Page 29 - Latest Updates on Health with BS

Frailty, depression together raise dementia risk by 17% in elderly: Study

Older adults who are frail and have depression could be at a higher risk of dementia, with the factors combined contributing to 17 per cent of the overall risk, according to a study. The findings, published in the journal General Psychiatry, suggests that while frailty and depression each increase dementia risk on their own, having both the conditions could make one more than three times as likely to develop dementia, compared with those in good health. According to researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China, frailty and depression should be routinely assessed in older people, as improving their physical and mental health could help reduce dementia risk. The previously published research has primarily focused on the individual associations between physical frailty or depression and dementia risk, they added. Data from more than two lakh people from the US and UK, including the UK Biobank dataset, were analysed. During a 13-year follow-up, 9,088 participants wer

Is anger healthy in a marriage? What to do when it turns destructive

Anger can open the door to honest communication or shut it completely. Experts explain how couples can recognise the tipping point before conflict turns damaging

Health resolutions for 2026: Simple, sustainable habits doctors recommend

From better sleep and hydration to daily movement and social connection, doctors explain why small, consistent health habits are more effective than extreme resolutions in 2026

Doctor's orders for 2026: Take every office leave you're entitled to

Doctors are urging professionals to stop glorifying overwork and use all their office leave in 2026 to protect mental health, prevent burnout and sustain long-term productivity

Scientists discover rare new type of diabetes affecting newborns worldwide

Researchers have identified a previously unknown genetic form of neonatal diabetes that begins within weeks of birth and also disrupts brain development, leading to microcephaly and epileptic seizures

Can bad oral bacteria travel to the brain and trigger Parkinson's disease?

A common oral bacterium may move from the mouth to the gut and release toxins that enter the brain, damaging dopamine-producing cells linked to Parkinson's disease

Why New Year's resolutions fail, and how to make them actually stick

Most New Year resolutions fail not because of weak willpower, but because they ignore how the brain builds habits. Mental health experts explain what actually works

How daily microplastics exposure may be hardening arteries, mostly in men

From food packaging to drinking water, microplastics are almost impossible to avoid. A new study suggests these particles can lodge in blood vessels and accelerate artery damage linked to heart diseas

Why paper cups and plates are not a safe option for tea, coffee, hot food

Widely seen as a safer alternative to plastic, paper cups and plates are often lined with plastic films that can break down under heat, exposing consumers to microplastics, harmful chemicals

How Encephalitis damages the brain and why early detection matters

Often mistaken for viral fever, encephalitis inflames the brain and can turn fatal within hours. Here's explaining the causes, warning signs, treatment and recovery

India's food story in 2025: Ultra-processed diets meet health warnings

As India enters 2026, the challenge will be whether clearer labels, stronger regulation and informed consumers can slow the health costs of an increasingly ultra-processed diet

Music on the road: How it helps or hinders drivers, especially the young

Drivers listening to music tended to have more simulated collisions, poorer speed control and less stable following distances than those driving in silence

Rabies fear in UP: Can milk from infected animal transmit the deadly virus?

A suspected rabies case in a buffalo sent panic through a UP village, with hundreds rushing for vaccines after learning funeral raita was made from its milk. But was the fear justified?

Fermented foods or probiotics: Which one is right for your gut health?

Fermented foods boost everyday gut balance, while probiotic supplements target specific issues. Experts break down the differences, what works better, and for whom

How daily habits stain your teeth and what dentists say really works

Stains build up slowly through daily habits and ageing. Experts break down the types of stains and safe ways to restore a brighter smile

Andhra allows surgeries by Ayurvedic doctors: Why the IMA is pushing back

A new Andhra policy allowing PG Ayurvedic doctors to perform select surgeries has drawn sharp criticism from the IMA, which says surgery requires training standards followed only in modern medicine

Terminal lucidity: Why brain gains a burst of awareness just before death

Sometimes, people with terminal illness suddenly become more alert, aware and communicative shortly before death. Neurologists explain what is known about this phenomenon, called terminal lucidity

Odisha, Delhi join AB-PMJAY; digital healthcare sees robust growth in 2025

The year 2025 saw the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme expanding its footprint to Odisha and Delhi, growth in digital healthcare delivery and the fight against TB gaining more steam, with the government focusing on deepening the use of new-age technologies like AI in the public health delivery. Even though the Covid pandemic is almost obscure in public memory, there was a rise in cases in June fuelled by a surge in cases in parts of Asia including Singapore and Hong Kong, but the trajectory soon saw a downward trend thereby ensuring there was no flare up of panic. Most of the cases remained mild in nature, not requiring hospitalisation and resolved on their own. Riding on the government's push for enhanced digital health service, India made major strides towards ensuring specialised healthcare reached the grassroots. The eSanjeevani telemedicine service emerged as a catalyst in digital health service redefining how citizens access medical care, More than 43.2 crore free ...

Hip fractures among elderly on rise, experts call for safer home settings

Hip fracture among the elderly is a significant health crisis. Frequently resulting from a simple fall in individuals with weakened bones due to osteoporosis, the mortality rate after such a fracture is striking, according to experts. This serious injury, a break in the upper part of the thigh bone -- femur -- near the hip joint, almost always necessitates surgical intervention, followed by extensive physical therapy. According to doctors, one-year mortality rates after a hip fracture range from 14 per cent to 36 per cent. Dr Abhimanyu Kumar, a consultant orthopaedic at the Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research (SBISR) said the risk of hip fracture rises with age, with women being particularly susceptible due to accelerated bone loss after menopause. "Beyond osteoporosis, other risk factors include poor vision, balance problems, osteoarthritis of the knees, muscle weakness (sarcopenia), use of multiple medications, and underlying chronic conditions like Parkinson's disea

Health shocks of the year: What 2025 taught India about being unprepared

From unsafe medicines and rare infections to heatwaves and failing antibiotics, 2025 exposed why preparedness can no longer wait