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Dr Charlie Teo's plea to have Aussie ban lifted

<p>Famed neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo has formally asked the Medical Council of New South Wales to lift the restrictions that have effectively barred him from performing complex brain surgeries in Australia for the past two years.</p> <p>In a letter submitted by his legal team, Dr Teo requested the removal of conditions requiring him to obtain written support from a Council-approved neurosurgeon before operating on patients with recurring malignant brain tumours or brain stem gliomas – some of the most challenging and high-risk cases in neurosurgery.</p> <p>These conditions were imposed following a Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) inquiry that found Dr Teo had recommended surgeries in two cases where the risks were deemed to outweigh the potential benefits. The inquiry also criticised the consent process for being “too optimistic”.</p> <p>Since the restrictions came into effect, Dr Teo has continued operating abroad, performing more than 230 surgeries in countries including China, Spain, Germany, India, Switzerland, Peru and South Africa. According to a submission provided to the Medical Board, of these 236 cases, 202 were classified as having "excellent" outcomes, 28 as "good", four as "fair", with two mortalities and none listed as "poor."</p> <p>“I’ve done exactly what was asked of me in Australia, albeit abroad and not by choice but by necessity,” Dr Teo <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/can-only-hope-neurosurgeon-charlie-teo-requests-end-to-aussie-operating-ban/news-story/85b9d25f40db864bac9d1a03a859a1d0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told news.com.au</a>. “The supervising neurosurgeons have been extremely impressed with my results, and I guess I have even surprised myself.”</p> <p>Dr Teo said he was proud of maintaining his high standards under intense scrutiny. “Now that I have been able to focus on the real enemy – brain cancer – and not be stressed by potential vilification and persecution is a Godsend.”</p> <p>One of the many Australian patients who travelled overseas to receive treatment from Dr Teo is Tanya Miles, a mother of six who was diagnosed with recurrent glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. After undergoing surgery abroad, she said she is now optimistic about having more time with her children.</p> <p>“I’m angry that I couldn’t make the same choice in my own country,” Ms Miles said. “But I’m so relieved I listened to my gut. Now I have the best possible chance of spending years, not weeks, with my children.”</p> <p>Dr Teo said his push to have the restrictions lifted is not just about regaining the right to operate in Australia but about a broader principle of patient choice and access. “I may not necessarily get a job back here, which would be a real shame for Australian brain cancer and brain tumour patients,” he said. “But I am hopeful that one day some of my fellow neurosurgeons will put patient care above politics. Having the restrictions lifted may be the catalyst.”</p> <p>Dr Teo remains active in brain cancer advocacy and fundraising and will appear at the Rebel Ball in Sydney on May 31, an event expected to draw many of his patients, including Ms Miles.</p> <p>The Medical Council of NSW has not yet responded to Dr Teo’s request. </p> <p><em>Image: News.com.au</em></p>

Caring

What is grounding and can it improve your sleep?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Have you ever felt an unexpected sense of calm while walking barefoot on grass? Or noticed your stress begin to fade as you stood ankle deep in the ocean? If so, you may have unknowingly “grounded” yourself to the earth.</p> <p>Grounding, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2319417022001573">also known as earthing</a>, is the practice of making direct physical contact with the Earth’s surface. Our ancestors embraced this trend without knowing it. But with the invention of indoor homes, footpaths, roads, and even shoes, we have become <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2012/291541">less physically connected with the earth</a>.</p> <p>Grounding has been suggested to have <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding">a number of benefits</a>, such as improving mood, and reducing stress and pain. But overall, there’s limited conclusive evidence on the benefits of grounding.</p> <p>Somewhat ironically, the concept of grounding in 2025 is heavily influenced by technology, rather than getting out into nature. Consumers are being hit with social media reels promoting a range of technologies that ground us, and improve our health.</p> <p>Among the most common are promises of improved sleep with the use of a grounding sheet or mat. But is this just another TikTok trend, or could these products really help us get a better night’s sleep?</p> <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/DHne7CasELA/?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/DHne7CasELA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Grounding (@groundingofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <h2>Bringing the outdoors in</h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2319417022001585">human body is conductive</a>, which means it can exchange electricity with Earth and artificial sources, such as electronic devices or objects. (Sometimes, this exchange can result in an electric or <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-get-static-shocks-from-everyday-objects-is-it-my-shoes-240554">static shock</a>.)</p> <p>Proponents of grounding <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830719305476">claim the practice reconnects</a> “the conductive human body to the Earth’s natural and subtle surface electric charge”.</p> <p>They credit this process with physiological and psychological benefits (but again, the evidence is limited).</p> <p>Grounding technologies can vary in type (for example, under-desk foot mats, mattress toppers and bed sheets) but all are designed to provide a path for electric charges to flow between your body and the earth.</p> <p>The bottom prong you see in your three-prong wall socket is a “ground” or “earth” terminal. It provides a direct connection to earth via your building’s wiring, diverting excess or unsafe voltage into the ground. This protects you and your devices from potential <a href="https://store.standards.org.au/reader/as-nzs-3112-2017?preview=1&utm">electrical faults</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/1/57">Grounding technology</a> uses this terminal as a pathway for the proposed electrical exchange between you and earth, while in the comfort of your home.</p> <h2>Could grounding improve your sleep?</h2> <p>The research in this area is still emerging.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212958825000059">2025 study</a> from Korea recruited 60 participants, gave half of them a grounding mat, and gave the other half a visually identical mat that didn’t have grounding technology. The researchers used a “double-blind” protocol, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers knew which participants were given grounding mats.</p> <p>All participants wore sleep trackers and were asked to use their mat (that is, sit or lie on it) for six hours per day. The researchers found that after 31 days, participants in the grounding mat group slept longer on average (as measured by their sleep trackers) than those in the control group.</p> <p>The researchers also used questionnaires to collect measures of insomnia, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and stress. After 31 days, participants in both groups improved on all measures.</p> <p>There were no differences between the grounded and ungrounded groups for sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and stress. And while grounded participants showed significantly lower insomnia severity after the intervention, this difference was also present at the start of the study. So it’s unclear if grounding had a tangible impact on sleep.</p> <p>In another double-blind study, published in 2022, researchers in Taiwan examined the effectiveness of using grounding mats to improve sleep among patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The findings indicated that spending <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/3/581">30 minutes on a grounding mat</a> five times per week resulted in improved sleep quality.</p> <p>While previous research has suggested using grounding technologies may lead to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25748085/">improvements in mood</a>, no differences were seen in measures of anxiety and depression in this study.</p> <h2>Grounding for gains?</h2> <p>Grounding technology has also been touted as <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@down_to_ground/video/7310937768811597074?q=grounding%20mattress&t=1742787657768">having other benefits</a>, such as reducing pain and inflammation.</p> <p>A <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00035">2019 study</a> found participants who slept on a grounding mat after intense exercise felt less sore and showed lower levels of inflammation in their blood compared to those who were ungrounded.</p> <p>Grounding after a workout may help you feel better and recover faster, but it’s still unclear whether and how grounding affects long-term training results or fitness gains.</p> <h2>Add to cart?</h2> <p>So should you cash in on your favourite influencer’s discount code and grab a grounding mat? At the risk of spouting a common cliche of cautious scientists, our answer is that we don’t know yet.</p> <p>What we do know is the existing research, albeit emerging, has shown no evidence grounding technology can negatively affect your sleep or recovery after exercise. So if you love your grounding mat or grounding sheet, or want to see if grounding works for you, feel free to give it a go.</p> <p>Keep in mind, grounding products can retail for anywhere from around A$30 to $300 or more.</p> <p>On the other hand, grounding on the grass in the great outdoors is free. While there’s limited evidence that grounding outdoors can improve sleep, spending time in outdoor light may itself benefit <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34488088/">sleep, regulate circadian rhythms</a>, and improve mood.</p> <p>Finally, while grounding could be an interesting strategy to try, if you’re experiencing ongoing problems with your sleep, or suspect you may have a sleep disorder, the first step should be reaching out to a medical professional, such as your GP.<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/253347/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dean-j-miller-808724">Dean J. Miller</a>, Senior Lecturer, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/charlotte-gupta-347235">Charlotte Gupta</a>, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>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/what-is-grounding-and-could-it-improve-my-sleep-heres-the-science-behind-this-tiktok-trend-253347">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> </div>

Body

Bindi Irwin rushed to hospital in the US

<p>Conservationist and TV personality Bindi Irwin was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery in Las Vegas after suffering a ruptured appendix, her brother Robert Irwin confirmed over the weekend.</p> <p>The 26-year-old daughter of the late Steve Irwin had travelled to Las Vegas to attend the annual Steve Irwin Gala, which honours her father’s legacy and raises funds for Wildlife Warriors, the conservation organisation he founded. However, an unexpected medical crisis derailed her plans.</p> <p>“She’s going to be OK, but surgery – out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,” said Robert Irwin, 21, in an interview with <em>People</em> at the gala. “She’s just come out the other side of endometriosis and now the appendix goes. Health is so important – it really is.”</p> <p>Bindi had reportedly intended to attend the high-profile event despite experiencing severe discomfort. “She came to Las Vegas and was ready to come to the gala, put on a brave face in a lot of discomfort and a lot of pain and said, ‘Nope, I’m just going to tough it out, I’m going to go for it,’” Robert said. “But the surgeon said, ‘No, your appendix is going. That thing’s gotta come out.’ Health has to come first.”</p> <p>Their mother, Terri Irwin, 60, also skipped the gala to be by Bindi’s side during her recovery. “She’s very sad,” Robert said of his sister. “She’s devastated that she and Mum can’t be here, but I know she’ll make a speedy recovery.”</p> <p>“Bindi has become an incredible advocate for women’s health particularly," <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">continued Robert, "</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">and I think it’s really important to prioritise getting help.”</span></p> <p>Just a day before her hospitalisation, Bindi shared cheerful photos on social media alongside her mother and brother in Las Vegas. “Khaki by day – Bellagio chic by night! Here in #LasVegas for the #SteveIrwinGala raising funds and awareness for Wildlife Warriors,” she captioned the post. “Supporting conservation and remembering Dad’s extraordinary legacy.”</p> <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/p/DJdlZ9zOTNd/?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/p/DJdlZ9zOTNd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Steve Irwin Gala is held annually to raise awareness and funds for conservation efforts in honour of Steve Irwin, who died tragically in 2006 after a stingray attack.</p> <p>Bindi has been candid about her long battle with endometriosis, which went undiagnosed for a decade. In a February episode of the A Life of Greatness podcast, she spoke openly about the debilitating symptoms and challenges she faced before undergoing surgery in March 2023. “Every day the fatigue and the battle,” she said, describing how the illness affected her daily life and relationships.</p> <p>“There’s no cure for endometriosis, but if you’re able to get surgery you have a better shot at life,” she said. “Maybe in five or 10 years, I’ll have to get another surgery, but for now, it’s all gone, which I’m very grateful for.”</p> <p>Despite her health setbacks, Bindi continues to inspire many through her advocacy and commitment to wildlife conservation – a mission she proudly carries forward in her father’s name.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Guy Sebastian hospitalised for very Aussie reason

<p>Beloved Aussie pop prince Guy Sebastian has taken one for the team – literally – by rupturing his Achilles tendon during a local Division 5 footy match.</p> <p>The silky-voiced <em>Australian Idol</em> winner known for soaring ballads and immaculate falsetto decided to swap the stage for the slog and ran out with AFL great Brendan Fevola for a game with Masala Dandenong’s Thirds. A bold move, considering this is a team that, just one week prior, lost by a modest 229 points – which is less a scoreline and more a cry for help.</p> <p>But help arrived in the form of boots, bravado and bangers. Not only did Guy show up in full kit, he delivered a halftime concert to a local crowd who probably didn’t realise their sausage sizzles came with a side of chart-topping vocals. Fevola, ever the ringmaster of Aussie larrikin spectacle, convinced Sebastian to both sing and suit up, promising little more than community spirit and maybe a bruised ego.</p> <p>What no one promised was a ruptured Achilles.</p> <p>According to Fevola, Sebastian was only meant to drop in for a bit of singing and sideline spectating before heading back to Sydney for a mate’s 40th. But apparently, once the footy fever hits, it hits hard. Sebastian got caught up in the magic of the Masala comeback – perhaps the first time “magic” and “Masala Dandenong” have shared a sentence – and opted to return to the field for the second half.</p> <p>It was a decision his body did not co-sign.</p> <p>Cue the fourth quarter, and down he went. “He just fell,” Fevola recalled helpfully, between fits of laughter. “Singers shouldn’t play footy, footy players shouldn’t sing – stick to your genre.” Wise words from a man who once sang “My Way” on national television while three sheets to the wind.</p> <p>Sebastian, true to form, kept things classy. He joined the post-match victory song on crutches, then posted on Instagram with his usual charm: “Unfortunately I’ve done a proper number on myself. #realitycheck #sticktosinging #footyglorydaysareover.” It was the first time in history that a ruptured tendon trended so positively on social media.</p> <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/DJd-h2TRvk_/?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/DJd-h2TRvk_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by guysebastian (@guysebastian)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>To his credit, Fevola managed to boot six goals and lead the team to an unlikely 8.5 (53) to 7.13 (55) win, ending a 20-game losing streak and likely earning himself free drinks at Lois Twohig Reserve for life. Guy, meanwhile, will be earning some much-deserved rest – and probably a renewed appreciation for low-impact cardio.</p> <p>Get well soon, mate. And next time, maybe just bring the guitar.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

“Angels in scrubs”: Cancer survivor's pledge to repay the nurses who saved his life

<p>Just six months after completing one of the most aggressive cancer treatment regimens his hospital had ever seen, Shane Whiteford is lacing up his running shoes – not to escape his past, but to honour those who carried him through it.</p> <p>Diagnosed in December 2023 with a rare and dangerously situated Ewing Sarcoma in his neck, Shane’s year-long battle with cancer included major surgery, a gruelling 12 months of chemotherapy, and four relentless weeks of daily radiation.</p> <p>Now in recovery, the devoted father of two, husband and son is taking on a different kind of challenge: running 200 kilometres in the month of June to raise funds – not for hospital equipment or research – but for the nurses he calls “angels in scrubs”!</p> <p>“They help you understand the complexities of treatment, they talk you through each step,” Shane said. “And along the way, they become friends, therapists, a shoulder to cry on, and your rock to rely on.”</p> <p>From chemo chairs to emotional breakdowns, the oncology nurses at <a href="https://www.calvarycare.org.au/hospitals/calvary-mater-newcastle/services-and-clinics-3/cancer-services-3/medical-oncology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvary Mater Newcastle’s Day Treatment Centre</a> were with Shane through it all. And now, he wants to give back.</p> <p>“This fundraiser is for them,” Shane wrote on his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/oncology-nurses-at-calvery-mater-newcastle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe page</a>. “Not the hospital, not the directors… but for my great support team.” The funds raised will go toward whatever the nursing team chooses – “something to make their workdays a little brighter.”</p> <p>Running an average of six kilometres per day, Shane’s goal is part of his ongoing rehab – his return to physical fitness only beginning in February 2025 after months of debilitating treatment.</p> <p>“I am now six months clear and have started to gain my ‘new’ normal life,” he shared. “This run is my way of saying thank you. I couldn't have done my journey without them.”</p> <p>With every kilometre, Shane is not only rebuilding his strength but reminding the world of the quiet heroes in our hospitals. His battle cry?</p> <p><em>“FU Cancer. I kicked your ass.”</em></p> <p>And now, with every step, he’s lifting others up – one stride, one donation and one angel in scrubs at a time.</p> <p><em>Image: GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

What’s the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><a href="https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis">Arthritis</a> – an umbrella term for around <a href="https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/managing-pain/understanding-pain/sources-of-arthritis-pain">100 conditions</a> that damage the joints – affects <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39647490/">4.1 million</a> Australians. This is expected <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39647490/">to rise</a> by 31% to 5.4 million by 2040 and cost the Australian health-care system an estimated $12 billion each year.</p> <p>The two most common types, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, can both cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Both are more common in <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/arthritis">women</a>. Neither can be cured.</p> <p>But their causes, risk factors and treatments are different – here’s what you need to know.</p> <h2>What is osteoarthritis?</h2> <p>Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It affects <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/osteoarthritis">2.1 million Australians</a>, mostly older people. About a third of <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/osteoarthritis">Australians</a> aged 75 and older have the condition.</p> <p>It can affect any joint but is most common in the knees, hips, fingers, thumbs and big toes.</p> <p>The main symptom is pain, especially during movement. Other symptoms may include swelling, stiffness and changes to the shape of joints.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/osteoarthritis">main risk factors</a> are ageing and obesity, as well as previous injuries or surgery. For osteoarthritis in the hands, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35843480/">genetics</a> also play a big role.</p> <p>Signs of osteoarthritis can appear on knee scans from around <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/osteoarthritis">age 45</a> and become more common with age.</p> <p>However, this type of arthritis not simply the “wear and tear” of ageing. Osteoarthritis is a complex disease that affects the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp201672">whole joint</a>. This includes the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23173-cartilage">cartilage</a> (“shock-absorbing” connective tissue protecting your bones), bones, <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21604-ligament">ligaments</a> (connective tissue holding bones and body parts in place) and joint lining.</p> <h2>How is it diagnosed?</h2> <p>Diagnosis is <a href="https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/chapter/Recommendations#diagnosis">based on</a> symptoms (such as pain and restricted movement) and a physical exam.</p> <p>The disease generally worsens over time and cannot be reversed. But the severity of damage does not always <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21281726/">correlate with pain</a> levels.</p> <p>For this reason, x-rays and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29886437/">MRI scans</a> are usually unhelpful. Some people with early osteoarthritis experience severe pain, but the damage won’t show up on a scan. Others with advanced and visible osteoarthritis may have few symptoms or none at all.</p> <h2>What about rheumatoid arthritis?</h2> <p>Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means the immune system attacks the joint lining, causing inflammation and damage.</p> <p>Common symptoms include pain, joint swelling and stiffness, <a href="https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/ar4146">especially in the morning</a>.</p> <p>Rheumatoid arthritis is less common than osteoarthritis, affecting <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/rheumatoid-arthritis">around 514,000 Australians</a>. It mostly impacts the wrists and small joints in the hands and feet, though larger joints such as the elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles can also be involved.</p> <p>It can also affect other organs, including the skin, lungs, eyes, heart and blood vessels. Fortunately, disease outside the joint has become <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38240831/">less common</a> in recent years, likely due to better and earlier treatment.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/rheumatoid-arthritis?request=smoothstate">Rheumatoid arthritis</a> often develops earlier than osteoarthritis but can occur at any age. Onset is most frequent in those aged <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/rheumatoid-arthritis">35–64</a>. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21149499/">Smoking</a> increases your risk.</p> <h2>How is it diagnosed?</h2> <p>As with osteoarthritis, your doctor will diagnose rheumatoid arthritis based on your symptoms and a physical exam.</p> <p>Some other tests can be useful. Blood tests may pick up specific <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp20181">antibodies</a> that indicate rheumatoid arthritis, although you can still have the condition <a href="https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/managing-arthritis/medical-management/blood-test-for-arthritis/">with negative results</a>.</p> <p>X-rays may also reveal joint damage if the disease is advanced. If there is uncertainty, an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35022703/">ultrasound or MRI</a> can help detect inflammation.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&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/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=573&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=573&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=573&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="attribution"><span class="source">The Conversation</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>How is osteoarthritis treated?</h2> <p>No treatment can stop osteoarthritis progressing. However many people manage their symptoms well with advice from their doctor and self-care. Exercise, weight management and pain medicines <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard-2024">can help</a>.</p> <p>Exercise has been shown to be safe for osteoarthritis of the <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004376.pub4/full">knee</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24756895/">hip</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29032354/">hand</a>. Many types of exercise are <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-have-knee-pain-from-osteoarthritis-you-might-not-need-surgery-heres-what-to-try-instead-236779">effective</a> at reducing pain, so you can choose what suits you best.</p> <p>For knee osteoarthritis, managing weight through diet and/or exercise is <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard-2024">strongly recommended</a>. This may be because it reduces pressure on the joint or because losing weight <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30390883/">can reduce inflammation</a>. <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-study-suggests-weight-loss-drugs-like-ozempic-could-help-with-knee-pain-heres-why-there-may-be-a-link-243159">Anti-obesity medicines</a> may also reduce pain.</p> <p>Topical and oral <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard-2024">anti-inflammatories</a> are usually recommended to manage pain. However, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35137418/">opioids</a> (such as tramadol or oxycodone) are not, due to their risks and limited evidence they help.</p> <p>In some cases <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33472813/">antidepressants</a> such as duloxetine may also be considered as a treatment for pain though, again, evidence they help is limited.</p> <h2>What about rheumatoid arthritis?</h2> <p>Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis focus on preventing joint damage and reducing inflammation.</p> <p>It’s essential to get an <a href="https://rheumatology.org.au/Portals/2/Documents/Public/Professionals/Clinical%20Care%20Standards/RAQS-UPDATE-Clinicians-ACCESS-03-7May24.pdf?ver=2024-05-07-135934-023">early referral to a rheumatologist</a>, so that treatment with medication – called “disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs” – can begin quickly.</p> <p>These <a href="https://app.magicapp.org/#/guideline/LqRV3n">medicines</a> suppress the immune system to stop inflammation and prevent damage to the joint.</p> <p>With no cure, the <a href="https://creakyjoints.org/about-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis/ra-treatment/remission-low-disease-activity-rheumatoid-arthritis/">overall goal</a> is to achieve remission (where the disease is inactive) or get symptoms under control.</p> <h2>Advances in treatment</h2> <p>There is an increasing interest in prevention for both types of arthritis.</p> <p>A large international <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38144515/">clinical</a> trial is currently investigating whether a diet and exercise program can prevent knee osteoarthritis in those with higher risk – in this case, women who are overweight and obese.</p> <p>For those already affected, <a href="https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/levi-04-a-novel-neurotrophin-3-inhibitor-substantially-improves-pain-and-function-without-deleterious-effects-on-joint-structure-in-people-with-knee-osteoarthritis-a-randomized-controlled-phase-ii/">new medicines</a> in early-stage clinical trials show promise in reducing pain and improving function.</p> <p>There is also hope for rheumatoid arthritis with Australian researchers <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2024/07/drug-free-life-rheumatoid-arthritis-patients-possible-within-decade">developing</a> a new immunotherapy. This treatment aims to reprogram the immune system, similar to a vaccine, to help people achieve long-term remission without lifelong treatment.<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/249154/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/giovanni-e-ferreira-1030477">Giovanni E. Ferreira</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachelle-buchbinder-449750">Rachelle Buchbinder</a>, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Rheumatologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>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/whats-the-difference-between-osteoarthritis-and-rheumatoid-arthritis-249154">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Body

Can drinking champagne reduce your risk of sudden cardiac arrest?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>“My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough champagne,” the English economist and philosopher John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) is reported to have said. As it turns out, there may be a surprising ounce of truth to that quote.</p> <p>Picture this: a glass of champagne – bubbly, crisp and, for many, reserved for toasts and celebrations. Now imagine it being mentioned in the same sentence as a way to help prevent <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiac-arrest">sudden cardiac arrest</a>: a condition where the heart abruptly stops beating, killing tens of thousands each year, often without warning. Sounds too good to be true, right?</p> <p>Yet, <a href="https://onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(25)00171-0/fulltext">a Canadian study</a> has uncovered a curious link. Using data from over half a million people in the health research database the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/">UK Biobank</a>, researchers found that those who consumed moderate amounts of white wine or champagne had a lower risk of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Surprising, especially given the widely held belief <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/46/2/173/7920813?login=false#google_vignette">that red wine</a>, not white, is what benefits the heart.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9JvI392Iep8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>To rule out coincidence, the researchers double-checked their findings using genetic data – and the connection seemed to hold firm. This suggests there might be more to the story than chance alone.</p> <p>The study didn’t stop at wine. It explored more than 100 lifestyle and environmental factors tied to sudden cardiac arrest, including diet, exercise, air pollution, emotional wellbeing, body composition and education levels – all of which have been independently associated with risk. The conclusion? Up to 63% of sudden cardiac arrest cases could potentially be prevented by addressing these risk factors.</p> <p>Among all the protective factors identified, a few stood out: fruit consumption, regular computer use (yes, really) and moderate drinking of white wine or champagne were all linked to a reduced risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Why? That remains uncertain.</p> <p>One theory is that white wine contains antioxidants that may support heart health. Another possibility is that people who drink these types of beverages may also be more affluent and more likely to engage in other healthy behaviour, such as eating well, exercising regularly – and have access to better healthcare.</p> <p>But before you pop a cork in celebration, a word of caution: alcohol remains a complex and often contradictory player in heart health. Other large-scale studies suggest a <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.j909">U-shaped relationship</a> between alcohol and cardiovascular disease. Non-drinkers may have a certain level of risk, moderate drinkers of one glass of wine a day <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7020057/">may see</a> some benefit, but heavy drinking sharply increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart failure.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.10.022">One observational study</a> involving over 400,000 participants even found that moderate drinking could raise the risk of <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/arrhythmia/">arrhythmias</a>, which in some cases can lead to sudden death.</p> <p>So while champagne may offer a hopeful glimmer, it’s no magic bullet. The study’s broader message was clear: it’s the overall lifestyle that matters most. Better sleep, regular physical activity and <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-heart-patients-have-trouble-sticking-to-a-healthy-diet-and-3-things-that-help-them-eat-better-239172">a balanced diet</a> significantly reduced the risk of sudden cardiac arrest – and could prevent nearly one in five cases.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jdgYN1QgKng?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>On the flip side, obesity, high blood pressure and chronic stress were among the strongest risk factors, along with lower education levels and exposure to air pollution. These findings underscore that preventing sudden cardiac arrest isn’t just about personal habits: it’s also about the environments we live in and the policies that shape them. Cleaner air, better education and easier access to nutritious food could all play a role.</p> <p>Sudden cardiac arrest is not entirely random. Many of the contributing factors are within our control. Managing stress, staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, getting quality sleep – and yes, perhaps enjoying the occasional glass of white wine – can all help. But the real power lies in stacking small, healthy choices over time. Prevention is rarely about a single change; it’s about the cumulative effect of many.</p> <p>And in case you were wondering: Keynes suffered a series of heart attacks in 1946, beginning during negotiations for the <a href="https://history.blog.gov.uk/2020/12/07/whats-the-context-signing-the-anglo-american-financial-agreement-6-december-1945/">Anglo-American loan</a> in Savannah, Georgia. He described the process as “absolute hell”. A few weeks after returning to his farmhouse in Firle, East Sussex, he died of a heart attack at the age of 62.</p> <p>Maybe he was right about drinking more champagne after all.<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/255708/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-c-gaze-312661">David C. Gaze</a>, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Pathology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-westminster-916">University of Westminster</a></em></p> <p><em>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/can-drinking-champagne-reduce-your-risk-of-sudden-cardiac-arrest-heres-why-its-only-a-small-part-of-the-story-255708">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Caring

"I'm going straight into surgery": Barnaby Joyce opens on cancer diagnosis

<p>Former Deputy Prime Minister and long-time Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has revealed he is battling prostate cancer, using the opportunity to encourage Australian men to prioritise their health.</p> <p>In his first public comments since the diagnosis, Joyce spoke candidly with <em>Sunrise </em>on Monday morning, just hours before heading into surgery.</p> <p>“Literally, straight after this … I’m going … straight down the road and straight into surgery,” the newly re-elected Member for New England told host Natalie Barr.</p> <p>Joyce said he was feeling well despite the diagnosis, highlighting a common danger with prostate cancer. “I feel fine. I suppose that’s the problem with prostate cancer, you don’t feel bad.”</p> <p>He explained that his cancer was discovered during the election campaign, thanks to a persistent doctor who urged him to take a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. “It was like ‘bingo’ – there were elevated levels,” Joyce recalled.</p> <p>Following a PSA test, Joyce underwent an MRI and then a biopsy, which confirmed the presence of early-stage prostate cancer. “They said, ‘You’re lucky, it’s early stages, you’ve got to do something about it,’” he said.</p> <p>Despite the diagnosis, Joyce chose to delay surgery until after the election to avoid disrupting his campaign. “I didn’t want a big circus going on during the election,” he said.</p> <p>In a lighter moment, Joyce revealed he was delayed getting to hospital because of a flat tyre. “I can’t help myself, can I?” he joked.</p> <p>Joyce said his experience serves as a warning to other men. “If you’re a man, or you know a man, if you’re in your 40s, 50s, go get a PSA test and clear your own mind that everything is fine,” he urged. “If you get it early you’re overwhelmingly going to be OK.”</p> <p>Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, also appearing on <em>Sunrise</em>, praised Joyce’s decision to speak openly about his diagnosis. “I really do think that having high-profile people like Barnaby talk about their health challenges is really important to encourage other men to get the test,” she said.</p> <p>Professor Damien Bolton, Urologist and President of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) also added a message of support in response to Joyce’s openness. “By being open and honest about his prostate cancer diagnosis, Barnaby Joyce is helping raise awareness about a disease that is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in men,” said Bolton. “If caught early, prostate cancer is nearly always curable with 97 percent of men still alive five years after their diagnosis.”</p> <p>Joyce concluded with a message of hope and perspective: “Look at this beautiful world; you want to live as long as you possibly can.”</p> <p><em>Image: Sunrise</em></p>

Caring

Outrage after shirtless man knocks out 92-year-old woman

<p>In a horrifying broad daylight attack that has shaken the Williamstown community southwest of Melbourne, CCTV footage has captured the moment a shirtless man allegedly knocked a 92-year-old woman unconscious outside a busy shopping centre.</p> <p>The unprovoked incident occurred just after midday, as the elderly woman was walking along Douglas Parade in Williamstown. According to Victoria Police, a shirtless man approached her and suddenly swung his arm, striking her in the head. The blow sent the woman crashing to the pavement, rendering her unconscious.</p> <p>Disturbing CCTV vision shows the man calmly walking away from the scene as the elderly victim lies motionless on the ground. Witnesses can be seen rushing to her aid moments later, with some members of the public reportedly restraining the man until police arrived.</p> <p>Ambulance Victoria confirmed the woman was transported to hospital in a stable condition. Miraculously, her injuries are not considered life-threatening.</p> <p>In a statement later released from her hospital bed, the woman expressed deep gratitude to those who came to her aid.</p> <p>"I wish to thank all those who have been so caring of me," she said. "I remember nothing of the actual incident, but when I woke up, I was surrounded by the police and ambulance and caring onlookers. I wish to thank everyone for their concern. I'm pleased to go home as I have a loving family and supportive friends."</p> <p>The alleged attacker, a 39-year-old man with no fixed address, was arrested on the scene and has since been charged with intentionally causing injury.</p> <p>Police are continuing their investigation and are urging anyone who witnessed the attack or has further footage to come forward.</p> <p><em>Images: Victoria Police</em></p>

Caring

"Find a life worth enjoying": King Charles opens up on his battle with cancer

<p>King Charles III has opened up publicly for the first time about his battle with cancer, offering a heartfelt reflection on the lessons he has learned during a special event at Buckingham Palace.</p> <p>The monarch, who was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, described the experience as one that “brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity”, as he addressed guests gathered to celebrate community initiatives raising cancer awareness and supporting those affected by the disease.</p> <p>“Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones,” the King said. “It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening.”</p> <p>The event was attended by healthcare professionals, volunteers, advocates and families affected by cancer, many of whom Charles has supported throughout his public life. He praised their efforts, noting that his own experience had reinforced a long-held belief: that compassion and connection are vital to the healing journey.</p> <p>“The darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion,” he said, highlighting the roles of hospice volunteers, specialist nurses and support groups in forming what he called a “community of care”.</p> <p>Charles also expressed his family's deep gratitude to the healthcare professionals involved in cancer treatment across the UK. “They have my whole family’s deepest admiration and gratitude,” he said. “Their care represents the very best our country can offer.”</p> <p>While the King has kept the specific details of his condition private, Buckingham Palace confirmed he was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/king-charles-admitted-to-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospitalised last month</a> due to side effects from his treatment. His diagnosis came just weeks before Princess Kate, 43, revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy, sparking concern and sympathy across the nation and beyond.</p> <p>Global statistics underscore the urgency of the fight against cancer: in 2022, approximately 20 million new cases were diagnosed worldwide, with 9.7 million lives lost, according to the American Cancer Society.</p> <p>Concluding his remarks, King Charles shared a quote from Dame Deborah James – the beloved British journalist and campaigner who died of bowel cancer in 2022 – whose parents were in attendance at the Palace.</p> <p>“‘Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope,’” he said.</p> <p><em>Image: Sunrise</em></p>

Caring

Andre Agassi victorious in pro pickleball debut!

<p>Andre Agassi, former tennis demigod and proud wearer of 1990s denim shorts, just served up a win in his professional pickleball debut, the sport that sounds like a snack and plays like a caffeine-fuelled family reunion in Florida.</p> <p>Fresh off turning 55 (and presumably fuelled by birthday cake and a lifetime supply of Voltarin), Agassi teamed up with 18-year-old phenom Anna Leigh Waters. Together, they defeated a duo of teens young enough to still ask permission before downloading apps. The final score: 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 – a tight match that was equal parts strategy, reflex and Agassi’s uncanny ability to intimidate opponents with his résumé.</p> <p>Let’s take a moment to appreciate this image: one of tennis’s all-time greats, who once faced Pete Sampras at Wimbledon, now facing… someone who probably wasn't alive when Agassi last hoisted a Grand Slam trophy. And yet, here he is, paddle in hand, knees holding together like true American heroes, navigating a sport that’s basically what would happen if tennis and ping pong had a baby in a Florida retirement community.</p> <p>Agassi, who retired from tennis in 2006 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame when flip phones still roamed the earth, has since dabbled in pickleball exhibition matches, mostly as an excuse to promote paddle gear online and to remind the world that he still has better footwork than most 25-year-olds.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">✅ make pro Pickleball debut<br />✅ WIN pro Pickleball debut</p> <p>Andre Agassi and Anna Leigh Waters take home the W! <a href="https://t.co/ONUqDLaxWc">pic.twitter.com/ONUqDLaxWc</a></p> <p>— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNet/status/1917629532716073248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>Pickleball, in case you’ve been trapped under a yoga mat, is the fastest-growing sport in America, and is making huge strides here in Australia too. It’s played with paddles, a plastic wiffleball, and the unwavering confidence of people who own ergonomic lawn chairs. It now boasts over 13 million U.S. players and rising – about 12.9 million of whom are currently trying to explain the rules to their confused spouses.</p> <p>Naturally, Agassi wasn’t quite sure how to feel about entering the pro scene.</p> <p>"I have this conflict, like I can't tell. Is this fun? Is this anxiety?" he admitted, possibly while trying to remember if his insurance covers pickleball-related injuries. He also joked that many of his tennis peers were tuning in “to watch a slow-motion train wreck”. (Spoiler: it never crashed.)</p> <p>His personal goal for the tournament wasn’t medals or glory – it was approval from his teenaged partner. “A win for me will be when this is over and Anna Leigh looks at me and says, ‘Do you want to play again?’” he said. </p> <p>While it’s too early to say whether this marks the start of a new career or just an elaborate midlife crisis with a paddle, one thing’s for sure: pickleball will never be the same.</p> <p>And who knows? At this rate, Roger Federer could be lacing up orthopaedic sneakers any minute now...</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Body

Forming new habits can take longer than you think. Here are 8 tips to help you stick with them

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>If you’ve ever tried to build a new habit – whether that’s exercising more, eating healthier, or going to bed earlier – you may have heard the popular claim that it only takes 21 days to form a habit.</p> <p>It’s a neat idea. Short, encouraging and full of promise. But there’s just one problem: it’s not true.</p> <p>The 21-day myth can be traced back to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671700758/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671700758&linkCode=as2&tag=jamesclear-20&linkId=6DQ32IRAG3LU4PKA">Maxwell Maltz</a>, a plastic surgeon in the 1960s, who observed it took about three weeks for his patients to adjust to physical changes. This idea was later picked up and repeated in self-help books, eventually becoming accepted wisdom.</p> <p>But as psychologists and behavioural scientists have since discovered, habit formation is <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-form-a-habit/">much more complex</a>.</p> <h2>How long does it really take?</h2> <p>A <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsp.674">2010 study</a> followed volunteers trying to build simple routines – such as drinking water after breakfast or eating a daily piece of fruit – and found it took a median of 66 days for the behaviour to become automatic.</p> <p>We recently <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/23/2488">reviewed several studies</a> looking at how long it took people to form health-related habits. We found, on average, it took around two to five months.</p> <p>Specifically, the studies that measured time to reach automaticity (when a behaviour becomes second nature) found that habit formation took between 59 and 154 days. Some people developed a habit in as few as four days. Others took nearly a year.</p> <p>This wide range highlights that habit formation isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on what the behaviour is, how often it’s repeated, how complex it is, and who’s doing it.</p> <h2>What determines whether a habit will stick?</h2> <p>Habit strength plays a key role in consistency. A <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.626750/full">2021 systematic review</a> focused on physical activity and found the stronger the habit (meaning the more automatic and less effortful the behaviour felt) the more likely people were to exercise regularly.</p> <p>It’s not entirely surprising that easy, <a href="https://bjgp.org/content/62/605/664">low-effort behaviours</a> such as drinking water or taking a daily vitamin tend to form faster than complex ones like training for a marathon.</p> <p>But whatever the habit, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44159-024-00305-0">research shows</a> sticking to it is not just about boosting motivation or willpower. Interventions that actively support habit formation – through repetition, cues and structure – are much more effective for creating lasting change.</p> <p>For example, programs that encourage people to schedule regular exercise at the same time each day, or apps that send reminders to drink water after every meal, help build habits by making the behaviour easier to repeat and harder to forget.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/23/2488">research</a>, which drew on data from more than 2,600 people, showed habit-building interventions can make a real difference across a range of behaviours – from flossing and healthy eating to regular exercise.</p> <p>But what stood out most was that even small, everyday actions can grow into powerful routines, when repeated consistently. It’s not about overhauling your life overnight, but about steadily reinforcing behaviours until they become second nature.</p> <h2>8 tips for building lasting habits</h2> <p>If you’re looking to build a new habit, here are some science-backed tips to help them stick:</p> <ol> <li> <p>Give it time. Aim for consistency over <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/23/2488">60 days</a>. It’s not about perfection – missing a day won’t reset the clock.</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/">Make it easy</a>. Start small. Choose a behaviour you can realistically repeat daily.</p> </li> <li> <p>Attach your new habit <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/23/2488">to an existing routine</a>. That is, make the new habit easier to remember by linking it to something you already do – such as flossing right before you brush your teeth.</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0144929X.2020.1801840">Track your progress</a>. Use a calendar or app to tick off each successful day.</p> </li> <li> <p>Build in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212267215011181?casa_token=-VKsr03fXOUAAAAA:pKV0oAB5VVuj8RcPAW5T7prjo3efSVpi6P6TXFoeTLHBX_vFK0ttF6tFM9-8Fp6o45XPu_lcij5d">rewards</a>, for example making a special coffee after a morning walk or watching an episode of your favourite show after a week of consistent workouts. Positive emotions help habits stick, so celebrate small wins.</p> </li> <li> <p>Morning is best. Habits practised <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fhea0000510">in the morning</a> tend to form more reliably than those attempted at night. This may be because people typically have more motivation and fewer distractions earlier in the day, making it easier to stick to new routines before daily demands build up.</p> </li> <li> <p>Personal choice boosts success. People are more likely to stick with habits <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00560/full">they choose themselves</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejsp.674">Repetition</a> in a stable context is key. Performing the same behaviour in the same situation (such as walking right after lunch each day) increases the chances it will become automatic.</p> </li> </ol> <h2>Why the 21-day myth matters</h2> <p>Believing habits form in 21 days sets many people up to fail. When change doesn’t “click” within three weeks, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing something wrong. This can lead to frustration, guilt and giving up entirely.</p> <p>By contrast, understanding the real timeline can help you stay motivated when things feel slow.</p> <p>Evidence shows habit formation usually takes at least two months, and sometimes longer. But it also shows change is possible.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/23/2488">research</a> and <a href="https://bjgp.org/content/62/605/664">other evidence</a> confirm that repeated, intentional actions in stable contexts really do become automatic. Over time, new behaviours can feel effortless and deeply ingrained.</p> <p>So whether you’re trying to move more, eat better, or improve your sleep, the key isn’t speed – it’s consistency. Stick with it. With time, the habit will stick with you.<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/255118/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By</em> <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-singh-1297213">Ben Singh</a>, Research Fellow, Allied Health & Human Performance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ashleigh-e-smith-201327">Ashleigh E. Smith</a>, Associate Professor, Healthy Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>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/forming-new-habits-can-take-longer-than-you-think-here-are-8-tips-to-help-you-stick-with-them-255118">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shuttertock</em></p> </div>

Mind

Brain disorder more common than MS – but often goes undiagnosed

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Imagine suddenly losing the ability to move a limb, walk or speak. You would probably recognise this as a medical emergency and get to hospital.</p> <p>Now imagine the doctors at the hospital run some tests and then say, “Good news! All your tests were normal, clear scans, and nothing is wrong. You can go home!” Yet, you are still experiencing very real and disabling symptoms.</p> <p>Unfortunately, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2333491">this is the experience of many people</a> with functional neurological disorder. Even worse, some are blamed and reprimanded for <a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/148/1/27/7750481?login=false">exaggerating</a> or faking their symptoms.</p> <p>So, what is this disorder, and why is it so challenging to recognise and treat?</p> <h2>What is functional neurological disorder?</h2> <p><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/neurological-disorders">Neurological disorders</a> are conditions that affect how the nervous system works. The nervous system sends and receives messages between the brain and other parts of your body to regulate a wide range of functions, such as movement, speaking, vision, thinking and digestion.</p> <p>To the untrained eye, functional neurological disorder can resemble other conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis or epilepsy.</p> <p>But, unlike these conditions, functional neurological symptoms <a href="https://neurosymptoms.org/en/causes/how-was-it-happened/">aren’t due</a> to damage or a disease process affecting the nervous system. This means the disorder doesn’t appear on routine brain imaging and other tests.</p> <p>Functional symptoms are, instead, due to dysfunction in the processing of information between several brain networks. Simply put, <a href="https://neurosymptoms.org/en/causes/how-was-it-happened/">it’s a problem</a> of the brain’s software, not the hardware.</p> <h2>What are the symptoms?</h2> <p>Functional neurological disorder can produce a kaleidoscope of diverse and changing symptoms. This often adds to confusion for patients and make diagnosis more challenging.</p> <p><a href="https://neurosymptoms.org/en/symptoms/">Symptoms</a> may include paralysis or abnormal movements such as tremors, jerks and tics. This often leads to difficulty walking or coordinating movements.</p> <p>Sensory symptoms may involve numbness, tingling or loss of vision.</p> <p>Dissociative symptoms, such as functional seizures and blackouts, are also common.</p> <p>Some people experience cognitive symptoms including brain fog or problems finding the right words. Fatigue and chronic pain frequently coexist with these symptoms.</p> <p>These symptoms can be severe and distressing and, without treatment, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31167232/">can persist for years</a>. For example, some people with functional neurological disorder cannot walk and must use a wheelchair for decades.</p> <p>Diagnosis involves <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3745">identifying established diagnostic signs</a> and ensuring no other diagnoses are missed. This process is best carried out by an experienced neurologist or neuropsychiatrist.</p> <h2>How common is it?</h2> <p>Functional neurological disorder is one of the most common medical conditions seen in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.3753">emergency care</a> and in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awp220">outpatient neurology clinics</a>.</p> <p>It affects around <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2024-334767">10–22 people per 100,000 per year</a>. This makes it more common than multiple sclerosis.</p> <p>Despite this, it is often under-recognised and misunderstood by health-care professionals. This leads to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/148/1/27/7750481?login=false">delays in diagnosis and treatment</a>.</p> <p>This lack of awareness also contributes to the perception that it’s rare, when it’s actually common among neurological disorders.</p> <h2>Who does functional neurological disorder affect?</h2> <p>This condition can affect anyone, although it is more common in women and younger people. Around two thirds of patients are female, but this <a href="https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/93/6/609">gender disparity reduces with age</a>.</p> <p>Understanding of the disorder has <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33722822/">developed significantly over the past few decades</a>, but there’s still more to learn. Several biological, psychological, and social factors can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35430029/">predispose people</a>.</p> <p>Genetics, traumatic life experiences, anxiety and depression can increase the risk. Stressful life events, illness, or physical injuries can trigger or worsen existing symptoms.</p> <p>But not everyone with the disorder has experienced significant trauma or stress.</p> <h2>How is it treated?</h2> <p>If left untreated, about <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awz138">half the people</a> with this condition will remain the same or their symptoms will worsen. However, with the help of experienced clinicians, many people can make rapid recoveries when treatment starts early.</p> <p>There are no specific medications for functional neurological disorder but personalised rehabilitation guided by experienced clinicians is <a href="https://fndhope.org/living-fnd/">recommended</a>.</p> <p>Some people may need a team of multidisciplinary clinicians that may include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and doctors.</p> <p>People also need accurate information about their condition, because <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/aws129">understanding and beliefs</a> about the disorder play an important role in recovery. Accurate information helps patients to develop more realistic expectations, reduces anxiety and can empower people to be more active in their recovery.</p> <p>Treating common co-existing conditions, such as anxiety or depression, can also <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o64.abstract">be helpful</a>.</p> <h2>A dark history</h2> <p>The origins of the disorder are deeply rooted in the sexist <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8564048/">history of its pre-scientific ancestor – hysteria</a>. The legacy of hysteria has cast a long shadow, contributing to a misogynistic bias in perception and treatment. This historical context has led to ongoing stigma, where symptoms were often labelled as psychological and not warranting treatment.</p> <p>Women with functional symptoms often face scepticism and dismissal. In some cases, <a href="https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/94/10/855">significant harm</a> occurs through stigmatisation, inadequate care and poor management. Modern medicine has attempted to address these biases by recognising functional neurological disorder as a legitimate condition.</p> <p>A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11414792/">lack of education</a> for medical professionals likely contributes to stigma. Many <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2019.06.008">clinicians report low confidence and knowledge</a> about their ability to manage the disorder.</p> <h2>A bright future?</h2> <p>Fortunately, awareness, research and interest has grown over the past decade. Many treatment approaches are being trialled, including <a href="https://www.physio4fmd.org/">specialist physiotherapy</a>, <a href="https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/92/1/36.abstract">psychological therapies</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35115389/">non-invasive brain stimulation</a>.</p> <p>Patient-led organisations and <a href="https://fndhope.org/">support networks</a> are making headway advocating for improvements in health systems, research and education. The goal is to unite patients, their families, clinicians, and researchers to advance a new standard of care across the world.<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/250501/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/benjamin-scrivener-2329913"><em>Benjamin Scrivener</em></a><em>, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-waipapa-taumata-rau-1305">University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau</a></em></p> <p><em>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/tremors-seizures-and-paralysis-this-brain-disorder-is-more-common-than-multiple-sclerosis-but-often-goes-undiagnosed-250501">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Body

Pope Francis' cause of death and burial wishes revealed

<p>The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis died from a stroke followed by heart failure, according to an official statement released by the Vatican press office. The 88-year-old pontiff passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, with underlying health conditions also contributing to his death.</p> <p>In a statement signed by Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Vatican City State, the Vatican revealed that Francis had suffered a previous episode of acute respiratory failure, along with arterial hypertension and type II diabetes.</p> <p>Pope Francis made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, where he delivered a brief Easter blessing to thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square. Unable to finish reading his address, the ailing pope sat as an aide delivered the rest of the speech, which called for peace in war-torn regions such as Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.</p> <p>Following his death, the Vatican also made public the burial wishes outlined in the pope’s will. Francis requested a simple burial in the ground at Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – marked only with the Latin inscription <em>Franciscus</em>. This will be the first time in over a century that a pope will be buried outside the Vatican.</p> <p>According to the will, an anonymous benefactor has agreed to cover the costs of his burial.</p> <p>With the pontiff’s passing, the Catholic Church now enters a traditional period of mourning known as the Novendiales, lasting nine days. During this time, Pope Francis will lie in state as preparations for his funeral are made.</p> <p>The conclave – the sacred process to elect a new pope – is expected to begin no sooner than 15 days and no later than 20 days following his death.</p> <p>Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, became the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope. His death marks the end of a papacy defined by humility, progressive stances and a deep focus on global humanitarian issues.</p> <p><em>Images: Wikimedia Commons</em></p>

Caring

A simple, science-backed way to sharpen thinking and improve memory – and it's not what you think

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Many of us turn to Sudoku, Wordle or brain-training apps to sharpen our minds. But research is increasingly showing one of the best ways to boost memory, focus and brain health is exercise.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/03/06/bjsports-2024-108589">new research</a> reviewed data from more than 250,000 participants across 2,700 studies. We found exercise helps boost brain function – whether it’s walking, cycling, yoga, dancing, or even playing active video games such as Pokémon GO.</p> <p>Moving your body improves how we think, make decisions, remember things and stay focused – no matter your age.</p> <h2>What the science says</h2> <p>Our review adds to a growing body of research that shows regular physical activity <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/03/06/bjsports-2024-108589">improves</a> three key areas of brain function:</p> <ul> <li> <p>cognition, which is your overall ability to think clearly, learn and make decisions</p> </li> <li> <p>memory, especially short-term memory and the ability to remember personal experiences</p> </li> <li> <p>executive function, which includes focus, planning, problem-solving and managing emotions.</p> </li> </ul> <p>We conducted an umbrella review, which means we looked at the results of more than 130 high-quality research reviews that had already combined findings from many exercise studies. These studies usually involved people starting a new, structured exercise program, not just tracking the exercise they were already doing.</p> <p>To assess the effects on cognition, memory and executive function, the original studies used a range of brain function tests. These included things like remembering word lists, solving puzzles, or quickly switching between tasks – simple activities designed to reliably measure how well the brain is working.</p> <p>The improvements were small to moderate. On average, exercise led to a noticeable boost in cognition, with slightly smaller but still meaningful gains in memory and executive function.</p> <p>The benefits showed up across all age groups, though children and teens saw major gains in memory.</p> <p>People with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed greater improvements in executive function after physical activity than other population groups.</p> <p>The brain started responding fairly quickly – many people experienced improvements after just 12 weeks of starting regular exercise.</p> <p>Generally, the greatest benefits were seen in those doing at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week, aiming for a total of about 150 minutes per week.</p> <h2>What’s happening in the brain?</h2> <p>Activities such as walking or cycling can <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1015950108">increase the size of the hippocampus</a>, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1015950108">one study</a>, older adults who did aerobic exercise for a year grew their hippocampus by 2%, effectively reversing one to two years of age-related brain shrinkage.</p> <p>More intense workouts, such as running or high-intensity interval training, can further <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2017/8305287">boost neuroplasticity</a> – the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself. This helps you learn more quickly, think more clearly and stay mentally sharp with age.</p> <h2>Another reason to get moving</h2> <p>The world’s population is ageing. By 2030, <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health">one in six of people will be aged over 60</a>. With that comes a rising risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline.</p> <p>At the same time, many adults aren’t moving enough. One in three adults <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity">aren’t meeting the recommended levels</a> of physical activity.</p> <p>Adults <a href="https://www.who.int/initiatives/behealthy/physical-activity">should aim for</a> at least 150 of moderate exercise – such as brisk walking – each week, or at least 75 minutes of more vigorous activity, like running.</p> <p>It’s also important to incorporate muscle-strengthening exercises, such as lifting weights, into workouts at least twice a week.</p> <h2>Everyday movement counts</h2> <p>You don’t need to run marathons or lift heavy weights to benefit. Our study showed lower-intensity activities such as yoga, tai chi and “exergames” (active video games) can be just as effective – sometimes even more so.</p> <p>These activities engage both the brain and body. Tai chi, for instance, requires focus, coordination and memorising sequences.</p> <p>Exergames often include real-time decision-making and rapid response to cues. This trains attention and memory.</p> <p>Importantly, these forms of movement are inclusive. They can be done at home, outdoors, or with friends, making them a great option for people of all fitness levels or those with limited mobility.</p> <p>Although you may already be doing a lot through daily life – like walking instead of driving or carrying shopping bags home – it’s still important to find time for structured exercise, such as lifting weights at the gym or doing a regular yoga class, to get the full benefits for your brain and body.</p> <h2>Real-life applications</h2> <p>If you’re a grandparent, consider playing Wii Sports virtual tennis or bowling with your grandchild. If you’re a teenager with signs of ADHD, try a dance class, and see if it impacts your concentration in class. If you’re a busy parent, you might be more clear-headed if you can squeeze a 20-minute yoga video session between meetings.</p> <p>In each of these cases, you’re not just being active, you’re giving your brain a valuable tune-up. And unlike most brain-training apps or supplements, exercise delivers far reaching benefits, including improved <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945721002914?casa_token=pXaOJcQJ7d0AAAAA:0i4BjaxqJ21AQ2bGXI4DfQ6twKNybrg7c2f0_Xs7t-hWyDOH0SuKGTfruy-JlC_rMokUM3iWdlSQ">sleep</a> and <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/18/1203">mental health</a>.</p> <p>Workplaces and schools are starting to take note. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smi.2654">Short movement breaks</a> are being introduced during the workday to improve employee focus.</p> <p>Schools that incorporate <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-017-0569-9">physical activity</a> into the classroom are seeing improvements in students’ attention and academic performance.</p> <p>Exercise is one of the most powerful and accessible tools we have for supporting brain health. Best of all, it’s free, widely available and it’s never too late to start.<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/253751/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-singh-1297213">Ben Singh</a>, Research Fellow, Allied Health & Human Performance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ashleigh-e-smith-201327">Ashleigh E. Smith</a>, Associate Professor, Healthy Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>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/heres-a-simple-science-backed-way-to-sharpen-your-thinking-and-improve-your-memory-253751">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Mind

"Absolutely stunning!": Jelena Dokic wows fans with new look

<p>Former tennis star Jelena Dokic has debuted a striking new look, showcasing her dramatic weight loss and inspiring thousands with her message of self-love.</p> <p>The 41-year-old, once ranked world No. 4, made a radiant return to the spotlight as part of Channel 9’s coverage of the Billie Jean King Cup. A photo from the broadcast set quickly sparked an outpouring of support from fans, celebrating not just her transformation, but her ongoing role as a symbol of strength and positivity.</p> <p>“Back in the studio and back doing the tennis and TV with my @channel9 @wwos family,” Dokic shared with her 285,000 Instagram followers on Thursday. “Nice little lead into the next 3 grand slams of the year with a @billiejeankingcup week.”</p> <p>Supportive messages flooded the post, with fans praising her radiant presence. “You’re a dead set LEGEND Jelena,” one admirer wrote, while another added, “Absolutely stunning!”</p> <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/p/DIQMMW5pIcp/?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/p/DIQMMW5pIcp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by JELENA DOKIC 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 (@dokic_jelena)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Dokic has been open about her personal struggles, candidly discussing her battles with mental health, weight challenges and online bullying. In a heartfelt Instagram post from March 11, she reflected on her journey, using side-by-side images to convey a powerful message about body image.</p> <p>“What is the difference between the two images?” she asked. “Nothing except what you see on the outside, my BODY SIZE. I am the same hardworking person, respectful, generous, empathetic, compassionate, humble, kind, driven, strong, resilient, capable and loving person, woman and friend.”</p> <p>She continued, urging her followers to look beyond appearances: “Beauty has nothing to do with looks. It’s how you are as a person. It’s how you make others feel especially about themselves. No beauty shines brighter than that of a kind heart.”</p> <p>Now thriving as an author, expert tennis commentator and vocal advocate for mental health and body positivity, Dokic continues to inspire others with her authenticity and courage. Her documentary <em>Unbreakable</em>, which aired on Channel 9 earlier this year after its successful cinematic release in December 2024, has been met with rave reviews for its raw and honest portrayal of her life and career.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Body

Hollywood legend reveals secret cancer battle

<p>Hollywood icon Anjelica Huston has opened up for the first time about her private battle with cancer, revealing she was diagnosed back in 2019 but is now celebrating four years of being cancer-free.</p> <p>The Oscar-winning actress, 73, shared that the diagnosis came as a “big shock” shortly after the release of <em>John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum</em>, in which she starred alongside Keanu Reeves and Halle Berry. While Huston chose not to disclose the exact type of cancer she faced, she expressed pride in overcoming the illness and praised her medical team for their care.</p> <p>“It came as a big shock, but it made me conscious of what I shouldn’t do, of places I shouldn’t go,” Huston told <em>People</em> magazine. “Sometimes you feel like you don't want to talk about it for the obvious reasons, but there's a lot to be said for talking about it and getting it out there and celebrating the fact that one's come through.”</p> <p>Reflecting on her journey, she added, “I managed to survive it, and I’m proud of myself.”</p> <p>Huston, best known for her roles in <em>The Addams Family</em>, <em>The Witches</em>, and <em>Prizzi's Honor</em>, comes from a legendary Hollywood lineage. She is the daughter of famed director and screenwriter John Huston and the granddaughter of Canadian star Walter Huston. Several of her siblings have also pursued acting careers.</p> <p>Her personal life has also captured public interest over the years. Huston famously dated actor Jack Nicholson, describing their relationship as an "emotional rollercoaster." In 1992, she married sculptor Robert Graham, who sadly passed away in 2008.</p> <p>Now, with her cancer battle behind her, Huston is embracing life with renewed appreciation and strength, inspiring fans worldwide.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

A new COVID variant is on the rise: what you need to know

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>More than five years since COVID was <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19">declared a pandemic</a>, we’re still facing the regular emergence of new variants of the virus, SARS-CoV-2.</p> <p>The latest variant on the rise is LP.8.1. It’s <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/australian-respiratory-surveillance-reports-2025">increasing in Australia</a>, making up close to <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/respiratory-surveillance-20250322.pdf">one in five COVID cases</a> in New South Wales.</p> <p>Elsewhere it’s become even more dominant, comprising at least three in five cases <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/health/lp-covid-variant-cases-future-waves-3598768">in the United Kingdom</a>, for example.</p> <p>So what is LP.8.1? And is it cause for concern? Let’s look at what we know so far.</p> <h2>An offshoot of Omicron</h2> <p>LP.8.1 was first <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/risk-evaluation-for-sars-cov-2-variant-under-monitoring-lp81">detected in July 2024</a>. It’s a descendant of Omicron, specifically of KP.1.1.3, which is descended from <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-emergence-of-jn-1-is-an-evolutionary-step-change-in-the-covid-pandemic-why-is-this-significant-220285">JN.1</a>, a subvariant that caused large waves of COVID infections around the world in late 2023 and early 2024.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) designated LP.8.1 as a <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/risk-evaluation-for-sars-cov-2-variant-under-monitoring-lp81">variant under monitoring</a> in January. This was in response to its significant growth globally, and reflects that it has genetic changes which may allow the virus to spread more easily and pose a greater risk to human health.</p> <p>Specifically, LP.8.1 has mutations at six locations in its spike protein, the protein which allows SARS-CoV-2 to attach to our cells. One of these mutations, V445R, is thought to allow this variant to spread more easily relative to other circulating variants. V445R has been shown to increase binding to human lung cells in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(25)00015-5/fulltext">laboratory studies</a>.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/658901/original/file-20250401-56-eywcgb.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&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/658901/original/file-20250401-56-eywcgb.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658901/original/file-20250401-56-eywcgb.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658901/original/file-20250401-56-eywcgb.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658901/original/file-20250401-56-eywcgb.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658901/original/file-20250401-56-eywcgb.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658901/original/file-20250401-56-eywcgb.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A chart showing the distribution of different COVID variants in different colours." /><figcaption><span class="caption">The proportion of COVID cases caused by LP.8.1 has been rising in New South Wales.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/respiratory-surveillance-20250322.pdf">NSW Health</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Notably, the symptoms of LP.8.1 don’t appear <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/risk-evaluation-for-sars-cov-2-variant-under-monitoring-lp81">to be any more severe</a> than other circulating strains. And the WHO has evaluated the additional public health risk LP.8.1 poses at a global level to be low. What’s more, LP.8.1 remains a variant under monitoring, rather than a variant of interest or a variant of concern.</p> <p>In other words, these changes to the virus with LP.8.1 are small, and not likely to make a big difference to the trajectory of the pandemic.</p> <h2>That doesn’t mean cases won’t rise</h2> <p>COVID as a whole is still a major national and international health concern. So far this year there have been close to <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/australian-respiratory-surveillance-reports-2025">45,000 new cases recorded in Australia</a>, while around <a href="https://covidlive.com.au/report/daily-hospitalised/aus">260 people are currently in hospital</a> with the virus.</p> <p>Because many people are no longer testing or reporting their infections, the real number of cases is probably far higher.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/australian-respiratory-surveillance-reports-2025">Australia</a>, LP.8.1 has become the <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/respiratory-surveillance-20250322.pdf">third most dominant strain in NSW</a> (behind <a href="https://theconversation.com/xec-is-now-in-australia-heres-what-we-know-about-this-hybrid-covid-variant-239292">XEC</a> and KP.3).</p> <p>It <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/respiratory-surveillance-20250322.pdf">has been growing</a> over the past couple of months and this trend looks set to continue.</p> <p>This is not to say it’s not growing similarly in other states and territories, however NSW Health publishes <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/reports.aspx">weekly respiratory surveillance</a> with a breakdown of different COVID variants in the state.</p> <p>Sequences of LP.8.1 in the <a href="https://gisaid.org/">GISAID database</a>, used to track the prevalence of variants around the world, increased from <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/risk-evaluation-for-sars-cov-2-variant-under-monitoring-lp81">around 3%</a> at the end of 2024 to 38% of global sequences as of <a href="https://x.com/Mike_Honey_/status/1905816340331728914">mid March</a>.</p> <p>In some countries it’s climbed particularly high. In the United States LP.8.1 is responsible for <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions">55% of cases</a>. In <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/health/lp-covid-variant-cases-future-waves-3598768">the UK</a>, where LP.8.1 is making up at least 60% of cases, scientists fear <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/science/new-covid-wave-cases-hospitalisations-3611459?srsltid=AfmBOor_V7pQrPMPhUYQA2KCZgRfsI_CpxTwIRiHDFJHIJhq2kbAmD42">it may be driving a new wave</a>.</p> <h2>Will COVID vaccines work against LP.8.1?</h2> <p>Current COVID vaccines, including the most recently available <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-covid-vaccines-may-be-coming-to-australia-heres-what-to-know-about-the-jn-1-shots-237652">JN.1 shots</a>, are still expected to <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/risk-evaluation-for-sars-cov-2-variant-under-monitoring-lp81">offer good protection</a> against symptomatic and severe disease with LP.8.1.</p> <p>Nonetheless, due to its designation as a variant under monitoring, WHO member countries will continue to study the behaviour <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/risk-evaluation-for-sars-cov-2-variant-under-monitoring-lp81">of the LP.8.1 variant</a>, including any potential capacity to evade our immunity.</p> <p>While there’s no cause for panic due to LP.8.1 variant at this stage, COVID can still be a severe disease for some. Continued vigilance and vaccination, particularly <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/getting-your-vaccination">for medically vulnerable groups</a>, is essential in minimising the impact of the disease.<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/253237/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/thomas-jeffries-1511629">Thomas Jeffries</a>, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>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/a-new-covid-variant-is-on-the-rise-heres-what-to-know-about-lp-8-1-253237">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Caring

Incredible new pacemaker tinier than a grain of rice

<p>Engineers from Northwestern University in the US have developed a groundbreaking pacemaker so tiny that it can fit inside the tip of a syringe – is smaller than a grain of rice – and be non-invasively injected into the body. This innovation could revolutionise cardiac care by offering a minimally invasive alternative to traditional pacemakers.</p> <p>"We have developed what is, to our knowledge, the world's smallest pacemaker," said bioelectronics pioneer John A Rogers, who led the development. The small, wireless device is biocompatible and designed to be gradually broken down and absorbed by the body, reducing the need for surgical extraction.</p> <p>Rogers and his colleagues tested the effectiveness of their tiny, temporary pacemaker in human heart tissue and animal models. Measuring just 1.8mm by 3.5mm by 1mm, the device is smaller than any previously reported pacemaker. It is paired with a soft, flexible, wireless wearable device mounted on a patient’s chest, which controls the pacing. When an irregular heartbeat is detected, the wearable device emits a light pulse that penetrates through the skin, breastbone and muscles to activate the pacemaker and regulate heart rhythm.</p> <p>While designed to work for hearts of all sizes, the pacemaker is particularly well-suited for newborns with congenital heart defects. Northwestern experimental cardiologist Igor Efimov, who co-led the study, said this device could play a<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> critical role in the effective treatment</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> of infants.</span></p> <p>"Our major motivation was children," Efimov explained. "About 1 percent of children are born with congenital heart defects, regardless of whether they live in a low-resource or high-resource country. The good news is that these children only need temporary pacing after surgery. In about seven days or so, most patients’ hearts will self-repair. But those seven days are absolutely critical."</p> <p>Researchers believe this pacemaker could provide a safer alternative to traditional pacemakers for temporary pacing in patients with bradycardia, a condition characterised by a resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute. Additionally, they suggest that the technology’s versatility could extend to broader medical applications in bioelectronic medicine, such as aiding nerve and bone healing and blocking pain.</p> <p>This revolutionary development represents a significant step forward in cardiac treatment, potentially improving outcomes for both infants and adults requiring temporary heart pacing.</p> <p><em>Images: Northwestern University</em></p>

Body

Do stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis actually work?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">More than 500 million people around the world <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(23)00163-7/fulltext">live with osteoarthritis</a>. The knee is affected more often than any other joint, with symptoms (such as pain, stiffness and reduced movement) affecting work, sleep, sport and <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/osteoarthritis">daily activities</a>.</p> <p>Knee osteoarthritis is often thought of as thinning of the protective layer of cartilage within the joint. But we now understand it affects all the structures of the joint, including the bones, muscles and nerve endings.</p> <p>While there are things that <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard/information-consumers-osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard">can be done to manage</a> the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, there is no cure, and many people experience persistent pain. As a result, an opportunity exists for <a href="https://www.rheuma.com.au/stem-cell-therapy-good-bad-ugly/174">as yet unproven treatments</a> to enter the market, often before regulatory safeguards can be put in place.</p> <p>Stem cell injections are one such treatment. A <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013342.pub2">new review</a> my colleagues and I published this week finds that evidence of their benefits and harms remains elusive.</p> <h2>Stem cell treatments</h2> <p>Stem cells are already established as treatments for some diseases – <a href="https://www.lymphoma.org.au/lymphoma/treatments/stem-cell-transplants/autologous-stem-cell-transplant/">mostly disorders of the blood</a>, bone marrow or immune system – which has led to suggestions they could be used for a much wider array of conditions.</p> <p>Stem cells have been touted as promising treatments for osteoarthritis because they have special properties which allow them to replicate and develop into the mature healthy cells that make up our body’s organs and other tissues, including cartilage.</p> <p>Stem cell treatments for osteoarthritis generally involve <a href="https://www.aboutstemcells.org/treatments">taking a sample of tissue</a> from a site that is rich in stem cells (such as bone marrow or fat), treating it to increase the number of stem cells, then injecting it into the joint.</p> <p>The hope is that if the right type of stem cells can be introduced into an osteoarthritic joint in the right way and at the right time, they may help to repair damaged structures in the joint, or have other effects such as reducing inflammation.</p> <p>But no matter how convincing the theory, we need good evidence for effectiveness and safety before a new therapy is adopted into practice.</p> <p>Stem cell injections have not been approved by Australia’s <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/news/news/stem-cell-treatments-and-regulation-quick-guide-consumers#:%7E:text=Does%20the%20TGA%20regulate%20stem,does%20not%20regulate%20medical%20practice">Therapeutic Goods Administration</a> for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Nonetheless, some clinics in Australia and around the world still offer them.</p> <p>Because of the regulatory restrictions, we don’t have reliable numbers on how many procedures are being done.</p> <p>They’re not covered by Medicare, so the procedure can cost the consumer thousands of dollars.</p> <p>And, as with any invasive procedure, both the <a href="https://coroners.nsw.gov.au/documents/findings/2016/Findings%20Drysdale.pdf">harvest of stem cells</a> and the joint injection procedure may carry the potential for harm, such as infection.</p> <h2>What we found</h2> <p>Our <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013342.pub2">new review</a>, published by the independent, international group the Cochrane Collaboration, looks at all 25 randomised trials of stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis that have been conducted worldwide to date. Collectively, these studies involved 1,341 participants.</p> <p>We found stem cell injections may slightly improve pain and function compared with a placebo injection, but the size of the improvement may be too small for the patient to notice.</p> <p>The evidence isn’t strong enough to determine whether there is any improvement in quality of life following a stem cell injection, whether cartilage regrows, or to estimate the risk of harm.</p> <p>This means we can’t confidently say yet whether any improvement that might follow a stem cell injection is worth the risk (or the cost).</p> <h2>Hope or hype?</h2> <p>It’s not surprising we invest hope in finding a transformative treatment for such a common and disabling condition. Belief in the benefits of stem cells is widespread – more than <a href="https://www.arthroscopyjournal.org/article/S0749-8063(21)00571-5/abstract">three-quarters of Americans</a> believe stem cells can relieve arthritis pain and more than half believe this treatment to be curative.</p> <p>But what happens if a new treatment is introduced to practice before it has been clearly proven to be safe and effective?</p> <p>The use of an unproven, invasive therapy is not just associated with the risks of the intervention itself. Even if the treatment were harmless, there is the risk of unnecessary cost, inconvenience, and a missed opportunity for the patient to use existing therapies that are known to be effective.</p> <p>What’s more, if we need to play catch-up to try to establish an evidence base for a treatment that’s already in practice, we risk diverting scarce research resources towards a therapy that may not prove to be effective, simply because the genie is out of the bottle.</p> <h2>Working towards a clearer answer</h2> <p>Several more large <a href="https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12620000870954">clinical trials</a> are currently underway, and should increase our understanding of whether stem cell injections are safe and effective for knee osteoarthritis.</p> <p>Our review incorporates “<a href="https://www.cochrane.org/news/cochranes-pioneering-role-living-evidence">living evidence</a>”. This means we will continue to add the results of new trials as soon as they’re published, so the review is always up to date, and offers a comprehensive and trustworthy summary to help people with osteoarthritis and their health-care providers to make informed decisions.</p> <p>In the meantime, there are a number of <a href="https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/key-racgp-guidelines/view-all-racgp-guidelines/knee-and-hip-osteoarthritis/summary-plain-language">evidence-based treatment options</a>. Non-drug treatments such as physiotherapy, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and cognitive behavioural therapy can be more effective than you think. Anti-inflammatory and pain medications can also play a supporting role.</p> <p>Importantly, it’s not inevitable that osteoarthritic joints get worse with time. So, even though <a href="https://aoanjrr.sahmri.com/background">joint replacement surgery</a> is often highly effective, it’s the last resort and fortunately, many people never need to take this step.<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/253404/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samuel-whittle-2357927">Samuel Whittle</a>, ANZMUSC Practitioner Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>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-are-getting-costly-stem-cell-injections-for-knee-osteoarthritis-but-we-dont-know-if-they-work-253404">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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