Improving diagnosis and care in younger onset dementia

A 62-year-old man in Germany—called HIM—deliberately  received 217 vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 within a period of 29 months. Researchers were keen to know more.

Sleep has become a bit of an obsession and has us questioning just how much we need. A large study has compared participants' duration of sleep against their risk of Type 2 Diabetes. The researchers also assessed whether participants' diet could reduce the risk in people with short duration sleep.

In pop culture and news coverage menopause and mood changes seem inextricably linked—to the point where depression around menopause feels almost inevitable. A special series on menopause has just been published in the Lancet, with one paper specifically on mental health.

In hospital emergency rooms emotions can run high, and tempers can get frazzled, which is confronting for both staff and other patients.

But now student staff are using virtual reality and ChatGPT to learn how to calm situations right down.

Producer:Shelby Traynor

Guests: Martin Brown, FMH Media Lab, University of SydneyDr Caryl Barnes, psychiatrist

Two scientific papers regarding Mifespristone have been retracted due to uncertainty about the data.

Less Australians are smoking—but more of them are vaping.

Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Major depressive disorder is a leading cause of global disability, and although medication and psychotherapy are effective, many people are resistant to treatment. So more evidence-based treatments are needed, and exercise looks like a candidate. But, the guidelines for which type of exercise works best need to be clearer.

For a country as sunny as Australia, skin cancer is a major health risk. But access to proper cancer screening and treatment is falling short, especially in regional areas in some of our highest-risk areas, such as Far North Queensland.

Sarcoidoisis is an enigmatic condition that may attack different parts of the body. Diagnosis is difficult and there are few treatments. SARI (the Sarcoidosis Advocacy and Research Initiative) at UNSW, is a new approach for Australian sarcoidosis patients to gain recognition, support, and management of the condition.

News this week is The Government response to the long COVID inquiry, which looked into how many Australians are living with long COVID and what could be done to support them.

And, a report on fine particulates in the air, and their relationship with coronary heart disease.

A heart health check usually results in a cardiovascular disease risk score—a probability that you’ll have a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. If your risk is high, you’ll be asked to review your diet or lifestyle, or be prescribed medications to reduce your risk.

But change can be difficult, so a study has tested whether showing people actual pictures of the plaque inside their arteries is more persuasive than a simple risk score—and been successful.