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Free forum on prostate cancer in Brisbane

<p>Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) is hosting a free forum in Brisbane that aims to connect the Australian community with leading professionals in the field to discuss the latest research and management of prostate cancer.</p> <p>The “Community Conversations” event is a new forum that aims to bring together researchers specialising in prostate cancer with people that are impacted by the disease. The researchers will share the latest medical advances related to prostate cancer detection, treatment and management.</p> <p>Facilitated by former ABC journalist, radio host and author Julie McCrossin, this interactive event will give attendees access to the latest information on prostate cancer and the advice on the management of the disease.</p> <p>Survivorship research world leading expert Prof Suzanne Chambers, academic general practitioner Professor Jenny Doust, urologist and researcher Ian Vela, researcher Michele Teng, nutritional researcher Olivia Right, manager of community services at CCQ Amy Parker and prostate cancer nurse Chris McNamara will not only deliver presentations in various topic throughout the day but will also form a panel that will specifically address questions from the audience.</p> <p>The event will cover:</p> <ul> <li>Q&amp;A session with health professionals on managing the day-to-day challenges of living with prostate cancer</li> <li>Personal stories shared by those who have experienced prostate cancer</li> <li>Diet and nutrition recommendations that may assist with managing the side effects of treatment and the ongoing impact of prostate cancer</li> </ul> <p>“PCFA supports world leading research into prostate cancer and we feel it is important to allow people in the community who have been affected by the disease to hear the latest news direct from the source,” said Associate Professor Anthony Lowe, Chief Executive Officer of PCFA.</p> <p><strong>When:</strong> 10:00am – 3:30pm, Friday 19 May 2017  </p> <p><strong>Where:</strong> Translational Research Institute (TRI), Woolloongabba, Brisbane</p> <p><em>Registration to the Community Conversations event is essential. To book your place, visit <a href="http://www.pcfa.org.au/get-involved/events/find-an-event/community-conversations/" target="_blank">www.pcfa.org.au/communityconversations</a> or call 1800 220 099 (free call)  </em></p>

Body

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Your body shape can impact your diabetes risk

<p>For years, people have been obsessed with categorising their body shape into one of several “types”, including hourglass, pear, apple and rectangle. From body shape-based diets to finding the right outfits to match your proportions, there are many convincing reasons for working out your body type, and it seems there’s a new one – your health.</p> <p>According to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170214162852.htm" target="_blank"><strong>new study</strong></a></span> of almost half a million participants published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “apples” (that is, those who are rounder in the middle and carry most of their weight above the waist) have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="300" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34867/body-shapes_500x300.jpg" alt="Body Shapes"/></p> <p>Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in the US looked at a number of gene variants in “apple” body shapes which were responsible for the deposit of body fat around the abdomen, rather than the hips and thighs. They found that those who carried most of their weight around the middle – thus surrounding their vital organs – had a significantly greater instance of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more.</p> <p>The findings come as experts issue a renewed push to overhaul the BMI system currently used as an indicator of healthy weight. “Waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI might prove useful as a biomarker for the development of therapies to prevent type 2 diabetes and CHD (coronary heart disease),” said one of the study’s authors, Dr Sekar Kathiresan.</p> <p>However, it’s not all bad news. This new evidence could lead to possible treatments in the future. “Not only do these results allow us to use body shape as a marker for increased cardiometabolic risk, they also suggest that developing drugs that modify fat distribution may help prevent these diseases,” lead author Dr Connor Emdin said. “Future research also could identify individual genes that could be targeted to improve body fat distribution to reduce these risks.”</p> <p>What body shape are you? What do you think about these new findings? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.</p>

Caring

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6 myths about Alzheimer’s

<p>It’s one of the most tragic and, sadly, widespread diseases among the elderly, and given how many sufferers are out there (over 40,000 in New Zealand), there’s lots of conflicting information about Alzheimer’s disease, so it’s often quite difficult to tell fact from fiction. Let’s break down some of the most common myths about this mysterious disease.</p> <p><strong>Myth 1: I remember lots of things, therefore I can’t have Alzheimer’s disease</strong></p> <p>Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s is one of those diseases that can creep up on you without you even realising. The disease impacts more recent memories first, so you may find yourself still able to recall memories from your youth while unable to remember what you ate for breakfast. In fact, it’s not until around the midpoint of the disease that your long-term memories begin to fade.</p> <p><strong>Myth 2: Everyone can get Alzheimer’s if they live long enough</strong></p> <p>It’s important to realise that Alzheimer’s disease is not just another part of ageing. While many people will find their memory isn’t as strong when they enter their 60s and beyond, Alzheimer’s disease is something else entirely. It affects all parts of the brain, including memory, judgement and personality.</p> <p><strong>Myth 3: Only elderly people can get Alzheimer’s</strong></p> <p>Thought you were safe? Think again. Although it’s most common in people over the age of 65, Alzheimer’s can strike as young as 30 (this is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s). So even if you’re in your early 60s, you still may be at risk.</p> <p><strong>Myth 4: I’ll probably get Alzheimer’s because it runs in my family</strong></p> <p>While having a family member with Alzheimer’s does slightly increase your chances of getting the disease, it’s not an inevitability. If you are worried about your chances, however, you can be tested for the APOE-e4 gene, which is believed to be a risk indicator.</p> <p><strong>Myth 5: Alzheimer’s will make me a more aggressive person</strong></p> <p>Alzheimer’s disease affects everyone differently. Frustration certainly comes with the territory of memory loss, but aggression is not a very common side effect of the disease. On the contrary, some people can become quieter and more reserved.</p> <p><strong>Myth 6: An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is a death sentence</strong></p> <p>Sadly, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are the fourth-leading cause of death in New Zealand. However, this doesn’t mean that an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is a death sentence. Many sufferers can live comfortably during the first years of the disease and beyond, and while there is no cure, studies have shown <a href="/health/mind/2016/03/tips-to-keep-dementia-at-bay/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">certain lifestyle choices</span></strong></a> may help slow its progression.</p> <p>Do you have any health myths you’d like busted? Let us know in the comment section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/06/video-shows-mans-devotion-to-alzheimers-wife/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Video shows man’s undying devotion to wife with Alzheimer’s</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/05/poem-captures-pain-of-alzheimers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Beautiful poem captures the pain of Alzheimer’s</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/05/this-mobile-game-is-helping-fight-dementia/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>This mobile game is helping fight dementia</strong></em></span></a></p>

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