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Centenarian blood tests give hints of the secrets to longevity

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karin-modig-1473484">Karin Modig</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/karolinska-institutet-1250">Karolinska Institutet</a> Centenarians, once considered rare, have become commonplace. Indeed, they are the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/02/living-to-one-hundred-life-expectancy/">fastest-growing demographic group</a> of the world’s population, with numbers roughly doubling every ten years since the 1970s. How long humans can live, and what determines a long and healthy life, have been of interest for as long as we know. Plato and Aristotle discussed and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12092789/">wrote about the ageing process</a> over 2,300 years ago. The pursuit of understanding the secrets behind exceptional longevity isn’t easy, however. It involves <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7105197/">unravelling the complex interplay</a> of genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors and how they interact throughout a person’s life. Now our recent study, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-023-00936-w">published in GeroScience</a>, has unveiled some common biomarkers, including levels of cholesterol and glucose, in people who live past 90. Nonagenarians and centenarians have long been of intense interest to scientists as they may help us understand how to live longer, and perhaps also how to age in better health. So far, studies of centenarians have often been small scale and focused on a selected group, for example, excluding centenarians who live in care homes. <h2>Huge dataset</h2> Ours is the largest study comparing biomarker profiles measured throughout life among exceptionally long-lived people and their shorter-lived peers to date. We compared the biomarker profiles of people who went on to live past the age of 100, and their shorter-lived peers, and investigated the link between the profiles and the chance of becoming a centenarian. Our research included data from 44,000 Swedes who underwent health assessments at ages 64-99 - they were a sample of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28158674/">the so-called Amoris cohort</a>. These participants were then followed through Swedish register data for up to 35 years. Of these people, 1,224, or 2.7%, lived to be 100 years old. The vast majority (85%) of the centenarians were female. Twelve blood-based biomarkers related to inflammation, metabolism, liver and kidney function, as well as potential malnutrition and anaemia, were included. All of these <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-019-0719-5">have been associated</a> with ageing or mortality in previous studies. The biomarker related to inflammation was uric acid – a waste product in the body caused by the digestion of certain foods. We also looked at markers linked to metabolic status and function including total cholesterol and glucose, and ones related to liver function, such as alanine aminotransferase (Alat), aspartate aminotransferase (Asat), albumin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (Alp) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD). We also looked at creatinine, which is linked to kidney function, and iron and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), which is linked to anaemia. Finally, we also investigated albumin, a biomarker associated with nutrition. <h2>Findings</h2> We found that, on the whole, those who made it to their hundredth birthday tended to have lower levels of glucose, creatinine and uric acid from their sixties onwards. Although the median values didn’t differ significantly between centenarians and non-centenarians for most biomarkers, centenarians seldom displayed extremely high or low values. For example, very few of the centenarians had a glucose level above 6.5 earlier in life, or a creatinine level above 125. For many of the biomarkers, both centenarians and non-centenarians had values outside of the range considered normal in clinical guidelines. This is probably because these guidelines are set based on a younger and healthier population. When exploring which biomarkers were linked to the likelihood of reaching 100, we found that all but two (alat and albumin) of the 12 biomarkers showed a connection to the likelihood of turning 100. This was even after accounting for age, sex and disease burden. The people in the lowest out of five groups for levels of total cholesterol and iron had a lower chance of reaching 100 years as compared to those with higher levels. Meanwhile, people with higher levels of glucose, creatinine, uric acid and markers for liver function also decreased the chance of becoming a centenarian. In absolute terms, the differences were rather small for some of the biomarkers, while for others the differences were somewhat more substantial. For uric acid, for instance, the absolute difference was 2.5 percentage points. This means that people in the group with the lowest uric acid had a 4% chance of turning 100 while in the group with the highest uric acid levels only 1.5% made it to age 100. Even if the differences we discovered were overall rather small, they suggest a potential link between metabolic health, nutrition and exceptional longevity. The study, however, does not allow any conclusions about which lifestyle factors or genes are responsible for the biomarker values. However, it is reasonable to think that factors such as nutrition and alcohol intake play a role. Keeping track of your kidney and liver values, as well as glucose and uric acid as you get older, is probably not a bad idea. That said, chance probably plays a role at some point in reaching an exceptional age. But the fact that differences in biomarkers could be observed a long time before death suggests that genes and lifestyle may also play a role.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/215166/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karin-modig-1473484">Karin Modig</a>, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/karolinska-institutet-1250">Karolinska Institutet</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/centenarian-blood-tests-give-hints-of-the-secrets-to-longevity-215166">original article</a>.

Retirement Life

8 reasons everyone should know their blood type

Why you should know your blood type What’s in a blood type? Potentially a lot, according to research, including a review of studies published in the Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Systems Biology and Medicine, that connects different blood groups to everything from risk of heart disease and dementia to urinary tract infections and the norovirus. While none of the studies are conclusive about cause and effect (they can’t say X blood type causes Y disease) and any increased risks are still pretty small, the research does highlight the importance of knowing your type – A, B, AB, or O – and how it could affect your wellbeing. Blood clots: Type AB, A, and B increases risk Danish researchers studied how blood type interacts with a genetic predisposition for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots in the lower legs that can travel to the lungs and become life-threatening. After analysing data on about 66,000 people over more than 30 years, they found that those with type AB, A, or B had a 40 per cent higher risk of DVT than people with type O, the most common type. When the scientists did further analysis to see which factors have the biggest impact on DVT risk on a population level, they found that an AB blood type contributed to about 20 per cent of blood clots; genetic mutations accounted for 11 per cent, being overweight accounted for 16 per cent, and smoking accounted for six per cent. Heart disease: Type AB, B, and A all increase risk People whose blood type is A, B, or AB have an increased risk of heart disease and shorter life spans than people who have type O blood, according to a large study published in BMC Medicine. After following more than 50,000 middle-age and elderly people for seven years, on average, researchers found that as many as nine per cent of cardiovascular deaths were attributed to having non-O blood types. However, as any doctor will tell you, lifestyle factors like weight, smoking and diet, which, unlike blood type, are modifiable, have a much greater impact on heart disease. Stomach cancer: Types A and AB increases risk Researchers have known for a while that people with blood type A are at risk for stomach cancer. But research published in BMC Cancer shows that people with blood type AB are also at risk. Using genetic data from a large number of cases and controls, researchers found a link between both blood types and gastric cancer in Chinese populations. A review of 39 previous studies confirmed their findings. Fertility: Type O reduces it Women with this blood type were twice as likely to have blood levels of the hormone FSH high enough to indicate low ovarian reserve, a measure of fertility, according to a study published in Human Reproduction. Researchers couldn’t say for sure why, though. Given that type O blood is the most prevalent, it doesn’t pay to worry too much about it. Age is a far more important risk factor for fertility problems. Pregnancy risks This has nothing to do with your “letter” blood type or the type determined by the ABO grouping system. This has to do with what’s known as the Rhesus (Rh) factor, which determines whether your blood type is positive or negative. This could cause complications in pregnant women if the baby’s Rh blood type is different from the mother’s. For instance, if the mother has a negative blood type and the baby has a positive one, the mother’s body can actually build up antibodies against the baby’s blood type. Luckily, this doesn’t affect the baby, but it could have a negative effect on future pregnancies. Fortunately, doctors can give pregnant women a shot early in their pregnancy that can prevent Rh-incompatibility problems. Dementia and memory loss: Type AB increases risk People with type AB blood have an 82 per cent greater risk for cognitive decline later in life, according to a study published in Neurology. That’s likely because they have larger amounts of what’s known as the Factor VIII protein, which helps with blood clotting. Study participants with higher levels of this protein were 24 per cent more likely to develop memory problems – regardless of their blood type – than people with lower levels. Blood type, however, is far from the only, or even most important, factor that affects your risk for cognitive decline. Stroke: Type O has the lowest risk People with a blood type other than O (the most common) have a higher risk of cardiovascular issues such as stroke, according to a study published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Biologists are still investigating why this might be; one possible explanation is that non-O blood types contain more of the Von Willebrand factor, a protein that has been connected to blood clotting and stroke in the past. Mosquitos like Type O blood If you find yourself scratching bug bites all summer long, your blood type might be to blame. In a one small study, researchers found that type Os are up to twice as attractive to mosquitoes as type As, with type Bs falling somewhere in the middle. Image credits: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/8-reasons-everyone-should-know-their-blood-type" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Body

"I've lost complete blood flow": Robert Irwin's near miss with python

Young wildlife warrior Robert Irwin suffered a near miss during a rescue mission over the weekend, when he tried to relocate a carpet python off the road. The 19-year-old took to Instagram on Sunday to share a video of him almost getting bit by the wild snake. "Gee, that gets the heart rate up - he missed me by that much," he said when the snake struck at him. "He's grumpy... he's really keen on biting me... what a gorgeous snake, he's big, he's not venomous but... they're designed to constrict," he said as the python began wrapping its body around his arm to ''constrict" him. "He's got a good grip there, I've lost complete blood flow to my hand, it's completely blue.. and I have no feeling left in my hand," he added. He eventually managed to rescue the snake, and relocated it to a safe spot in the bush the day after. "Near miss! Definitely had a good laugh with this grumpy carpet python - but great to get him rescued off the road and relocated to a much safer spot!" he captioned the post. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0Fc3k-hiy9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0Fc3k-hiy9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Robert Irwin (@robertirwinphotography)</a> </div> </blockquote> Fans shared their shock and couldn't help but comment on how much the young conservationist was like his late father, Steve Irwin. "Dude you are killing us with these like-father-like-son bits," one fan wrote. "Holy crap. I actually thought I was watching Steve for a second and it took me back a moment. He's very much still alive in his family. No doubt about that," another added. "This is precarious yet hiss-terical !😂 all at the same time. Thank you for helping snakey dude slither to safety! 👍🏼💕" added a fellow conservationist. Images: Instagram

Travel Trouble

Worried about getting a blood test? 5 tips to make them easier (and still accurate)

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sapha-shibeeb-1481231">Sapha Shibeeb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Blood tests are a common medical procedure, offering valuable insights into a person’s health. Whether you’re getting a routine check-up, diagnosing a medical condition or monitoring treatment progress, understanding the process can make the experience more comfortable and effective. For the majority of patients, blood collections are a minor inconvenience. Others may feel <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0887618506000041">uneasy and anxious</a>. Preparation strategies can help get you through the procedure. <h2>How blood is collected</h2> During venipuncture (blood draw), the phlebotomist (blood collector) inserts a needle through the skin into a vein and a small amount of blood is collected and transferred into a test tube. Tubes are sent to a laboratory, where the blood is analysed. A laboratory technician may count or examine cells and measure the levels of minerals/salts, enzymes, proteins or other substances in the sample. For some tests, blood plasma is separated out by spinning (centrifuging) the sample. Others pass a light beam through the sample to determine the amount of a chemical present. For collection, the phlebotomist usually selects a vein in the crook of your elbow, where veins are readily accessible. Blood can also be drawn from veins in the wrists, fingers or heels. A tourniquet may be applied to restrict blood flow and make the chosen vein puff out. <h2>Different tests require different preparation</h2> Before a blood test, the GP or health-care provider will give you specific instructions. These may include fasting for up to 12 hours or temporarily discontinuing certain medications. It is crucial to follow these guidelines meticulously as they can significantly impact the accuracy of your test results. For example, fasting is required before glucose (blood sugar) and lipids (blood fats) testing because blood sugar and cholesterol levels typically increase after a meal. If the blood test requires fasting, you will be asked not to eat or drink (no tea, coffee, juice or alcohol) for about eight to 12 hours. Water is allowed but smoking should be avoided because it can increase <a href="https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/19/2/112/19825/Acute-Effect-of-Cigarette-Smoking-on-Glucose">blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels</a>. Generally, you will be asked to fast overnight and have the blood collection done in the morning. Fasting for longer than 15 hours could impact your results, too, by causing dehydration or the release of certain chemicals in the blood. If you have diabetes, you must consult your doctor prior to fasting because it can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in people with type 1 diabetes. Most type 2 diabetics can safely fast before a blood test but there are some exceptions, such as people who are taking certain medications including insulin. <h2>5 tips for a better blood test</h2> To improve your blood collection experience, consider these tips: 1. Hydrate Drink plenty of water right up to 30 minutes before your appointment. Adequate hydration improves blood flow, making your veins more accessible. Avoid <a href="https://academic.oup.com/labmed/article/34/10/736/2657269">strenuous exercise</a> before your blood test, which can increase some blood parameters (such as liver function) while decreasing others (such as sodium). 2. Loose clothing Wear clothing that allows easy access to your arms to ensure a less stressful procedure. 3. Manage anxiety If the sight of blood or the procedure makes you anxious, look away while the needle is inserted and try to keep breathing normally. Distraction can help – virtual reality has been <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31889358/">trialled</a> to reduce needle anxiety in children. You could try bringing something to read or music to listen to. 4. Know your risk of fainting If you’re prone to fainting, make sure to inform the phlebotomist when you arrive. You can have your blood drawn while lying down to minimise the risk of passing out and injury. Hydration helps maintain blood pressure and can also <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01.CIR.0000101966.24899.CB">reduce the risk</a> of fainting. 5. Discuss difficult veins Some people have smaller or scarred veins, often due to repeated punctures, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4989034/">chemotherapy</a> or blood thinner use. In such cases, venipuncture may require multiple attempts. It is important to talk to the phlebotomist if you feel discomfort or significant pain. A finger prick can be performed as an alternative for some tests, such as blood glucose levels. But other comprehensive tests require larger blood volume. <h2>Blood draws after lymph node removal</h2> Historically, there were concerns about drawing blood from an arm that had undergone lymph node removal. This was due to the risk of <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/lymphedema/lymphedema-pdq#:%7E:text=Lymphedema%20is%20the%20build%2Dup,the%20way%20that%20it%20should.">lymphedema</a>, a condition marked by fluid build-up in the affected arm. Lymph nodes may have been removed (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564397/#:%7E:text=Lymph%20node%20dissection%2C%20also%20known,surgical%20management%20of%20malignant%20tumors.">lymphadenectomy</a>) for cancer diagnosis or treatment. However, a <a href="https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2015.61.5948">2016 study</a> showed people who’ve had lymph nodes removed are not at a higher risk of developing lymphedema following blood draws, even when drawing blood from the affected arm. <h2>After your blood test</h2> The whole blood test procedure usually lasts no more than a few minutes. Afterwards, you may be asked to apply gentle pressure over a clean dressing to aid clotting and reduce swelling. If you do experience swelling, bruising or pain after a test, follow general first aid procedures to alleviate discomfort. These include applying ice to the site, resting the affected arm and, if needed, taking a pain killer. It is usually recommended you do not do heavy lifting for a few hours after a blood draw. This is to prevent surges in blood flow that could prevent clotting where the blood was taken.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/216073/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sapha-shibeeb-1481231">Sapha Shibeeb</a>, Senior lecturer in Laboratory Medicine , <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/worried-about-getting-a-blood-test-5-tips-to-make-them-easier-and-still-accurate-216073">original article</a>.

Body

"Truly remarkable": Outpouring of love for orphaned infants of bus crash victims

Generous Australians have opened their hearts and wallets to show their support for the two orphaned children of Andrew and Lynan Scott. The Scotts were onboard the bus that crashed in the Hunter Valley and were killed, along with eight others, leaving behind two sons, aged two and four. Since the devastating crash, family friends Sean and Paula Mewing set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/Support-the-sons-of-Andrew-and-Lynan-Scott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page for the young boys from Singleton in northern NSW, with the staggering sum reaching almost $300,000 in just over a week. The page's stated goal was $300,000 to 'to assist in providing ongoing support for the sons' of the Scotts, with more than 2,300 donations making up a total sum of $287,000. Despite the page almost reaching the target, the families of Andrew and Lynan said the page would "remain open in weeks, months and years ahead" to "support these boys in any endeavour they wish to pursue". In an update posted on Sunday, the families of Andrew and Lynan thanked page visitors for "all the love and support you all have shown in the past week either via donations and/or messages on this page, it is truly remarkable." In the messages section, tributes flowed from friends, family and colleagues of the deceased couple. "I worked with Andrew and he was one of the most genuinely sweet men I’ve ever met," one person wrote. "We were usually the first 2 there in the morning and he always had a happy smile and a hello for me! He won’t be forgotten." Another said, "Thank you Lynan and Andrew for being part of my life and sharing your family with me." "I will be forever grateful that our paths crossed. We hope to be there to support the boys in the years to come. Much love to their families now and forever." Image credits: GoFundMe

Caring

No, you can’t reverse ageing by injecting ‘young blood’ and fasting. But that doesn’t stop people trying

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-jefferson-buchanan-297850">Rachael Jefferson-Buchanan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a> Like many celebrities and entrepreneurs, 45-year-old US tech billionaire Bryan Johnson is <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/taking-the-blood-of-your-17-year-old-son-anti-ageing-has-gone-too-far-20230530-p5dcd6.html">trying to reverse the ageing process</a>. Spending an average of US$2 million a year on an anti-ageing regimen, Johnson <a href="https://medium.com/future-literacy/at-45-i-now-age-slower-than-the-average-10-year-old-6932448fc608">claims</a> he now ages slower than some children. He explains: “the pace my body accumulates ageing damage is less than the average ten year old”. Many of Johnson’s age-reversal methods are questionable, involve dodgy science, and have known side effects. While you can’t stop the ageing process, and the gradual decline our bodies experience as we advance in years, there are some things we can all do – for free – to maintain our health as we age. <h2>What does Johnson do? And is it scientific?</h2> Fasting Johnson reports fasting for 23 hours a day. He then eats <a href="https://medium.com/future-literacy/one-meal-23-hr-fast-100-nutrition-18187a2f5b">one meal a day</a>: 2,250 calories of nutrient-dense food “customised” to his body’s needs. Eating for time-restricted periods in the day can have a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9650338/">positive effect</a> on how we <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29955217/">metabolise nutrients</a>, inflammation levels, hormonal regulation, and <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-good-is-your-cardiometabolic-health-and-what-is-that-anyway-202208182803">cardiometabolic health</a> (blood sugar, <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/triglycerides/art-20048186">triglycerides</a>, cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI and waist circumference). However, a Spartan-like food intake can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2121099/">impair</a> how our body responds to sugar (known as glucose tolerance). And it’s not necessarily any more effective for weight maintenance than <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29419624/">reducing calorie intake at each meal</a>. Large-scale, long-term human trials are needed to confirm the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34728336/">limited risk-benefit</a> findings of fasting. Acid peels Johnson has weekly <a href="https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/chemical-peels/chemical-peels-for-aging-skin">acid peels</a> (which use a mild acid to exfoliate the skin) to maintain a “youthful glow”. But you cannot smooth sagging facial skin or remove deep scars or wrinkles. Acid peels also <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemical-peel/about/pac-20393473">come with risks</a>, including organ damage, infection, scarring and swelling. Plasma infusions Perhaps the most bizarre youth-inducing procedure Johnson has attempted is receiving blood transfusions from his 17-year-old son. US biotech companies have explored <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/02/could-young-blood-stop-us-getting-old-transfusions-experiments-mice-plasma">plasma infusions</a> to tackle age-related diseases in humans for decades. But there are no proven clinical benefits. <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/what-happens-to-donated-blood/blood-transfusions/risks-complications.html">Side effects from blood transfusions</a> include blood-borne infections, fever and allergic reactions. <h2>Historical attempts to stay youthful</h2> Humans have been experimenting with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/59/6/B515/662071">anti-ageing methods for centuries</a>. These have included all sorts of behavioural and lifestyle practices that are quirky, questionable, and even sadistic. Ancient practices included <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/news/a14382/anti-aging-beauty-through-history/">crocodile dung face masks</a>, which the Greeks and Romans used to brighten their complexions. Romans also used <a href="https://beautytap.com/2019/03/donkey-milk">donkey milk</a> and <a href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/swans-fat-crocodile-dung-and-ashes-snails-achieving-beauty-ancient-rome-003240">swan fat</a> to minimise wrinkles, due to their acclaimed rejuvenating properties. <a href="https://www.livescience.com/44071-cleopatra-biography.html">Cleopatra</a> apparently took daily baths in sour donkey milk. To sustain this lavish habit, she had a <a href="https://www.naturanecosmetics.com/en/content/26-faits-historiques">herd of 700 donkeys</a>. Sour milk contains <a href="https://science.jrank.org/pages/3780/Lactic-Acid-Lactic-acid-in-foods.html">lactic acid</a>, a naturally occurring <a href="https://www.mecca.com.au/edits/ingredients/alpha-hydroxy-acids/">alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA)</a> that exists in many modern-day exfoliants. So this idea was grounded in basic science, at least. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Milk bath with dried fruits and flowers" /><figcaption>Don’t waste milk on a bath. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/bath-milk-flowers-1051210370">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> During the 16th and 17th century, “Countess Dracula” aka <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory">Elizabeth Bathory</a> allegedly resorted to serial killing to quench her thirst for youthfulness, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/the-bloody-legend-of-hungarys-serial-killer-countess">bathing in the blood of her young victims</a>. <h2>The quest continues with cryotherapy</h2> Fountain of youth fixations have inspired many contemporary anti-ageing trends. Exposure to cold is a firm favourite. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-023-00383-4">Some research</a> suggests this could have <a href="https://neurosciencenews.com/cold-aging-22928/">benefits</a> relating to longevity, by slowing cellular degeneration, <a href="https://www.cryo.com.au/anti-ageing-benefits-of-whole-body-cryotherapy/">stimulating collagen and elastin production</a>, increasing the metabolism, and reducing inflammation. Dutch motivational speaker Wim Hof includes <a href="https://www.wimhofmethod.com/cold-water-immersion">cold water immersion</a> as one of the three pillars of his <a href="https://www.wimhofmethod.com/">Wim Hof Method</a> to “increase mind-body connection”. Athletes such as <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2469985/Cristiano-Ronaldo-buys-Cryotherapy-chamber.html">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> use <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21099-cryotherapy">cryotherapy</a>, exposing their bodies to extremely cold temperatures for two to four minutes to decrease the signs of ageing and enhance their general health. However, the <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_side_effects_of_cryotherapy/article.htm">risks of cryotherapy</a> include bone fractures, frostbite, nerve damage, bleeding, cramping, swelling and skin infections. <h2>So what can we do to age well?</h2> Two of the more mainstream anti-ageing methods that Johnson recommends are the daily self-care habits of sleep and exercise. He has a <a href="https://medium.com/future-literacy/sleep-and-impulse-control-87e844218ff2">strict sleep schedule</a> that involves retiring to bed at 8pm, with a one-hour wind-down in a darkened room. Adults report poorer sleep quality and difficulty being able to sleep for long enough <a href="https://www.news-medical.net/health/How-Does-the-Suprachiasmatic-Nucleus-(SCN)-Control-Circadian-Rhythm.aspx">as they age</a>. Sleeping too much or too little is <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1043347/full">associated with</a> a greater risk of obesity, heart disease and <a href="https://theconversation.com/research-check-can-sleeping-too-much-lead-to-an-early-death-101323">premature death</a>. Developing a regular sleep routine, reducing bedroom distractions such as mobile phones, and exercising regularly can all help to <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/aging-and-sleep">alleviate sleep problems</a>. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Child and grandfather walk on a beach" /><figcaption>Exercise is also important for healthy ageing. <a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/s-vhziQHngM">Vidar Nordi Mathisen/Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> Exercise, often cited as a <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/exercise-is-the-wonder-drug-for-healthy-aging-11633642719">wonder drug for healthy ageing</a>, is something Johnson takes very seriously. He does a “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNywRJgCRaQ">Blueprint</a>” workout that includes specially designed daily techniques, as well as <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/high-intensity-interval-training/">high-intensity interval training sessions</a>, hiking and playing sport. From middle age onwards, we all need to exercise regularly, to increase our muscle mass, bone density, strength, endurance, coordination and balance. One of the greatest health risks for older people is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560761/">falling</a>, which balance, flexibility, endurance and strength training <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC381224/">can help</a> reduce. Physical activity can bring <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5408452/">social benefits</a> in older adults if undertaken in groups, and there are well-known <a href="https://www.whiddon.com.au/yourlife/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise-for-older-adults/">mental health gains</a>. Small changes in sleep, diet (eating <a href="https://health.gov/news/202107/nutrition-we-age-healthy-eating-dietary-guidelines">plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, healthy fats, and enough protein</a>), and exercise can support <a href="https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-020-01900-5">healthy ageing</a>, reducing the chance of early death, and helping us all to lead an active and independent life in our senior years. Now that is something worth investing in.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207038/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-jefferson-buchanan-297850">Rachael Jefferson-Buchanan</a>, Lecturer in Human Movement Studies (Health and PE) and Creative Arts, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-you-cant-reverse-ageing-by-injecting-young-blood-and-fasting-but-that-doesnt-stop-people-trying-207038">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Body

People thinking of voluntary assisted dying may be able to donate their organs. We need to start talking about this

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-ray-1441988">Robert Ray</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> The number of people needing an organ transplant vastly outweighs the number of organs available. <a href="https://www.donatelife.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/OTA%202022%20Donation%20and%20Transplantation%20Activity%20Report.pdf">In 2022</a> there were about 1,800 Australians waiting for an organ but only about 1,200 people received an organ transplant. But in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/imj.16085">a recent paper</a>, I outline one unexplored option for increasing the number of potential organ donors in Australia – transplanting organs from people undergoing voluntary assisted dying. This would involve transplanting organs only after someone had died. It’s estimated <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2616383">about 10%</a> of people eligible for voluntary assisted dying are likely to be medically suitable to donate their organs. Based on <a href="https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-09/Voluntary%20Assisted%20Dying%20Review%20Board%20Report%20of%20Operations%20July%202021-June%2022_FINAL.pdf">Victorian figures</a> alone, this could lead to about an extra 40 potential organ donors each year. This type of organ donation has taken place <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9297969/">for more than 20 years</a> in Europe, and more recently in Canada. Organs transplanted from donors undergoing voluntary assisted dying <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2769118">have</a> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.16267">similar</a> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.16971">success rates</a> to more traditional donations. Yet, this is a discussion we’ve yet to have in Australia. Here are some of the ethical and practical issues we need to start talking about. <h2>Is this ethical? It’s tricky</h2> The main ethical challenge is ensuring a person isn’t motivated to end their life prematurely so they can donate their organs. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.13746">Internationally</a>, <a href="https://jme.bmj.com/content/42/8/486.short">this challenge</a> is mainly addressed by having <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1600613523000291">independent assessments</a> by multiple doctors. This is to ensure the motivation is genuine and honest, much like assessing someone before voluntary assisted dying. Similarly, it is important the doctor of someone undergoing voluntary assisted dying isn’t persuading them to donate an organ. This means any doctor overseeing voluntary assisted dying may be limited in how much they can discuss organ donation with their patient. Again, this <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.13746">has been managed internationally</a> by having separate, independent doctors overseeing organ donation and voluntary assisted dying, <a href="https://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/44/E1305.short">without one influencing</a> the other. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=437&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=437&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=437&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=549&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=549&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=549&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Elderly woman in bed hand on covers" /></a><figcaption>Is this what people really want, with so little time left? <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/senior-woman-laying-on-bed-hospital-1054837748">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> Organ donation may also affect the way voluntary assisted dying is conducted, which <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1600613523000291">may impact</a> participants’ very limited quality of life. That’s because determining if someone is eligible to donate an organ involves a number of <a href="https://jme.bmj.com/content/43/9/601.short">investigations</a>. These may include blood tests, radiology (imaging) and numerous clinical encounters to exclude diseases such as cancer, which would prevent someone donating their organs. These investigations may be exhausting but necessary. This burden must be weighed against the participant’s wishes and motivation to donate their organs. So people must also be informed of the impact organ donation will have on their limited life left. The choices of people considering this option must be respected and they must be given multiple opportunities to review their decision, without undue influence or bias. <h2>Practical issues: coordination, location, regulation</h2> Practically, combining organ donation and voluntary assisted dying is <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.13746">challenging</a>. This includes the difficulty organising and coordinating specialists in organ donation, voluntary assisted dying and transplantation. This is why, internationally, organ donation of this nature mostly occurs in large hospitals, where it’s easier to coordinate. So if people want to donate an organ this way, they may spend their last moments in an unfamiliar environment. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Patient being wheeled on stretcher through hospital corridors" /></a><figcaption>People may have to be moved to a large hospital with the facilities and staff on hand. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/surgeon-assistant-team-transport-move-stretcher-2062330820">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> Efforts have been made <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2776765">internationally</a> to prioritise these valuable last moments by giving people the choice of where voluntary assisted dying occurs (<a href="https://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/44/E1305.short">such as their home</a>). But this currently only occurs in a minority of cases and increases the complexity of organ donation. Regulating the process is also essential to developing a safe, trustworthy and effective program. Ideally a centralised organisation such as Australia’s national <a href="https://www.donatelife.gov.au">Organ and Tissue Authority</a> would organise, undertake and regulate this. However, this may be challenging given voluntary assisted dying practices are specific to each state. <h2>The challenges ahead</h2> If someone considering voluntary assisted dying wants to donate their organs and is deemed eligible, there is currently <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/imj.16085">no legal barrier in Australia</a> to stop them. What might prevent them is how their doctor responds, and whether there are the services and organisations willing to fulfil this request ethically and practically. The next step in considering this form of organ donation is to discuss the prospect publicly. Every extra donated organ is potentially lifesaving. So we should make every effort to consider potential safe and ethical ways to increase donation and transplantation rates.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206298/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-ray-1441988">Robert Ray</a>, Affiliate Associate Lecturer, School of Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Image credit: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/people-thinking-of-voluntary-assisted-dying-may-be-able-to-donate-their-organs-we-need-to-start-talking-about-this-206298">original article</a>.

Body

Indigenous artist seeking white Australian to donate their “future deceased body” to an art installation

An Indigenous artist has put a call out for Australians of “British descent” to donate their “future deceased body” to an art installation. Nathan Maynard, a well known Palawa artist and playwright, put an advertisement for the unusual request in the weekend edition of The Age newspaper. Maynard signed the bizarre request as a “palawa” artist: one of the terms First Nations people from Tasmania use when referring to themselves. “Palawa artist wanting to find an Australian of British descent who is willing to donate their future deceased body to an art installation,” the notice read. “The work will speak to sacrifice for past sins perpetrated against the palawa. Potential applicants should see this opportunity as an honour.” “The body and memory of the successful applicant will be treated with the utmost respect at all stages of the project.” The call-out was quick to spark backlash when it was reposted on social media, with one writing, “You can’t just obtain bodies for display in newspapers now. This is very bizarre on multiple levels.” Others questioned the legality of the request, with one person writing, “I dunno that this would be legal, tampering with a corpse is a crime! You can donate your body to medical science, but I don’t think this.” Another wrote, “Borderline psychotic, definitely completely illegal.” Despite the criticism, Mr Maynard told Daily Mail Australia that since the notice went to print, he has received half a dozen applications for their body to be used in the installation in November. The artist said if white Australians are upset by the request, they should ask themselves why they didn't have the same reaction to the mass murder of Aboriginal people. “If you’re not an Aboriginal person and you’re upset by this, I think you should ask yourself why you’re not upset that there is still First Nations remains that have been stolen from their people, stolen from their country in institutions all around the world that are still not repatriated to their own communities,” he said. Nathan said the motivation behind his installation revolves around the fact that thousands of First Nations people were killed by colonists, with their remains being sent overseas to be displayed in institutions and museums without a proper ceremony. “So many Aboriginal people's remains are still overseas. People are trying to bring their ancestors home and they are being denied that right,” Mr Maynard said. “Human bodies are very sacred and they should be treated with respect.” “Whitefellas obviously don't know how to handle remains with respect, so I'm going to show them how,” he said. The artwork has already received support from the state-funded Tasmanian Museum and Gallery and the Hobart City Council, which has donated $15,000 to the unusual installation. The artwork has been commissioned to appear as part of an exhibition for the popular Hobart Current biennial exhibition in November 2023. Image credits: Facebook / The Age

Art

“Such lowlifes”: Alleged thieves steal charity donation tin

Two people are wanted by police over the theft of a charity donation bin captured on CCTV. The footage shows a man and woman standing next to each other inside the Gold Coast’s Club Helensvale on Friday, November 25, when he allegedly steals the tin for a charity aimed at preventing youth violence. In the video, released by police in an appeal to find the pair, the man is seen subtly and slowly placing it in a bag slung across his shoulder. Police are urging the man and woman to come forward. The tin that was allegedly stolen was collecting donations for the Jack Beasley Foundation, set up after 17-year-old Jack Beasley died from being stabbed in the heart on the Gold Coast. The charity has also shared an image of the suspected thieves on social media in a bid to identify them. “Hey guys if anyone recognises these two please contact the QPS or send us a message. They stole Jacko’s Donation box from the bar at Club Helensvale on Friday night. Thanks 🙏,” the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JackBeasleyFoundation/posts/pfbid0fgzrLvGVinZfzjqEweJfTqr3RbMKvnT4qHjDcKvUW5Xw1KascA7AiAmDqToEnbqsl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> read. Followers were quick to share their anger in the comments, with some providing information about where they had seen the man before. “Such lowlifes maybe they should get a job instead of stealing from charities,” one person wrote. “I hope they get found, shame on them,” another said. One commenter even alleged that the man had committed similar acts before, stealing the “dog donation box” from the Boathouse Tavern in Coomera “the other day”. “Stealing from charity is pitiful and devious! They may have taken dollars and cents, but they have no sense,” another said. Images: Queensland Police Service

Legal

Big study shows that lowering blood pressure lowers risk of dementia

A study across 20 countries has strengthened a link between lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risk of dementia. The meta-analysis, published in the European Heart Journal, draws on clinical trial data from 28,008 participants, to show the strongest link to date between medication that lowers blood pressure, and reduced dementia risk. “We know that high blood pressure is a risk factor for dementia – especially high blood pressure in midlife, so say 40 to 65 years of age,” says lead author Dr Ruth Peters, an associate professor at the University of New South Wales and program lead for dementia in the George Institute’s Global Brain Health Initiative. “But there has been some uncertainty about whether lowering blood pressure, especially in older adults, would reduce risk of dementia. “What we’ve done is take five really high-quality clinical trials and combine them into one dataset, which gave us the ability to really look at this question and look at the relationship between blood pressure-lowering tablets – antihypertensives – and dementia.” The five studies were all double-blind, randomised clinical trials – the ‘gold standard’ in medical research – with participants hailing from 20 different countries. The average age of the participants was 69, and participants were followed up an average of four years after doing the trial. Participants who took antihypertensives had a significantly lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia than those who took placebos. Dementia affects 50 million people worldwide: a number projected to triple by 2050. According to The Lancet’s 2020 Commission on dementia, treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure) is “the only known effective preventive medication for dementia,” all other methods of reducing your risk come from lifestyle and environment. “The strength of this study is the use of individual patient data in a meta-analysis of data drawn from randomised controlled trials of blood pressure medication. This is the first time such data has been meta-analysed,” says Professor Kaarin Anstey, a senior principal research scientist at Neuroscience Research Australia and the UNSW. “This is important for informing clinical practice,” adds Anstey, who was not involved with the study. Professor Nicolas Cherbuin, head of the Australian National University’s Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, says that the study is “well-designed”, and reflects research by his team showing that higher blood pressure is linked to lower brain volumes and poorer brain health. “The diagnostic procedure and criteria used are well-established, the sample size is large, those with dementia at baseline were excluded,” says Cherbuin. But he points out that the study didn’t find an effect of blood pressure medication on cognitive decline, and nor did it include participants with mild cognitive impairment, who would be “more likely to convert”. Anstey points out that “inevitably” the participants in the cohort are now quite old, and thus may be different to populations developing dementia now. “Clinical trials involve highly selected samples and often exclude diverse ethnic groups,” she adds. “I hope that this reinforces the importance of blood pressure control for brain health,” says Peters. But she emphasises that, while this is useful news for preventing dementia in mid-life, people of all ages can improve their brain health by other means. “It’s not just blood pressure lowering – it has to be taken in the context of a healthy lifestyle.” This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/dementia-blood-pressure-meta/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. Image: Shutterstock

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Want to lend a hand to flood victims? Here are five ways you can help

As Aussies begin the lengthy process of cleaning up and recovering following the recent floods in Victoria and NSW, many of us watching on will want to lend a helping hand. Whether you are hoping to volunteer your time or donate, there are plenty of ways to pitch in to help, including these five. Donate money Donating money is usually the most effective way to help, with the Community Enterprise Foundation, <a href="https://www.bendigobank.com.au/media-centre/victoria-flood-appeal-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bendigo Bank</a>’s charitable arm, calling for donations for flood victims which will be passed on to local charitable areas. You can also make financial donations to flood appeals that have been started by charities, including the <a href="https://www.redcross.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Red Cross</a>, <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Find_Help/Flood_appeal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">St Vincent de Paul</a>, <a href="https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/make-a-donation/donate-online/?appeal=2022floodappealhp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Salvation Army</a>, <a href="https://foodbank.raisely.com/helpnswfloodvictims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food Bank NSW</a>, and <a href="https://events.ozharvest.org/flexischools-ozharvest?utm_campaign=flexi_schools&utm_medium=edm&utm_source=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OzHarvest Victoria</a>. The Victorian Farmers Federation has also started a <a href="https://www.vff.org.au/donations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disaster Relief Fund</a> to assist farmers affected by floods, with donations able to be taken over the phone on 1800 882 833 or by mailing through a cheque. Volunteer with SES If you want to get your hands dirty, you can apply to be a volunteer with the State Emergency Service (SES) in NSW or a regular volunteer with SES Victoria. As a spontaneous volunteer, members of the community can assist NSW SES during emergencies in a range of ways without a long-term commitment. These can include helping people prepare for flooding, answering phones and providing administrative support, clearing debris, or in a logistical role providing support to crews in the field, among others. By becoming a volunteer with SES Victoria, you can assist with emergency response to storms and floods and other duties. Unlike being a spontaneous volunteer, joining as a regular volunteer is a longer-term commitment. To find out more about volunteering with SES NSW or Victoria, head <a href="https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/spontaneousvolunteering" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> or <a href="https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Lend a hand how you can with Emergency Support Volunteering or Blaze Aid Whether you’re handy with tools or are happy to provide social support, there’s a way you can help as a volunteer with Emergency Support Volunteering in NSW. After signing up and nominating how you want to help, the organisation passes your details to verified organisations near you. To sign up or find out more, head <a href="https://emergency.volunteer.org.au/volunteer-registration/4/nsw-floods#register" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. For Victorians looking to volunteer, <a href="https://blazeaid.com.au/donations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blaze Aid</a> is currently recruiting and assembling teams of volunteers in central Victoria. The organisation will be setting up camps from next week. Donate clothes and essentials With many victims losing their possessions, donating clothes and household items can also be a big help. <a href="https://www.givit.org.au/storms-and-flooding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GIVIT</a>, a crowd-sourced website, is open to donations of clothing, furniture, money for fuel, and vouchers for other essentials, with 11,000 items that are needed being listed. Donations of food, emergency housing and clothing can also be made through St Vincent de Paul, either as one-off or ongoing donations. Fundraise If you want to set up a fundraiser or appeal to help victims, the best way to do it is through an existing charity, which can be found through the <a href="https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ACNC</a>, <a href="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/charitable-fundraising/fundraising-for-a-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Service NSW</a>, or <a href="https://registers.consumer.vic.gov.au/frsearch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Affairs Victoria</a> websites. According to Fairtrading NSW, if you are allowed to fundraise on behalf of an authorised fundraiser, such as a charity, you won’t need to get approval. If you decide to raise funds through crowdfunding, such as using websites such as GoFundMe, you may need to apply for an authority to raise money. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Scientists have mimicked an embryo’s heart to unlock the secrets of how blood cells are born

Stem cells are the starting point for all other cells in our bodies. The <a href="https://www.eurostemcell.org/blood-stem-cells-pioneers-stem-cell-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first such cells to be found</a> were blood stem cells – as the name suggests, they give rise to different types of blood cells. But there’s much we don’t know about how these cells develop in the first place. In a study published today in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111339" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cell Reports</a>, we have shown how a lab simulation of an embryo’s beating heart and circulation lead to the development of human blood stem cell precursors. The tiny device mimics embryonic blood flow, allowing us to directly observe human embryonic blood formation under the microscope. These results may help us understand how we can produce life-saving therapies for patients who need new blood stem cells. <h2>Growing life-saving therapies in the lab</h2> To treat aggressive blood cancers such as leukaemia, patients often need extremely high doses of chemotherapy; a <a href="https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/myeloma/diagnosis-and-treatment/treatment/types-of-treatment/stem-cell-transplant#:%7E:text=A%20stem%20cell%20transplant%20involves%20killing%20blood%20cells,they%20are%20collected%20beforehand%20and%20kept%20in%20storage." target="_blank" rel="noopener">blood stem cell transplant</a> then regenerates blood after the treatment. These are life-saving therapies but are restricted to patients who have a suitable tissue-matched donor of blood stem cells. A way around this problem would be to grow more blood stem cells in the lab. Unfortunately, past experiments have shown that harvested adult blood stem cells lose their transplantation potential if grown in the lab. The discovery of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_pluripotent_stem_cell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">induced pluripotent stem cells</a> – stem cells made out of adult cells – in 2006 led to a promising new approach. Induced pluripotent stem cells are made from the patient’s own cells, so there is no problem with tissue rejection, or the ethical issues surrounding the use of IVF embryos. These cell lines are similar to embryonic stem cells, so they have the potential to form any tissue or cell type – hence, they are “pluripotent”. In theory, pluripotent stem cell lines could provide an unlimited supply of cells for blood regeneration because <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortalised_cell_line" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they are immortalised</a> – they can grow in the lab indefinitely. But the development of processes to allow us to grow particular types of tissues, organs and cell types – such as blood – has been slow and will take decades to advance. One must mimic the complex process of embryogenesis in the dish! <h2>Engineering an embryonic heart</h2> Current understanding of how embryonic blood stem cells develop is based on animal models. Experiments with anaesthetised zebrafish embryos have shown that blood stem cells arise in the wall of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20154733/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the main blood vessel, the aorta</a>, shortly after the first heartbeat. For ethical reasons, it’s obvious this type of study is not possible in human embryos. This is why we wanted to engineer an embryonic heart model in the lab. To achieve this, we used <a href="https://www.elveflow.com/microfluidic-reviews/general-microfluidics/a-general-overview-of-microfluidics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">microfluidics</a> – an approach that involves manipulating extremely small volumes of liquids. The first step in generating blood stem cells from pluripotent stem cells is to coax the latter to form the site where blood stem cells start growing. This is known as the AGM region (aorta-gonad-mesonephros) of the embryo. Our miniature heart pump and circulation (3 by 3 centimetres) mimics the mechanical environment in which blood stem cells form in the human embryo. The device pumps culture media – liquids used to grow cells – around a microfluidic circuit to copy what the embryo heart does. <h2>A step closer to treatment</h2> Once we got the cells to form the AGM region by stimulating cells on day two of starting our cell culture, we applied what’s known as pulsatile circulatory flow from day 10 to day 26. Blood precursors entered the artificial circulation from blood vessels lining the microfluidic channels. Then, we harvested the circulating cells and grew them in culture, showing that they developed into various blood components – white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and others. In-depth analysis of gene expression in single cells showed that circulatory flow generated aortic and blood stem precursor cells found in the AGM of human embryos. This means our study has shown how pulsatile circulatory flow enhances the formation of blood stem cell precursors from pluripotent stem cells. It’s knowledge we can use in the future. The next step in our research is to scale up the production of blood stem cell precursors, and to test their transplant potential in immune-deficient mice that can accept human transplants. We can do this by using large numbers of pluripotent stem cells grown in bioreactors that also mechanically stimulate blood stem cell formation. If we can easily produce blood stem cells from pluripotent stem cell lines, it would provide a plentiful supply of these cells to help treatments of cancer or genetic blood diseases. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/scientists-have-mimicked-an-embryos-heart-to-unlock-the-secrets-of-how-blood-cells-are-born-190530" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: UNSW

Body

"She sat on a throne of blood": Uni professor launches another attack on Queen Elizabeth

A controversial university professor has doubled down on her celebration of Queen Elizabeth's death, claiming she "sat on a throne of blood". Uju Anya, a linguistics professor at Pennsylvania's Carnegie Mellon University, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/uni-professor-slammed-for-wishing-the-queen-excruciating-pain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">came under fire</a> earlier this week for a series of controversial tweets in which she hoped the Queen was in "excruciating pain" as she died. Now, the Nigerian-American lecturer has reiterated her claims on a podcast, saying, "This was a ruler. The very crown she had on her head signified the fact that she's a monarch was made from plunder. Diamonds. Blood diamonds." "The throne that she was sitting on is a throne of blood... Her very position as a monarch, the palace she lived in... were all paid for by our blood." She stood by her controversial tweets, which she admitted were an "emotional outburst", but said, "I said what I f****** said." "I was triggered by this news. It went deep into pain and trauma for me. Due to my family experience with the rule of this monarch." Anya also shared her thoughts on the Queen's role in the Nigerian Civil War in 1967 by showing support for the turbulent government. She said, "People expected me to be calm or to be... when the person who literally paid money for bombs and guns and military supplies to come and massacre your people is dying, you're not supped to dance." Anya's claims forced her employer to say in a statement, "We do not condone the offensive and objectionable messages posted by Uju Anya today on her social media account." "Free expression is core to the mission of higher education. However, the views she shared absolutely do not represent the values of the institution, nor the standards of discourse we seek to foster," they concluded. Despite thousands of people being up in arms over her comments and demanding an apology, others have jumped to the professor's defence. Over 4,000 people have signed a petition defending Anya, saying her posts on Twitter spoke to personal anguish the scholar still feels about atrocities by the British Empire decades ago that touched her family. Refusing to apologise, Anya once again tweeted, "If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star." Image credits: Getty Images / Youtube

Caring

Paul Green’s brain donated to science

Paul Green’s brain has been donated to the Australian Sports Brain Bank to help with science. The legendary coach and former player Paul Green was just 49 when he <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/rugby-league-icon-dead-at-49" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was found dead</a> at his home in Brisbane on August 11. It is confirmed that the father-of-two died from suicide. His family has now confirmed that his brain will be donated to the <a href="https://www.mycause.com.au/page/290298/in-memory-of-paul-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Sports Brain Bank</a> to help aid research into concussion-related condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a common injury amongst NRL players due to the nature of the game. "In memory of our beloved Paul, we ask that you support the pioneering work of the Australian Sports Brain Bank,” their post read. "Paul was known for always looking out for others. We are proud that part of his legacy will be looking out for the brain health of all others involved in the game that he loved. "Amanda, Emerson and Jed." They are hoping to raise $150,000 to help with the research. Michael Buckland, the director of the Australian Sports Brain Bank, thanked Green’s family for their donation. "This is an incredibly generous donation and will be an invaluable part of our research into the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts in sport and elsewhere," he said. "We at the Australian Sports Brain Bank are blown away by the fact that in their time of grief, Amanda and the rest of the family thought of how they could help others." Green had an incredible NRL career, playing 162 first grade matches between 1994-2004 and winning the prestigious Rothmans Medal in 1995 as the game's best and fairest. He played for several different clubs including Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos. Green eventually swapped his playing boots to coaching ones as he took on the North Queensland Cowboys from 2014-2020. If you would like to donate to the research, click <a href="https://www.mycause.com.au/page/290298/in-memory-of-paul-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. If you are experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">lifeline.org.au</a> or <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">beyondblue.org.au</a>. Image: Australian Sports Brain Bank

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Anne Heche's blood test results revealed after horror smash

An investigation of Anne Heche’s blood results have detected “the presence of drugs” following <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/new-details-of-actor-anne-heche-s-fiery-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her horror smash</a>. The US actress was pulled out of her burning car after she smashed into a mansion in Los Angeles while driving a terrifying 140km/h on August 5. The 53-year-old suffered severe injuries and soon after the crash fell into a coma and has not regained consciousness since. Almost a week after the incident, a Los Angeles Police Department Public Information Officer confirmed there was a “presence of drugs” in Anne’s blood system. “Based on the blood draw, it revealed the presence of drugs, however additional testing is required to rule out any substances that were administered at the hospital as part of her medical treatment,” they told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/anne-heche-blood-test-revealed-presence-of-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News Digital</a>. "Any secondary drugs [takes] up to 30 days for [a] secondary test to come back.” TMZ previously reported that Anne had cocaine in her system upon arrival at the hospital, but that is yet to be confirmed. The crash is currently being investigated by the LAPD who have confirmed that if Anne is found to have been drunk she would face significant charges. "If found intoxicated, [Heche] could be charged with misdemeanour DUI hit and run. No arrests have been made so far,” a representative said. Anne’s representative has confirmed that she is in an “extreme critical condition”. “She has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention,” her representative said. “She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident.” Image: Getty

Caring

Bride wears engagement ring with blood in it

A bride-to-be has caused quite a stir after sharing a photo of her engagement ring that apparently has her fiancé’s blood in it. The woman shared the photo to the popular Facebook group “That's it, I'm wedding shaming” and at first glance it looks like a normal ring with a red stone. To everyone’s shock, she revealed that the “red stone” was in fact her fiancé’s blood. “Has anyone else opted out of a wedding band? I love my engagement ring so much, it has my fiancé’s blood in it and it is so special to me,” she began. “I’d rather that be put on my finger at the wedding instead of a band. I would have to get a custom one to fit my ring and I don’t know, I just don’t want to.” However, the comments were not nice about the $300 ring, with many questioning why anyone would do that. “I’m glad she loves it and is happy. It is heinous though,” one wrote. “I’m fine with one ring…as long as it’s not filled with BLOOD! What in the actual f**k?” someone else commented. "I hate it here," another simply wrote. Image: Facebook

Relationships

How Heath Ledger inspired Johnny Depp’s donation to Australian hospital

Johnny Depp has made a significant donation to an Australian children’s hospital, as part of a larger $1.17 million gift to charities around the world. The sum comes from the sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) - digital assets that represent real-life products such as art and video games - which Depp raised through his NFT community, Never Fear Truth. Depp’s donation will be split between the Perth Children’s Hospital, UK-based Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and Robert Downey Jr’s Footprint Coalition, which fundraises for non-profit organisations that focus on environmental sustainability. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/PCHFWA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PCHFWA</a> Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (via CAF America)<a href="https://twitter.com/GOSHCharity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOSHCharity</a> Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (via CAF America)<a href="https://twitter.com/fp_coalition?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fp_coalition</a> The Footprint Coalition<a href="https://twitter.com/ChildrensLA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChildrensLA</a> The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) — Never Fear Truth (@JohnnyDeppNFT) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnnyDeppNFT/status/1544413863839514625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2022</a></blockquote> “Johnny Depp’s Never Fear Truth NFT sale was always intended to benefit charities and we are pleased to be able to confirm that nearly $800,000 ($AUD 1.17 million) in total donations have been contributed,” Never Fear Truth tweeted. The Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation issued a statement thanking the actor for his donation. “Thank you so much for your generosity in helping support PCHFWA and WA sick kids,” the organisation wrote on Twitter. “These funds will make a significant impact in helping keep (Perth Children’s Hospital) world-class for our children and families.” Many fans praised Depp’s acts of kindness, and it turns out that his choice to support the West Australian hospital is particularly special. Part of the money raised through Depp’s NFT community came from the sale of an NFT depicting his painting of late actor Heath Ledger, who grew up in Perth. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbkRwlgDle1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbkRwlgDle1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Never Fear Truth (@johnnydeppnft)</a> </div> </blockquote> Carrie Robinson, the CEO of PCHFWA, told The West Australian that Ledger’s family had nominated the hospital as the recipient of the money raised from the painting’s sale. “It’s great to see the legacy of Heath Ledger continuing to make an impact on the WA community,” Robinson said. Other paintings included in the sale include portraits of Depp, his daughter Lily Rose, his friend and late actor River Phoenix, and Hollywood legends such as Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Elizabeth Taylor. “I’ve always used art to express my feelings and to reflect on those who matter most to me, like my family, friends and people I admire,” Depp said when he offered his paintings publicly for the first time. “My paintings surround my life, but I kept them to myself and limited myself. “No-one should ever limit themselves.” Images: Getty Images / Instagram

Caring

Man donates blood an incredible 600 times

A man has made an extraordinary accomplishment of saving more than 1,800 lives after donating blood 600 times. Bruce from Port Macquarie was egged on by his Aunty Mary after she had donated blood 70 times saying he would not be able to do as much as she did. But, Bruce being Bruce, he decided to accept his aunt's challenge and went ahead to donate blood. “My Aunty Mary told me she had done 70 donations, and that I would never catch her,” he said. “Smart lady, that one and the challenge was accepted.” Bruce, 60, now skateboards to an Australian Red Cross donation centre every fortnight to give generously. Since starting his blood donation, Bruce has become the first person in Port Macquarie – and one of only 60 people in Australia – to have donated blood a whopping 600 times. All those blood donations have contributed to saving the lives of up to 1,800 people including new mothers, babies, cancer patients and trauma sufferers. When asked for advice and encouragement on the process of donating, Bruce explained that it was a rewarding experience. “The vampires at [Lifeblood] are lovely and it doesn't hurt much at all, so I encourage others to put something back, roll up your sleeves and save a life,” he said. Bruce commended his Aunty Mary, saying that without her support he would not have reached the incredible milestone. Image: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

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Prince Charles denies wrongdoing for reportedly accepting bags of cash

Prince Charles reportedly accepted a suitcase containing €1 million ($AUD 1.52 million) in cash from a Qatari sheikh in 2015, according to recent reports - and it is one of three payments that will be reviewed by the UK’s Charity Commission. According to The Sunday Times, the senior royal received a total of €3 million ($AUD 4.57 million) from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar, between 2011 and 2015. Clarence House has denied that there was any wrongdoing in Charles’ acceptance of the money as charity donations and said the money was “passed immediately to one of the prince’s charities who carried out the appropriate covenants and assured us that all the correct processes were followed”. On one occasion, Charles reportedly received €1 million in carrier bags from high-end grocer Fortnum & Mason. At another, in 2015, Charles accepted another €1 million in a holdall during a one-on-one meeting at Clarence House. Two advisors from the royal household reportedly counted the cash by hand, which was said to be made up of now-discontinued €500 notes, which earned the nickname “bin Laden” because of links to funding terrorism, per <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/prince-charles-denies-any-wrongdoing-over-bags-of-cash-claim/0face1c8-1ebb-4139-a91c-9c9aa0dee13c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey</a>. The money was understood to have been collected by private bank Coutts, with each payment being deposited into the accounts of the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund (PWCF). As the prince’s meetings with Hamad were private, they don’t appear in the Court Circular - the official record of court engagements - but they do raise questions about how much Charles knew about the cash and where it came from. Sir Ian Cheshire, the chairman of PWCF, said on Friday that “there was no failure of governance” in relation to the organisation receiving the funds. “At a few hours’ notice from The Sunday Times, we have checked into this event in the past, and confirm that the previous trustees of PWCF discussed the governance and donor relationship, (confirming that the donor was a legitimate and verified counterparty) and our auditors signed off on the donation after a specific enquiry during the audit. There was no failure of governance.” After confirming that he was referring to the 2015 payment, Sir Cheshire added: “I believe the same assurance applied to earlier donations and look forward to confirming that in due course.” Though there is no suggestion that the payments were illegal, a Charity Commission spokesperson said on Sunday that they will be reviewed by the Commission. “We are aware of reports about donations received by the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation,” they said in a statement. “We will review the information to determine whether there is any role for the Commission in this matter.” It comes as London police continue to investigate a separate allegation that the prince’s top aide, Michael Fawcett, offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure a knighthood and British citizenship if he donated to The Prince’s Foundation, another of Charles’ charities. Fawcett resigned from his role as chief executive of the foundation in light of the allegations. “We are disappointed not to have been given more time to look into this matter, which dates from a decade ago,” Clarence House said in relation to reports from The Sunday Times. “In the few hours we have had on a Saturday, we have confirmed that Charitable donations were received from sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, and these were passed immediately to one of the prince’s charities who carried out the appropriate governance and have assured us that all the correct processes were followed.” Image: @clarencehouse (Instagram)

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Genetic mutations slowly accumulated over a lifetime change blood production after 70 years of age

Ageing is likely caused by the gradual accumulation of molecular damage, or genetic mutations, in the cells of our bodies that occurs over a lifetime. But how this translates into the rapid deterioration in organ function that’s seen after the age of 70 has so far not been clear. Now, scientists have discovered that the accumulation of genetic mutations in blood stem cells are likely responsible for the abrupt change in how <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/biology/why-do-we-have-blood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blood</a> is produced in the body after 70 years of age. The <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04786-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new study</a>, published in Nature, points to a change in the diversity of stem cells that produce blood cells as the reason why the prevalence of reduced cell regeneration capacity, <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.579075/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cytopenia</a> (one or more blood cell types is lower than it should be), immune disfunction, and risk of blood cancer dramatically rises after 70. “We’ve shown, for the first time, how steadily accumulating mutations throughout life lead to a catastrophic and inevitable change in blood cell populations after the age of 70,” says joint-senior author Dr Peter Campbell, head of the Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutation Program at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK. “What is super exciting about this model is that it may well apply in other organ systems too.” Blood cells are made in a process called haematopoiesis All of the cells in our blood – including red cells, white cells and platelets – develop in a process called haematopoiesis from haematopoietic stem cells in our bone marrow. These stem cells are what’s known as multipotent progenitor cells, which simply means that they can develop into more than one cell type. Researchers were interested in better understanding how this process changes as we age, so they sequenced the entire genomes of 3,579 haematopoietic stem cells from a total of 10 people – ranging in age from newborn to 81 years. <div class="newsletter-box spai-bg-prepared"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p193434-o1" class="wpcf7 spai-bg-prepared" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.61 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/science/mutations-change-blood-production/#wpcf7-f6-p193434-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page spai-bg-prepared" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://www.google.com/" data-value="https://www.google.com/" aria-invalid="false" /> </form> </div> </div> Using this information, they were able to construct something similar to a family tree (<a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/reading-a-phylogenetic-tree-the-meaning-of-41956/#:~:text=A%20phylogenetic%20tree%2C%20also%20known,genes%20from%20a%20common%20ancestor." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a phylogenetic tree</a>) for each stem cell, showing how the relationships between blood cells changes over the human lifespan. They found that in adults under 65, blood cells were produced from between 20,000 and 200,000 different stem cells – each contributing roughly equal amounts to production. But after 70 years of age they observed a dramatic decrease in the diversity of stem cells responsible for haematopoiesis in the bone marrow. In fact, only 12-18 independent expanded sets of stem cell clones accounted for 30-60% of cell production. These highly active stem cells had outcompeted others and progressively expanded in numbers (clones) across that person’s life, and this expansion (called <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04785-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clonal haematopoiesis</a>) was caused by a rare subset of mutations known as driver mutations that had occurred decades earlier. “Our findings show that the diversity of blood stem cells is lost in older age due to positive selection of faster-growing clones with driver mutations. These clones ‘outcompete’ the slower growing ones,” explains lead researcher Dr Emily Mitchell, a haematology registrar at Addenbrooke’s Hospital,UK, and PhD student at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, US. “In many cases this increased fitness at the stem cell level likely comes at a cost – their ability to produce functional mature blood cells is impaired, so explaining the observed age-related loss of function in the blood system.” Which clones became the dominant stem cells varied between individuals, which explains why variation is seen in disease risk and other characteristics in older adults. “Factors such as chronic inflammation, smoking, infection and chemotherapy cause earlier growth of clones with cancer-driving mutations. We predict that these factors also bring forward the decline in blood stem cell diversity associated with ageing,” says joint-senior author Dr Elisa Laurenti, assistant professor at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, UK. “It is possible that there are factors that might slow this process down, too,” she adds. “We now have the exciting task of figuring out how these newly discovered mutations affect blood function in the elderly, so we can learn how to minimise disease risk and promote healthy ageing.”  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" class="spai-bg-prepared" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=193434&title=Genetic+mutations+slowly+accumulated+over+a+lifetime+change+blood+production+after+70+years+of+age" width="1" height="1" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/mutations-change-blood-production/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/imma-perfetto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Imma Perfetto</a>. Imma Perfetto is a science writer at Cosmos. She has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Science Communication from the University of Adelaide. Image: Getty Images </div>

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Genetic mutations slowly accumulated over a lifetime change blood production after 70 years of age

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Entertainment

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Centenarian blood tests give hints of the secrets to longevity

8 reasons everyone should know their blood type

"I've lost complete blood flow": Robert Irwin's near miss with python

Worried about getting a blood test? 5 tips to make them easier (and still accurate)

"Truly remarkable": Outpouring of love for orphaned infants of bus crash victims

No, you can’t reverse ageing by injecting ‘young blood’ and fasting. But that doesn’t stop people trying

People thinking of voluntary assisted dying may be able to donate their organs. We need to start talking about this

Indigenous artist seeking white Australian to donate their “future deceased body” to an art installation

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Want to lend a hand to flood victims? Here are five ways you can help

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Paul Green’s brain donated to science

Anne Heche's blood test results revealed after horror smash

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How Heath Ledger inspired Johnny Depp’s donation to Australian hospital

Man donates blood an incredible 600 times

Prince Charles denies wrongdoing for reportedly accepting bags of cash

Genetic mutations slowly accumulated over a lifetime change blood production after 70 years of age

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