In November, the Mirror delved into several health studies and what they mean for you – here’s everything you should know
Five health studies we covered this month you need to know
- MRI scans are essential tools for diagnosing various conditions and assessing the health of bones and organs. Now, scientists believe they could also detect early signs of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) by examining our tongues more closely.
- MND is a progressive condition that shortens life by attacking the nerves responsible for movement, known as motor neurons. This generally results in muscle weakness, making it difficult to speak, breathe, move, and swallow, and these symptoms tend to worsen over months or years.
READ MORE HERE: Simple tongue scan may detect early symptoms of debilitating disease
- Getting the flu, Covid-19, or a similar viral illness could significantly raise your risk of serious heart issues, according to major recent research. The review of 155 academic papers showed that influenza and Covid-19 infections could increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes by three to five times in the weeks following infection.
- Longer-lasting viruses, such as HIV, hepatitis C, and varicella zoster virus, may also elevate the long-term risks of cardiovascular events.
READ MORE HERE: Flu and Covid health alert over threat of serious heart problems
- Recent research uncovered a troubling relationship between eating certain foods and a potentially heightened risk of prediabetes in young adults. Prediabetes is a condition characterised by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that haven’t yet reached the threshold for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
- The peer-reviewed study, led by the Keck School of Medicine at the University of California, examined 85 young people over several years.
READ MORE HERE: Eating these everyday foods may spike prediabetes risk, scientists warn
READ MORE HERE: ‘Clogged drains’ symptom may be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease
- Fresh research suggests that sticking to a single dietary routine for more than 20 years may help ‘slow down’ brain ageing. Researchers think this consistent eating habit could decrease several common ‘metabolic alterations’, some of which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
- The recent study, led by Boston University in the US, studied 10 male monkeys, which were split into two key groups. The first of these was required to eat a ‘normal’, balanced diet, while the other consumed approximately 30% fewer calories for the remainder of their lives.
READ MORE HERE: Brain ageing may ‘slow down’ by maintaining one diet for over 20 years
