Date & Issue

January 2024

Week 5

General Health 👽

Taking a Daily Multivitamin May Help Slow Cognitive Aging and Boost Memory

A study found that taking multivitamins may help cognition and memory. This study was conducted over two years. The hypothesis is that B6 & B12 are needed to produce our neurotransmitters (serotonin & dopamine); the pathways could be slow or ineffective if we don’t have enough of these transmitters. Furthermore, the antioxidants may help fight oxidative damage.

Gonorrhea Surged 64% Post COVID Lockdown in The UK

This study showed that in just under a year after the relaxation of COVID restrictions, Gonorrhea diagnoses increased by 64% despite there being only a 5.6% increase in testing. Those between the ages of 15-24 had the highest risk, with a 141% increase. For those between the ages of 19 and 20, the risk was a whopping 229%. The areas with the highest incidence increases were the NE of England (194%) and SW of England (226%).

Mind & Brain 🧠

Sniffing Women’s Tears Could Be the Key to Taming Male Aggression

New research shows that sniffing tears reduces brain activity related to aggression. I’m not sure how the researchers came up with this, but it seems this is an example of social chemo-signalling, common in animals but less understood in humans. However, this human study elicited a 40% decrease in aggression after men sniffed real tears vs saline water.

AI Models Using Images of Eyes Achieve Perfect Accuracy in Diagnosing Autism

Researchers used 1,890 retinal images from 958 participants; the AI model diagnosed autism with an area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) of 1.00 (basically perfect), with specificity and sensitivity of 1.00. Considering it takes almost 24 months now for a diagnosis of autism, could this help?

Bipolar Disorder Cuts Lives Shorter Than Smoking

Having bipolar disorder comes with a higher risk of premature death, according to a new study. Having bipolar disorder increased premature death by approximately 400% compared to smoking, which was twice as likely (100%). This has shifted efforts towards understanding the specific causes and hopefully improving the health and quality of life for people with the condition.

Longevity & Ageing ⏳

Caregivers Could Have Lower Risks of Depression & Live Longer

Here’s a wholesome one to end with. Recent studies show that caregivers live longer than their counterparts and don’t experience the full brunt of depression as others may, as they describe their experience of looking after a loved one as “providing purpose”. As you can imagine, the philosophy behind this is the resilience developed after such stressful life events helps them later in life.

🌟 Thank you for joining us 

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for taking the time to read our newsletter. As qualified doctors, we want to learn more about optimising our health and the health of our loved ones with accurate and evidence-based information in an era where misinformation can cloud our understanding of health. We’re also the first to share this with the public because we believe that everyone deserves access to credible health insights.

💬 Your feedback is invaluable to us

Feedback fuels our motivation to continually improve and refine our content. Whether it's a suggestion or a correction, we welcome your input with open arms. After all, our goal is to cater to our combined curiosity and answer health-related questions. Just reply to this email 😄 

🌐 Topic Suggestion

We invite you to continue participating actively in our community as we progress. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and tell us what topics interest you. Is there a specific health condition you'd like us to cover? Are there wellness practices you're interested in exploring? Feel free to reach out to us with your thoughts and ideas. We're here to learn, share, and grow as a community of health enthusiasts. Feel free to hit reply to this email! Together, let's navigate the vast landscape of health with clarity and accuracy.

Thank you once again for being a part of our health-focused family. Stay curious, stay healthy, and stay connected!

Disclaimer:

By subscribing to and reading this newsletter, you acknowledge and agree that you voluntarily choose to read the content and use this information at your own risk.

The information provided in this newsletter, including text, graphics, images, and other material, is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.

While the information is based on research, it should not be used to disregard or delay seeking advice from a healthcare provider. Always consult a healthcare professional before deciding about your health or medical conditions.

The authors of this newsletter, including qualified doctors, have made every effort to ensure that the information is accurate and current. However, medical knowledge is constantly evolving, and errors can occur. Therefore, this newsletter's authors, editors, and publishers cannot be held responsible for the information's accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any particular individual or situation.

This newsletter's authors, editors, and publishers are not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising from applying the information in this newsletter.