Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that people with dementia, depression, or stroke often share underlying damage to small blood vessels in the brain, which can be prevented or slowed by controlling risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Dr. Sanjula Singh and Dr. Stephanie Collier suggest that up to 60% of stroke cases, 40% of dementia cases, and 35% of late-life depression cases could be prevented with lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise like walking with a friend, which can also address other risk factors like excess weight and social isolation.
https://channelnewsasia.com/wellness/dementia-stroke-depression-prevention-5084581Tanya Hennessy, an actress, has spoken candidly about her IVF journey, revealing the emotional toll it took on her mental health. She experienced intense hormone treatments, miscarriages, and physical symptoms like heavy bleeding, which left her feeling overwhelmed while working on set. Despite struggling with her health, she prioritized work over her well-being, gaining 50 kilograms in just two years. Hennessy hopes to change the narrative around fertility struggles by sharing a more realistic account of the long and painful process.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14676219/Tanya-Hennessy-slimmed-figure-photoshoot.htmlResearchers and developers are working on digital therapy apps like Therabot, which aims to address loneliness and other mental health issues with a cautious approach. The team behind Therabot has dedicated six years to developing the app, prioritizing safety and effectiveness over profit. Unlike some other apps that focus on generating revenue, Therabot's creators aim to make digital therapy accessible to those who cannot afford conventional in-person help through a potential nonprofit entity. Experts like Darlene King, chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s committee on mental health technology, emphasize the need for more information before determining true benefits and risks of AI-powered mental health treatments.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/603085-us-researchers-seek-to-legitimise-ai-mental-health-careIn Kramatorsk, Ukraine, the Svitanok organisation provides a safe haven for social outcasts, including people with HIV, those recovering from drug addiction, and sex workers, who seek medical guidance and respite from stigma during the war. Oleg Makaria, an HIV-positive 41-year-old, finds solace at Svitanok, where he can drink tea and receive treatment without fear of judgment. Despite air raid sirens in Kramatorsk, just 20km away, Makaria feels accepted and respected at Svitanok, a refuge that is vital for marginalised communities facing heightened insecurity and stigma.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/accept-me-near-ukraine-front-a-haven-for-outcasts/article_9d80a2d2-ac28-5d03-8238-ad2a72113977.htmlYuval, Israel's Eurovision entry singer, is competing despite her traumatic experience at the Nova Festival attack last year. Her therapist intervened, and she fears revisiting the moments could trigger PTSD. This year's song, "New Day Will Rise," has a more uplifting tone, representing healing and optimism. Yuval hopes to use the platform to spread joy and bring attention to the 59 hostages still held in Gaza, whom she wants freed immediately.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14675723/Yuval-Raphael-survived-October-7-massacre-playing-dead-Israel-Eurovision-star.htmlIn the Ukrainian city of Svitanok, where most workers have HIV and struggle with drug dependency, a support center is providing aid to those in need. Counsellor Svitlana Andreieva has seen firsthand the devastating effects of stigma and lack of resources on her clients, including Iryna Mamalakieva, who was kicked out of hospitals and beaten by police due to her addiction. Despite these challenges, Svitanok's workers are working to provide medical and legal assistance to those affected, with Andreieva sharing her expertise to help them navigate the complexities of Ukrainian law. However, the organization is facing uncertainty after US humanitarian aid was cut off, leaving it scrambling to find alternative funding sources.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sex-workers-drug-addicts-hiv-patients-an-outcast-haven-on-ukraine-front-8325911A college student, Anandi Dixit, died by suicide at Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow. Her father alleged that the administration did not inform him about her death and instead broke open the door to take some belongings. This is the third reported case of a student committing suicide at the college in the last three years, following similar incidents involving Priyana Singh from Haryana in 2015 and Yash Kumar Khatwani in 2016.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/up-medical-student-death-cbi-lodges-abetment-to-suicide-case/Jock Zonfrillo, a well-known figure with a history of drug abuse and mental health struggles, died suddenly in August 2024 at his home in Carlton, Victoria. His wife Lauren, who was in Italy at the time, had been concerned about his absence from their usual daily phone calls. An investigation by Victoria Police found no signs of foul play or unusual circumstances surrounding his death, with coroners' court initially ruling it a natural cause. However, Lauren has hinted that she may reveal more information about her husband's final days in her upcoming book "Till Death Do Us Part".
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14677067/Jock-Zonfrillo-widow-Lauren-single-dating.htmlUS Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" motto may be harder to achieve due to significant government cuts, particularly in data-gathering programs tracking deaths and disease at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than a dozen programs, including those monitoring abortions, pregnancies, job-related injuries, lead poisonings, sexual violence, and youth smoking, have been eliminated or significantly reduced. The CDC's core budget is proposed to be cut by more than half, with a focus on emerging and infectious diseases only.
https://apnews.com/article/cdc-disease-tracking-health-surveillance-554eb9aa20b758714eba8b835dcde856