived more healthily. Next, the researchers adjusted their findings for the US population at large – and since medics tend to be healthier than others, their estimates for the proportion of preventable cancers rose. Among white adults, up to 40% of cancers, and as many as 70% of cancer deaths, could be prevented, the team said.

Turning water into wine Having already “grown” meat in the lab, without killing animals, scientists are now trying to make wine without grapes. Two bio-engineering graduates in San Francisco have set up a company specialising in cheap synthetic versions of fine wines. Their first attempt was a copy of the Italian sparkling white Moscato d’asti; now they are close to creating an imitation 1992 Don Pérignon. The pair use techniques including gas chromatography mass spectrometry to analyse the chemical composition and key flavour molecules of each wine. Working with a sommelier, they then attempt to recreate the wine’s taste by mixing the flavour compounds with water and ethanol, as well as tannins. They say they’ll be able to offer the taste of fine wine at a fraction of the price, but experts have been unimpressed by their results so far. The fact they can’t call it wine, due to labelling rules, may also put off consumers.