"A person’s chances of falling ill from a new strain of flu are at least partly determined by the first strain they ever encountered, a study suggests," BBC News reports. Researchers created a modelling study, based on historic data, which aimed to look at the reasons why past flu epidemics of influenza A – commonly referred
"Probiotics found in yoghurt and supplements could help improve thinking and memory for people with Alzheimer’s disease," The Daily Telegraph reports after a small study found people given the bacterial supplement had improved scores on brain function tests. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts promoted as having various health benefits, and are often added to yoghurt.
"Scouts and guides provide ‘mental health boost for life’," BBC News reports. A study of adults with a scouting or guiding background found they were less likely to be anxious or depressed in later life. But the difference in average mental health scores was quite small (2.2 points on a 1 to 100 scale). About
"Vaping raises likelihood of teenagers starting to smoke, study suggests," The Guardian reports. A study of US teens found those who regularly vaped were more likely to progress to tobacco smoking than their non-vaping peers. The study used questionnaires to assess e-cigarette and cigarette use in 3,000 adolescents aged 15. The teenagers completed questionnaires twice: at
"Scientists say they may have found a way to protect babies in the womb from the harmful effects of Zika," BBC News reports. Researchers have had success using antibody therapy to treat mice when they were still in their mothers’ womb. There is evidence that Zika virus, which has become widespread in South America recently,
"Why processed food may cause bowel cancer: Common additives change gut bacteria which allow tumours to grow," reports the Mail Online. This follows a study in mice investigating whether common food additives (E numbers) called emulsifiers cause inflammation in the gut that in turn triggers bowel cancer. The researchers divided the mice into three groups: two received
"Research quantifies genetic damage caused by smoking," the Mail reports, saying a pack a day causes 150 mutations in lung cells. This study analysed the DNA sequence of cells from more than 5,000 cancers. About half came from smokers and the rest from non-smokers, which allowed researchers to compare mutations between the two. Overall, the
"Worried well ‘make themselves sick’," reports The Daily Telegraph. Several other news outlets covered the same story with headlines about how the "worried well" may be more likely to develop heart disease. The stories are based on a Norwegian population study with 7,052 participants that aimed to see whether health anxiety (hypochondria) was linked with the
"Alzheimer’s treatment within reach after successful drug trial," reports The Guardian as early tests on a new drug show promising signs. The drug, verubecestat, is designed to prevent the brain making a particular protein called amyloid proteins that turns into sticky clumps of plaque. These plaques of amyloid beta protein are found in the brains
"An egg a day can cut chances of suffering a fatal stroke," The Times reports. A new review of existing data covering around 300,000 people suggests eating up to one egg a day may lower stroke risk; but not the risk of heart disease. The health effects of eggs have been debated for years. Eggs,
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