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  • How scientists with disabilities are making research labs and fieldwork more accessible

    How scientists with disabilities are making research labs and fieldwork more accessible

    SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The path to Lost Lake was steep and unpaved, lined with sharp rocks and holes.

    A group of scientists and students gingerly made their way, using canes or a helping hand to guide them. For those who couldn’t make the trek, a drone brought the lake — blue and narrow — into view.

    The field trip was designed to illustrate the challenges disabled researchers often face — and how barriers can be overcome.

    “Just because you can’t do it like someone else doesn’t mean you can’t do it,” said Anita Marshall, a University of Florida geologist leading the outing. The group included scientists with sight, hearing and mobility disabilities.

    Marshall’s organization ran the field trip to the lake along the San Andreas Fault, outside of San Bernadino. Her group — the International Association for Geoscience Diversity — and others are working to improve access to field and lab work so that those with disabilities feel welcome and stay.

    Taormina Lepore, a Western Michigan University paleontologist who went on the trip, said scientists tend to value a single, traditional way of getting things done.

    At Lost Lake, everyone got a view — even if they couldn’t physically get there.

    “It’s really about empathy, as much as it is about science,” said Lepore, who also researches science education.

    Disabled people make up about 3% of the science, technology, engineering and math workforce, according to 2021 data from the National Science Foundation.

    Scientists with disabilities say that’s in part because labs, classrooms and field sites aren’t designed to accommodate them. Students and faculty are still told that they can’t work in a lab or do research safely, said Mark Leddy, who formerly managed disability-related grants for the National Science Foundation.

    The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, sets minimum regulations for new buildings and labs, including ramps and wheelchair-accessible walkways.

    But modifying older labs can be a complicated and lengthy process.

    Alyssa Paparella is working on her doctorate in biology at Baylor College of Medicine and founded an online community for disabled scientists. She said a science building at one of her former schools had no automatic buttons to open doors.

    “What is that saying about who you want actually working in the laboratories?” she said. “That’s the front door that they’re not even able to get in.”

    Leddy said researchers with disabilities are invaluable because of their life experiences. They have to constantly come up with creative ways to get past barriers in their lives — a problem-solving skill that’s indispensable in a lab.

    “If they don’t feel welcome, if they don’t get access, then how can they contribute that talent?” Leddy said.

    Venu Varanasi, a biomaterials engineer at the University of Texas at Arlington who has low vision, prints out signage using high-contrast color combinations and encourages his students to keep floors and counters clutter-free so he can navigate the lab more easily.

    He said those modifications also keep accidents to a minimum for non-disabled students.

    “When you realize that you have a person with a disability, you have an opportunity, not a problem,” he said.

    At Purdue University in Indiana, engineering professor Brad Duerstock helped design an accessible biomedical lab years ago with support from the school and a National Institutes of Health grant, removing cabinets under sinks and fume hoods so that wheelchairs can easily pull up.

    The cost of making a lab more accessible varies depending on how extensive the changes are, Duerstock said. Some schools set aside money for improvements and science organizations can offer grants.

    On the California geology field trip, the group explored the lake carved into the landscape by the San Andreas Fault, where the grating of two tectonic plates can cause earthquakes.

    The group included rock enthusiasts at all different stages of their careers. A handful were students. Others were professors, eager to explore the outdoors in a group they could trust to look after them.

    Central Connecticut State University professor Jennifer Piatek, who uses a wheelchair, saw the lake through drone footage and used a pocket lens to examine rocks brought back by other participants.

    She said it was nice to be part of a community that anticipated her needs. For example, their bus pulled forward to park at a flatter location to make it easier for her to get off.

    You can learn a lot from images and maps, “but really you need to get to the space to be in it,” said Piatek, who studies planetary geology.

    Lepore, a neurodivergent person with low vision, scanned rocks using an artificial intelligence app that described their color and shape out loud.

    “Nature is not inherently accessible,” she said. “Nature just doesn’t have ramps and the kinds of things that we might wish it had. But there are so many workarounds and ways that we as geoscientists can make things truly open.”

    Bushra Hussaini uses tips from the field trips to support interns and volunteers with disabilities at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, where she works. She said the supportive community of geologists is what keeps her coming back. “We learn from each other and we help each other,” she said.

    Before heading out, Marshall urged the participants to ask for a hand or a shoulder to lean on if needed. She and others from the organization have been leading field trips every year as an offshoot from the Geological Society of America’s annual meeting.

    As a doctoral student, Marshall would go on field trips with her peers only to wait back in the van, frustrated, because the organizers hadn’t thought about how to accommodate her disabilities.

    She wants things to be different for the next generation of scientists.

    “The whole point of these little day trips is to just plant that seed out there,” Marshall said, “that there’s another way forward.”

    ___

    AP video journalist Eugene Garcia contributed to this report.

    ___

    The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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  • Can AI help humans understand animals and reconnect with nature? A nonprofit research lab thinks so

    Can AI help humans understand animals and reconnect with nature? A nonprofit research lab thinks so

    MONTREAL — Peeps trickle out of a soundproof chamber as its door opens. Female zebra finches are chattering away inside the microphone-lined box. The laboratory room sounds like a chorus of squeaky toys.

    “They’re probably talking about us a little bit,” says McGill University postdoctoral fellow Logan James.

    It’s unclear, of course, what they are saying. But James believes he is getting closer to deciphering their vocalizations through a partnership with the Earth Species Project. The nonprofit laboratory has drawn some of the technology industry’s wealthiest philanthropists — and they want to see more than just scientific progress. On top of breakthroughs in animal language, they expect improved interspecies understanding will foster greater appreciation for the planet in the face of climate change.

    The Earth Species Project hopes to decode other creatures’ communications with its pioneering artificial intelligence tools. The goal is not to build a “translator that will allow us to speak to other species,” Director of Impact Jane Lawton said. However, she added, “rudimentary dictionaries” for other animals are not only possible but could help craft better conservation strategies and reconnect humanity with often forgotten ecosystems.

    “We believe that by reminding people of the beauty, the sophistication, the intelligence that is resident in other species and in nature as a whole, we can start to, kind of, almost repair that relationship,” Lawton said.

    At McGill University, the technology generates specific calls during simulated conversations with live finches that help researchers isolate each unique noise. The computer processes calls in real time and responds with one of its own. Those recordings are then used to train the Berkeley, California-based research group’s audio language model for animal sounds.

    This ad hoc collaboration is only a glimpse into what ESP says will come. By 2030, Lawton said, it expects “really interesting insights into how other animals communicate.” Artificial intelligence advancements are expediting the research. New grants totaling $17 million will help hire engineers and at least double the size of the research team, which currently has roughly seven members. Over the next two years, Lawton said, the nonprofit’s researchers will select species that “might actually shift something” in people’s relationship with nature.

    Standing to benefit are animal groups threatened by habitat loss or human activity that could be better protected with better understandings of their languages. Existing collaborations aim to document the vocal repertoires — the distinct calls and their different contexts — of the Hawaiian crow and St. Lawrence River beluga whales.

    After spending more than two decades extinct in the wild, the crows have been reintroduced to their home of Maui. But some conservationists fear that critical vocabulary has faded in captivity. Lawton said the birds might need to relearn some “words” before they reenter their natural habitat in droves.

    In Canada’s St. Lawrence River, where shipping traffic imperils the marine mammals who feed there, the group’s scientists are exploring whether machine learning can categorize unlabeled calls from the remaining belugas. Perhaps, Lawton suggested, authorities could alert nearby vessels if they understood that certain sounds signaled the whales were about to surface.

    Big donors include LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, the family charity founded by late Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen and Laurene Powell Jobs’ Waverley Street Foundation. The latter aims to support “bottom-up” solutions to the “climate emergency.” At the root of that crisis, according to Waverley Street Foundation President Jared Blumenfeld, is the idea that humans deserve “dominion” over the world.

    Blumenfeld finds that ESP’s work is an important reminder that we are instead stewards of the planet.

    “This is not a silver bullet,” he said. “But it’s certainly part of a suite of things that can help transform how we view ourselves in relation to nature.”

    Gail Patricelli — an unaffiliated animal behavior professor at the University of California, Davis — remembers when such tools were just “pie in the sky.” Researchers previously spent months laboring to manually comb through terabytes of recordings and annotate calls.

    She said she’s seen an “exponential takeoff” the past few years in bioacoustics’ use of machine learning to accelerate that process. While she finds that ESP has the promise to make finer distinctions in existing “dictionaries,” especially for harder-to-reach species, she cautioned observers against attributing human characteristics to these animals.

    Considering this research’s high equipment and labor costs, Patricelli said she’s happy to see big philanthropists backing it. But she said the field shouldn’t rely too much on one funding source. Government support is still necessary, she noted, because ecosystem protection also requires that conservationists examine “unsexy” species that she expects get less attention than more charismatic ones. She also encouraged funders to consult scientists.

    “There’s a lot to learn and it’s very expensive,” she said. “That might not be a big deal to some of these donors but it’s very hard to come up with the money to do this.”

    The current work largely involves developing baseline technologies to do all this. A separate initiative has recently described the basic elements of how sperm whales might talk. But ESP is trying to be “species agnostic,” AI Research Director Olivier Pietquin said, to provide tools that can sort out many animals’ speech patterns.

    ESP introduced NatureLM-audio this fall, touting the system as the first large audio-language model fit for animals. The tool can identify species and distinguish characteristics such as sex or stage of life. When applied to a population — zebra finches — it had not been trained on, NatureLM-audio accurately counted the number of birds at a rate higher than random chance, according to ESP. The results were a positive sign for Pietquin that NatureLM might be able to scale across species.

    “That is only possible with a lot of computing, a lot of data and many, many collaborations with ecologists and biologists,” he said. “That, I think, makes us, makes it, quite serious.”

    ESP acknowledges that it isn’t sure what will be discovered about animal communications and won’t know when its model gets it absolutely right. But the team likens AI to the microscope: advancements that allowed scientists to see far more than previously considered possible.

    Zebra finches are highly social animals with large call repertoires. Whether congregating in pairs or by the hundreds, they produce hours of data — a help to the nonprofit’s AI scientists given that animal sounds aren’t as abundant as the pages of internet text scraped to train chatbots.

    James, an affiliated researcher with the Earth Species Project, struggles with the concept of decoding animal communications. Sure, he can clearly distinguish when a chick is screaming for food. But he doesn’t expect to ever translate that call or any others into a human word.

    Still, he wonders if he can gather more hints about their interactions from aspects of the call such as its pitch or duration.

    “So can we find a link between a form and function is sort of our way of maybe thinking about decoding,” James said. “As she elongates her call, is that because she’s trying harder to elicit a response?”

    ___

    Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

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  • New research shows a quarter of freshwater animals are threatened with extinction

    New research shows a quarter of freshwater animals are threatened with extinction

    WASHINGTON — Nearly a quarter of animals living in rivers, lakes and other freshwater sources are threatened with extinction, according to new research published Wednesday.

    “Huge rivers like the Amazon can appear mighty, but at the same time freshwater environments are very fragile,” said study co-author Patricia Charvet, a biologist at Brazil’s Federal University of Ceará.

    Freshwater habitats – including rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, bogs and wetlands – cover less than 1% of the planet’s surface, but support 10% of its animal species, said Catherine Sayer, a zoologist at the International Union for Conservation of Nature in England.

    The researchers examined around 23,500 species of dragonflies, fish, crabs and other animals that depend exclusively on freshwater ecosystems. They found that 24% were at risk of extinction – classified as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered – due to compounding threats from pollution, dams, water extraction, agriculture, invasive species, climate change and other disruptions.

    “Most species don’t have just one threat putting them at risk of extinction, but many threats acting together,” said Sayer, a study-co-author.

    The tally, published in the journal Nature, is the first that time researchers have analyzed the global risk to freshwater species. Previous studies have focused on land animals including including mammals, birds and reptiles.

    Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm, who was not involved in the study, called it “a long-awaited and hugely important paper.”

    “Almost every big river in North America and Europe is massively modified” through damming, putting freshwater species at risk, he said.

    In South America, the vast Amazon River ecosystem also faces threats from deforestation, wildfires and illegal gold mining, said Charvet.

    Illegal fires to clear forest result in waves of ash polluting the river, and unlicensed gold miners dump mercury into the water, she said.

    Rivers and wetlands “concentrate everything that happens around them,” she said. “If something goes really wrong, like an acid or oil spill, you can threaten an entire species. There’s nowhere else for these animals to go.”

    ___

    The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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  • Sports club scraps soft drink for research into childhood type 2 diabetes prevention

    Sports club scraps soft drink for research into childhood type 2 diabetes prevention

    A country sports club in North Queensland has scrapped the sale of soft drink in a community-led push to prevent type 2 diabetes among Indigenous young people.

    The Garbutt Magpies Sporting Association, which hosts AFL, cricket and netball in Townsville, has switched to serving only water alongside healthy food at its Friday night activities for local children.

    Elders and researchers have collaborated on an innovative $50,000 culturally-responsive type 2 diabetes prevention program pilot through James Cook University and Townsville University Hospital.

    They reported there was high engagement in the six-month study and the children were not missing sugary drinks.

    An indigenous boy and girl playing cricket at night

    Garbutt Magpies cricket players Belford Larry and Makalya Poynter have been taking part. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

    Taking ownership of community health

    Club members like local mother Leah Wacando have been measuring the height, weight and blood pressure of more than 50 kids who regularly take part in activities.

    “Since June we’ve noticed some kids have grown, some have lost weight, there’s been changes in some of the kids since we’ve started which has been really good,” she said.

    “Their fitness levels have improved.

    “Some of the ones that didn’t really want to get out there much are now a little bit more active.”

    Two woman, one fair-skinned, one dark-skinned, in Garbutt Magpies shirts, one is holding bbq tongs

    Carissa Welsh and Leah Wacando are working to implement a diabetes prevention study at the club. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

    A woman with dark skin and Garbutt Mapgies T-shirt preparing a BBQ.

    Leah Wacando preparing a meal during the diabetes study. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

    Ms Wacando said her partner’s family had a history of type 2 diabetes, and working for the study had also encouraged her to serve healthier food at home.

    “Some nights we just won’t have the rice and have just the salad. The kids used to whinge but they’re used to it now,” she said.

    Fun Friday nights

    The focus has been encouraging physical activity, serving fresh food and educating participants about healthy eating.

    But for 10-year-olds Ashleigha Massey and Makayla Poynter, the focus on Friday nights was having fun and playing sport, not research.

    Makayla said she did not mind the shift to water, noting her aunt had diabetes.

    “We would not like for our teeth to get yellow, and we want to stay healthy,” she said.

    “We have fresh buns, and steak and lettuce and tomatoes. It’s fun.”

    An indigenous man smiling, there's a a light flare in the background

    Garbutt Magpies chairman Randal Ross says diabetes prevention is a key concern for the community. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

    Garbutt Magpies chairman Randal Ross said the high level of engagement in the study had been promising.

    “You can see how the kids have adapted to water, to drinking much more water rather than soft drink,” he said.

    “Now they look for the water rather than the soft drink.”

    Pressing need to prevent diabetes from childhood

    Professor Usman Malabu is the head of Translational Research in Endocrinology and Diabetes at James Cook University, and is lead investigator on the study.

    He said type 2 diabetes was 18 times more likely among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people than Caucasian children and could lead to life-threatening complications such as kidney failure.

    A man in business shirt and tie, he's in a corridor and is smiling

    Endocrinologist Usman Malabu is leading the study on culturally-responsive ways to prevent diabetes. (Supplied: Townsville HHS)

    Consumption of an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and a lack of public health awareness were key factors leading to the higher rate of type 2 diabetes in regional and remote areas, he said.

    Researchers have also said the high level of diabetes reflects a broad range of factors including education, income and access to services.

    Professor Usman said studies into diabetes prevention in Indigenous communities were often difficult due to low engagement.

    “In general it failed due to a lack of engagement and empowerment of the people of First Nations,” he said.

    But in the research conducted by the Garbutt Magpies, elders were taking the lead on healthy eating, not outside experts.

    And club members, not clinicians, were responsible for regularly collecting data on the children’s height, weight and blood pressure, Professor Malabu said.

    “It isn’t something that others from outside will come and tell them what they need to do,” he said.

    Three young Indigenous kids with a cricket bat.

    Makayla Poynter, Belford Larry and Ja Qarn Poynter all are active in the Garbutt Magpies. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

    He said participation had exceeded hopes, suggesting the model of delivering early intervention programs through a local sports club was effective.

    “We are hopeful that this will be a turning point in how we address diabetes prevention of children of First Nations people,” Professor Malabu said.

    Mother Leah Wacando and club chairman Randal Ross said it was important that community elders set an example and modelled healthy eating.

    “We’re learning ourselves,” Ms Wacando said.

    “If we are going to make a change in our community we have to make a change in ourselves as well.”

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  • Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier

    Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier

    Bangkok — China has built a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship, in the clearest sign yet Beijing is advancing toward producing the country’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to a new analysis of satellite imagery and Chinese government documents provided to The Associated Press.

    There have long been rumors that China is planning to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, but the research by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California is the first to confirm it is working on a nuclear-powered propulsion system for a carrier-sized surface warship.

    China’s navy is already the world’s largest numerically, and it has been rapidly modernizing. Adding nuclear-powered carriers to its fleet would be a major step in realizing its ambitions for a true “blue-water” force capable of operating around the globe in a growing challenge to the United States.

    Nuclear carriers take longer to build than conventional carriers, but once in operation they are able to stay at sea for much longer because they do not need to refuel, and there is more room on board for fuel and weapons for aircraft, thus extending their capabilities. They are also able to produce more power to run advanced systems.

    Right now, only the United States and France have nuclear-powered carriers. The U.S. has 11 in total, which allows it to keep multiple strike groups deployed around the world at all times, including in the Indo-Pacific.

    But the Pentagon is growingly increasingly concerned about China’s rapid modernization of its fleet, including the design and construction of new carriers.

    China currently has three carriers, including the new Type 003 Fujian, which was the first both designed and built by China. It has said work is already underway on a fourth, but it has not announced whether that will be nuclear or conventionally powered.

    The modernization aligns with China’s “growing emphasis on the maritime domain and increasing demands” for its navy “to operate at greater distances from mainland China,” the Defense Department said in its most recent report to Congress on China’s military.

    Middlebury researchers were initially investigating a mountain site outside the city of Leshan in the southwest Chinese province of Sichuan over suspicions that China was building a reactor to produce plutonium or tritium for weapons. Instead they said they determined that China was building a prototype reactor for a large warship.

    The conclusion was based upon a wide variety of sources, including satellite images, project tenders, personnel files, and environmental impact studies.

    The reactor is housed in a new facility built at the site known as Base 909, which is under the control of the Nuclear Power Institute of China.

    Documents indicating that China’s 701 Institute, which is responsible for aircraft carrier development, procured reactor equipment “intended for installation on a large surface warship.” as well as the project’s “national defense designation” helped lead to the conclusion the sizeable reactor is a prototype for a next-generation aircraft carrier.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has tasked defense officials with building a “first-class” navy and becoming a maritime power as part of his blueprint for the country’s great rejuvenation.

    The country’s most recent white paper on national defense, dated 2019, said the Chinese navy was adjusting to strategic requirements by “speeding up the transition of its tasks from defense on the near seas to protection missions on the far seas.”

    Sea trials hadn’t even started for the new Fujian aircraft carrier in March when Yuan Huazhi, political commissar for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, confirmed the construction of a fourth carrier. Asked if it would be nuclear-powered, he said at the time that would “soon be announced,” but so far it has not been.

    Neither China’s Defense Ministry nor Foreign Affairs Ministry responded to requests for comment.

    Even if the carrier that has been started will likely be another conventionally-powered Type 003 ship, experts say Chinese shipyards have the capability to work on more than one carrier at a time, and that they could produce a new nuclear-powered vessel concurrently.

    ___

    Tang reported from Washington D.C.

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  • Viral Now: Food Pharmer Reveals He Helped Sudha Murty For Research On Food Adulteration

    Viral Now: Food Pharmer Reveals He Helped Sudha Murty For Research On Food Adulteration

    Content creator Revant Himatsingka, also known as Food Pharmer, helped Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty in research on food adulteration. The content creator helped the 74-year-old in her speech for the Monsoon Session. He will also be assisting her during the Rajya Sabha’s Winter Session. Revant called Sudha Murty the “most humble person” he has ever met and shared that she messaged him directly on WhatsApp “like a friend.” In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Food Pharmer wrote, “My biggest honour in my journey as Food Pharmer is when Sudha Murthy Ma’am contacted me to provide research on food adulteration for Rajya Sabha. She is by far the most humble person I’ve met and I’ve come across influencers with 1 lakh followers with more attitude than her.” 
    Also Read:Passenger Says IndiGo’s Upma Contains More Sodium Than Maggi, Airline Responds

    He added, “Unlike most public figures who usually hide behind managers, she directly WhatsApps almost like a friend. Excited to assist her with research during the upcoming Winter Session of the Rajya Sabha as well! Imagine if the world’s most powerful people got together and fought for what is right!” 

    The video begins with Food Pharmer enthusiastically talking about his partnership with Sudha Murty in addressing food adulteration in the Rajya Sabha. It is followed by a clip of the philanthropist speaking at the Upper House of the Parliament. She says in a part of her speech, “What kind of food we eat and what kind of disease we get, we should think in the modern era. Cancer cases are arising in our country due to adulteration and many more reasons.”

    Food Pharmer concludes the video by expressing his excitement for the chance to assist Sudha Murty in the upcoming Winter Session of the Rajya Sabha. He said, “Excited to assist her with research during the upcoming Winter Session of the Rajya Sabha as well. Imagine, if the world’s most powerful people got together and fought for what is right.”

    Sudha Murty is an accomplished author, educator, philanthropist and chairperson of the Murty Trust. She is married to NR Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys. 

    Also Read: Akshata Murty Enjoys Ice Cream With Father Narayana Murthy In Bengaluru



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  • Should Men And Women Eat Different Breakfasts For Weight Loss? Heres What Latest Research Says

    Should Men And Women Eat Different Breakfasts For Weight Loss? Heres What Latest Research Says

    Foods that help you lose weight, maintain weight, or just keep up your energy work differently for different people. While each person’s dietary requirements are unique, a lot of it can depend on your sex. According to a new study from the University of Waterloo, men’s and women’s metabolisms respond differently to foods. This knowledge can help you choose foods that boost your metabolism better, which will boost your weight loss journey and positively impact your health and energy levels. 

    The study, which employed a mathematical model of men’s and women’s metabolisms, found that men’s metabolisms respond better on average to “a meal laden with high carbohydrates after fasting for several hours, while women are better served by a meal with a higher percentage of fat.”

    “The results of the model suggest that women store more fat immediately after a meal but also burn more fat during a fast,” said Anita Layton, a professor of Applied Mathematics and Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematical Biology and Medicine.
    Also Read:Want To Lose Weight? Here’s Why You Should Be Eating More Beans

    Based on the study findings, here are some healthy breakfast options for both women and men.

    Breakfast Options for Women:

    Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

    Photo: iStock

    1. Chia Pudding:

    Chia seeds are a powerhouse of nutrients, providing high fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. Soak these overnight in milk and enjoy them for breakfast in the morning. You can also add a little honey and top it with berries and nuts.

    2. Veggie Egg Omelette:

    Whip up a quick and filling vegetable omelette for breakfast. Eggs are rich in protein, essential for muscle repair and overall strength. Adding vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes will enhance taste and nutrients in your morning meal.

    3. Paneer With Flax Seeds And Apples:

    Cut paneer into strips, top it with crunchy flax seeds, and sprinkle salt and pepper. Pair with fresh apple slices. Paneer is a great source of protein and calcium, while flax seeds provide omega-3s and fibre. Apples add a natural sweetness and are rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

    Breakfast Options for Men:

    Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

    Photo: iStock

    1. Oatmeal:

    Oats will provide you with sustained energy throughout the day. You can make either milk-based oats with nuts, seeds, and fruit toppings, or vegetable oats with mild spices, carrots and peas.

    2. Smoothie:

    A smoothie is an easy way to pack in a variety of nutrients. Make a well-balanced smoothie by combining spinach, banana, protein powder, and almond butter.

    3. Yoghurt Bowl:

    This breakfast option is quick and easy to prepare. Yoghurt is a rich source of protein and probiotics. Take Greek yoghurt and top it will antioxidants-rich berries and mixed nuts.
    Also Read:5 Smart Ways To Transform Dahi Kebab Into A Weight-Loss-Friendly Snack

    The researchers note that this study builds on an existing gap in research on sex differences in how men and women process fat. “We often have less research data on women’s bodies than on men’s bodies,” said Professor Layton. “By building mathematical models based on the data we do have, we can test lots of hypotheses quickly and tweak experiments in ways that would be impractical with human subjects.”

    Going forward, the researchers hope to build more complex versions of their metabolism models by incorporating other considerations such as an individual’s weight, age, or stage in the menstrual cycle.

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  • US-China research has given Beijing’s military technology a boost, House GOP says

    US-China research has given Beijing’s military technology a boost, House GOP says

    WASHINGTON — Partnerships between the U.S. and China at universities over the past decade have allowed hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to aid Beijing in developing critical technology that could be used for military purposes, congressional Republicans asserted in a new report.

    The report said U.S. tax dollars have contributed to China’s technological advancement and military modernization when American researchers worked with their Chinese peers in areas such as hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, nuclear technology and semiconductor technology.

    The report, released Monday by Republicans on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the House Education and Workforce Committee, raised concerns over the national security risks of scientific collaborations that were once celebrated. It urged stronger safeguards and more robust enforcement.

    The committees conducted a yearlong investigation into higher education’s role in the economic rivalry with China, especially when it comes to technology. While American universities don’t engage in secret research projects, their work — often among the best in the world — has the potential to be turned into military capabilities.

    The U.S. House of Representatives this month approved about two dozen China-related bills, with a clear goal to compete with Beijing in the tech field. The bills, which still need to be approved by the Senate, seek to ban Chinese-made drones, restrict China-linked biotech companies in the U.S. market, and cut off remote Chinese access to advanced U.S. computer chips.

    Other measures include those to curb Beijing’s influence on U.S. college campuses and to revive a Trump-era program meant to root out China’s spying and theft of intellectual property at American universities and research institutes. That’s despite such efforts raising concerns about racial profiling and the ability to keep up exchange programs that boost tolerance between the two countries.

    Collaboration among U.S.-based scholars and China also declined as a result of the Trump administration’s anti-spying program, which ended in 2022, researchers say.

    Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said at a forum by the Council on Foreign Relations earlier this year that he would welcome more Chinese students studying humanities and social sciences but “not particle physics” in American schools.

    Abigail Coplin, an assistant professor of sociology and science, technology and society at Vassar College, expressed concerns about the potential harm to academic exchange and scientific engagement, which she said promote understanding and help stabilize relations.

    “Clearly American federal funding should not be used to advance China’s military capabilities, but there also needs to be more conversation about what is not an issue of national security and the negative ramifications of over-securitization,” Coplin said. “Decreased person-to-person engagement is contributing to the rapidly fraying U.S.-China relationship at the moment.”

    Monday’s report identified about 8,800 publications that involved U.S. researchers who received funding from the Department of Defense or the U.S. intelligence community working with Chinese researchers — many of whom were affiliated with China’s defense research and industrial base. Such research is “providing back-door access to the very foreign adversary nation whose aggression these capabilities are necessary to protect against,” the report said.

    The House investigation also flagged what it described as problematic joint institutes between U.S. and Chinese universities, which the report said “conceal a sophisticated system for transferring critical U.S. technologies and expertise” to China.

    Through those institutes, American researchers and scientists, including those who conduct federally funded research, have traveled to China to work with and advise Chinese scholars and train Chinese students, the report said.

    “This creates a direct pipeline for the transfer of the benefit of their research expertise” to China, the report said.

    The Georgia Institute of Technology, which is named in the report for its joint Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, defended its work in China, saying it was focused on educating students, not research, and that the report’s claims are “unsubstantiated.”

    “There was no research conducted at GTSI, no facilitation of technology transfer, and no federal funding provided to China,” the university said in a statement.

    However, Georgia Tech announced Sept. 6 that it would discontinue its participation in the joint institute with Tianjin University and the government of Shenzhen, a city in southern China. Georgia Tech said the partnership was “no longer tenable” after the U.S. Commerce Department accused Tianjin University in 2020 of theft of trade secrets.

    The congressional report also identified Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, which the University of California, Berkeley, and China’s Tsinghua University opened in 2015 in the city of Shenzhen to focus on “strategic emerging industries,” according to the institute’s website.

    Berkeley’s researchers “engage only in research whose results are always openly disseminated around the world” and the school was “not aware of any research by Berkeley faculty at TBSI conducted for any other purpose,” Katherine Yelick, the university’s vice chancellor for research, said in a statement.

    Berkeley also is unwinding its partnership, saying it has no oversight of research activities conducted only by non-Berkeley employees at the joint institute.

    The U.S. university has decided “to start the process of relinquishing all ownership” in the Shenzhen school “after careful consideration, which began several months ago,” Yelick said.

    She said Berkeley “takes concerns about research security very seriously — including those concerns voiced by Congress.”

    The University of Pittsburgh, which is named in the report for its cooperation with Sichuan University, said it could not comment because the Pennsylvania university “was not consulted and did not work with the House Select Committee throughout the investigation.”

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  • Endangered sea corals moved to Texas Gulf Coast for research, restoration

    Endangered sea corals moved to Texas Gulf Coast for research, restoration

    DANIA BEACH, Fla. — Scientists have moved about about 300 endangered sea corals from South Florida to the Texas Gulf Coast for research and restoration.

    Nova Southeastern University and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi researchers packed up the corals Wednesday at the NSU’s Oceanographic Campus in Dania Beach. The sea creatures were then loaded onto a van, taken to a nearby airport and flown to Texas.

    Researchers were taking extreme caution with the transfer of these delicate corals, NSU researcher Shane Wever said.

    “The process that we’re undertaking today is a really great opportunity for us to expand the representation of the corals that we are working with and the locations where they’re stored,” Wever said. “Increasing the locations that they’re stored really acts as safeguards for us to protect them and to preserve them for the future.”

    Each coral was packaged with fresh clean sea water and extra oxygen, inside of a protective case and inside of insulated and padded coolers, and was in transport for the shortest time possible.

    NSU’s marine science research facility serves as a coral reef nursery, where rescued corals are stored, processed for restoration and transplanted back into the ocean. The school has shared corals with other universities, like the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University and Texas State University, as well as the Coral Restoration Foundation in the Florida Keys.

    Despite how important corals are, it is easy for people living on land to forget how important things in the ocean are, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi researcher Keisha Bahr said.

    “Corals serve a lot of different purposes,” Bahr said. “First of all, they protect our coastlines, especially here in Florida, from wave energy and coastal erosion. They also supply us with a lot of the food that we get from our oceans. And they are nurseries for a lot of the organisms that come from the sea.”

    Abnormally high ocean temperatures caused widespread coral bleaching in 2023, wiping out corals in the Florida Keys. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi turned to NSU when its partners in the Keys were no longer able to provide corals for its research. Broward County was spared from the majority of the 2023 bleaching so the NSU offshore coral nursery had healthy corals to donate.

    “We’re losing corals at an alarming rate,” Bahr said. “We lost about half of our corals in last three decades. So we need to make sure that we continue to have these girls into the future.”

    Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is using some of these corals to study the effects of sediment from Port Everglades on coral health. The rest will either help the university with its work creating a bleaching guide for the Caribbean or act as a genetic bank, representing nearly 100 genetically distinct Staghorn coral colonies from across South Florida’s reefs.

    “We wanted to give them as many genotypes, which are genetic individuals, as we could to really act as a safeguard for these this super important species,” Wever said.

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  • Twenty lifestyle tweaks to dementia-proof your brain as research shows HALF of cases can be prevented

    Twenty lifestyle tweaks to dementia-proof your brain as research shows HALF of cases can be prevented

    One in three of us will develop dementia in our lifetime – a condition that slowly but surely devastates lives.

    Science has made dramatic strides recently – with medications in several trials showing promise in slowing Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia.

    But just as exciting is the growing body of new research focusing on ways to help prevent the brain from deteriorating in the first place.

    The recent Lancet Commission Report found nearly half of dementia cases may in fact be preventable by taking simple, practical steps to improve the way you live your daily life. And it’s never too late to start.

    Here, in the second and final part of our exclusive series, leading experts outline the four key lifestyle pillars that can help reduce your risk of developing dementia, keeping your brain fit and functional well into later life.

    SLEEP

    Consistently sleeping badly can play an important behind-the-scenes role in increasing your dementia risk.

    Insomnia, poor quality sleep and sleep apnoea (a disorder linked to snoring) can make it likelier you will develop other serious health problems including type 2 diabetes, obesity, stroke and depression ¿ all risk factors for dementia

    Insomnia, poor quality sleep and sleep apnoea (a disorder linked to snoring) can make it likelier you will develop other serious health problems including type 2 diabetes, obesity, stroke and depression – all risk factors for dementia

    Disruption to sleep patterns interferes with the brain’s ability to clear out toxins and the protein beta amyloid, linked to Alzheimer’s, as well as interfering with other processes that maintain brain health and memory, says Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine at Guys and St Thomas’s Hospitals in London and author of The Secret World Of Sleep. ‘But it’s complex – the precise mechanisms need more research,’ he says.

    Research also shows that insomnia, poor quality sleep and sleep apnoea (a disorder linked to snoring) can make it likelier you will develop other serious health problems including type 2 diabetes, obesity, stroke and depression – all risk factors for dementia.

    Time to tackle snoring

    If your snoring regularly bothers your partner at night, you might have obstructive sleep apnoea, a sleep disorder linked to an increased dementia risk. It’s estimated to affect up to 10 million people in the UK, according to the Sleep Apnoea Trust.

    Sleep apnoea, where the muscles in your throat and neck relax when you are asleep, causes the airway to collapse, temporarily reducing or halting airflow.

    Meditation 

    Meditation has been shown to promote better sleep if practised regularly. As well as calming thoughts, it lowers blood pressure, improves immunity and is as effective as drugs in preventing new episodes of depression, anxiety and stress – which unchecked can all increase dementia risk. The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation offers free weekday sessions. For details, go to oxford mindfulness.org. 

    ‘Intermittent oxygen starvation stresses the brain, damaging blood vessels in the brain and may contribute to cognitive damage,’ explains Dr Dipesh Mistry, a consultant psychiatrist specialising in sleep disorders based in London.

    ‘Fragmented sleep also interferes with the functioning of the glymphatic system, the brain’s waste disposal system, preventing it from effectively clearing toxins and the amyloid proteins associated with Alzheimer’s,’ he adds.

    A 2022 study by Korean scientists who tracked 1,110 volunteers for four years, found those with persistent sleep apnoea had a decline in memory, concentration and processing skills.

    ‘If you consistently wake up feeling tired get your GP to refer you for diagnostic tests or consult a sleep specialist,’ says Dr Mistry.

    Effective treatments include losing weight and wearing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device that uses mild air pressure to keep your airways open while you sleep.

    Get help for insomnia

    Do you toss and turn all night? If this lasts for more than a month, you could have insomnia, defined as having difficulty falling or staying asleep. Chronic insomnia, (lasting more than three months) has severe potential long-term implications including raised blood pressure, heart problems, obesity, lowered immunity and depression – all risk factors for dementia. ‘Research also shows lack of sleep can lead to a build-up of beta-amyloid proteins linked to Alzheimer’s Disease,’ says Professor Leschziner.

    Chronic insomnia can be successfully treated by CBTi courses, available online or via the NHS, after referral from your GP.

    Review your sleeping pills

    Although sleeping pills – including benzodiazepines and ‘Z’ drugs such as zolpidem – are often prescribed for treating insomnia, there is growing evidence that long-term use is linked to cognitive decline and a risk of dementia – as shown by 2018 research published by Korean scientists in the journal Plus One.

    ‘It’s thought they may affect chemicals in the brain important for memory and learning,’ says Professor Leschziner.

    Ask your sleep specialist or GP to review your prescription and consider other options.

    Sort out bad sleep habits

    People who have consistently short sleep – defined as less than six hours a night – when they are middle aged are 30 per cent more likely to go on and develop dementia in older age, research published in Nature Communications in April 2021 shows.

    If you are sleep deprived (you go to sleep quickly but aren’t sleeping enough) as opposed to having insomnia (difficulty falling and staying asleep), you can address this by adopting good patterns of sleep hygiene.

    Professor Leschziner advises the following:

    • Sleep in a dark room – a recent study by Australian and American researchers involving 84,000 people found that those whose sleep was interrupted by light exposure between 12.30am and 6am were one and a half times likelier to develop type 2 diabetes, a major risk factor for dementia.
    • No weekend lie-ins. Regular bedtimes and wake-up times are important to maintain a consistent circadian rhythm, he says – ‘so you shouldn’t lie in for more than an extra hour at most’.
    Sleep in a dark room ¿ a recent study by Australian and American researchers found that those whose sleep was interrupted by light exposure between 12.30am and 6am were one and a half times likelier to develop type 2 diabetes, a major risk factor for dementia

    Sleep in a dark room – a recent study by Australian and American researchers found that those whose sleep was interrupted by light exposure between 12.30am and 6am were one and a half times likelier to develop type 2 diabetes, a major risk factor for dementia

    • Resist a stiff nightcap – alcohol disrupts sleep quality and there’s plenty of evidence that even moderate drinking could be linked to cognitive decline.
    • Don’t scroll on your phone in the evenings. ‘Not only does blue light interrupt the body’s circadian rhythm but being constantly engaged on your phone or iPad means your brain will still be activated just before bedtime,’ says Professor Leschziner.

    HOBBIES

    What you choose to do in your spare time can have a huge impact on how well your brain functions. There are plenty of ways you can engage your brain and strengthen neural connections – but pick hobbies you really enjoy.

    ‘Try to see improving your brain health as something fun rather than something you ‘ought’ to do. You’ll get much more out of it and you’re more likely to adopt the habit,’ says Dr Thomas MacLaren, a consultant psychiatrist at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Re:Cognition Health. Here are some suggestions, backed by science.

    Get out in the garden

    A groundbreaking study this year found gardeners may receive protection against dementia and lead longer lives.

    The University of Edinburgh research, which tracked hundreds of people and their lifestyles over nearly a century, found that those who spent time gardening had

    better brain function in later life.

    ‘Engaging in gardening projects, learning about plants and general garden upkeep, involve complex cognitive processes such as memory and executive function,’ says Dr Janie Corley, lead author of the study. ‘Consistent with the ‘use it or lose it’ framework of cognitive function, more engagement in gardening may be directly associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline.’

    Gardening is also great exercise, which can help to reduce blood pressure and keep obesity and type 2 diabetes in check, all risk factors for vascular dementia.

    Walk in the woods

    Forest bathing – the ancient Japanese practice of simply spending quiet time in woodland – has been shown by numerous studies to calm persistent anxiety and stress, both dementia risk factors.

    Trees and plants also emit ‘phytoncides’ which have antibacterial and antifungal properties. We breathe these in when we spend time in a forest and they have been shown to enhance the activity of our body’s natural killer cells, helping the body to fight disease more effectively.

    Forestry England (forestryengland.uk) has advice on where to find a calming location near you, including tips for beginners and where to find a guided forest bathing session.

    Have a good sing-song

    Numerous studies show singing increases the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. This triggers the release of ‘feel good’ brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, linked with warding off depression, a dementia risk factor.

    Singing increases the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. This triggers the release of ¿feel good¿ brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, linked with warding off depression, a dementia risk factor

    Singing increases the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. This triggers the release of ‘feel good’ brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, linked with warding off depression, a dementia risk factor

    A good sing-song also boosts oxytocin, aiding feelings of social bonding and reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. As it needs you to focus intensely on several things at once, it helps with mental alertness and memory, too.

    Alzheimer’s Society runs numerous Singing for the Brain groups (alzheimers.org.uk) or contact Making Music (makingmusic.org.uk) for other choirs near you.

    Turn on a sitcom

    Research shows that laughing regularly can reduce your dementia risk so actively look for something to make you laugh every day, advises Dr MacLaren.

    Whether that’s watching a comedy show or finding something funny on social media, the act of laughing triggers the release of ‘feel good’ brain chemicals including dopamine and serotonin.

    These counteract low mood and even depression, both dementia risks. Sharing a joke with a friend is also a way of bonding which helps guard against feelings of isolation, another dementia risk.

    Get a pet

    Caring for a pet reduces feelings of loneliness and depression, both dementia risk factors

    Caring for a pet reduces feelings of loneliness and depression, both dementia risk factors

    Caring for animals reduces feelings of loneliness and depression, both dementia risk factors.

    A study published in Preventative Medicine in 2022 involving 11,000 people found that dog owners, for example, had a lower risk of dementia than those who didn’t have a dog.

    Phone a friend

    Protect your brain health and memory from the comfort of your own armchair by ringing up family and friends at least once a day.

    American research published in The Lancet in 2022 found that frequent phone conversations can help limit cognitive decline by strengthening social connections.

    Other studies have found that older people with a wide circle of friends and relationships could be 25 to 30 per cent less likely to develop dementia than those with few contacts.

    Soak up some rays

    Make the most of warm autumn days by sitting in the sunshine – just nine minutes of midday sun is enough to top up your vitamin D levels, according to research by Professor Lesley Rhodes at Manchester University.

    People who are deficient in vitamin D are more than 30 per cent likelier to have dementia than those who have enough in their blood according to a 2019 study. Known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, vitamin D may help to clear amyloid plaques in the brain.

    The NHS recommends that both adults and children should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms (mcg) during the winter months when we are all at risk of not getting enough from being outdoors.

    EXERCISE

    Any form of activity can slash your risk of dementia. A 2022 study which tracked half a million middle-aged Britons over 11 years, found that people who regularly worked out or played sport had a 35 per cent reduced chance of developing dementia. But even those who did lighter physical activities saw a benefit.

    Work up a sweat

    Aerobic exercise gets your heart pumping, delivering more nutrients to body and brain.

    It also stimulates production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), often dubbed ‘brain fertiliser’ because it promotes the growth of new brain cells and supports the survival of existing ones, especially in the hippocampus, the area of the brain important for memory.

    Just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise can increase blood levels of BDNF by 30 per cent – and the higher the intensity, the more BDNF appears to rise. Any form of activity that leaves you slightly breathless is good – dancing, cycling, jogging, tennis, swimming or even strenuous gardening.

    Stephen Harridge, professor of human and applied physiology at King’s College, London, recommends combining regular aerobic exercise with resistance training, as building muscle also benefits the brain.

    One study found that older women who participated in resistance training twice a week had fewer and smaller brain lesions (a marker of brain ageing associated with impaired cognitive performance) than those who trained only once a week.

    Research shows exercise reduces your chances of having high blood pressure, obesity, insulin resistance and a stroke, too – all are dementia risks.

    Walk and talk

    Going for a brisk walk with a friend combines exercise with being sociable, a bonus say experts. So-called ‘dual task training’ gives body and brain a workout at the same time. Other examples include

    listening to a foreign language podcast while riding a stationary bike.

    ‘Don’t think of physical and mental exercise as being separate. For top brain health you need to be doing both,’ says Tim Beanland of Alzheimer’s Society. Consider signing up with a pal this autumn at one of Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walks, (memorywalk.org.uk).

    For a challenge, train for a Trek 26 walk, covering either 26 or 13 miles, at one of ten locations across the UK, in spring 2025, visit alzheimers.org.uk/Trek26.

    Household chores count

    Few of us enjoy housework – but apart from the satisfaction of a clean and tidy house there’s another major bonus.

    The 2022 study which tracked the activity levels of more than half a million middle-aged Britons found that those who regularly did vigorous household chores had a 21 per cent lower risk of developing dementia.

    The research echoes the findings of a 2021 study in BMJ Open, which found that older adults who reported doing a lot of housework had higher scores in memory and attention tests that those who did not.

    Short bursts help

    Personal trainer Lavina Mehta

    Personal trainer Lavina Mehta

    You can reap benefits from just a few minutes of exercise at a time. For the best results, spread these throughout the day says personal trainer Lavina Mehta, an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society.

    ‘Short bursts of activity count and they provide immediate benefits including reducing your risk of depression and chronic illnesses like dementia,’ says Lavina, who advocates ‘exercise snacking’ as an easy way to incorporate more activity into your day.

    By this she means taking regular breaks to do something physical, even if only for a few minutes.

    Try The Stair Snack: Three flights of stairs, three times a day. Start off small, step-by-step, if you’re new to exercising and build up to climbing three flights of stairs in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening.

    To progress, take two stairs at a time or add some shopping bags or a rucksack. Add more flights – or increase your pace – as you find it becomes easy.

    Could revving up your love life help keep dementia at bay?

    An active sex life well into your later years has been linked with having a healthier brain.

    Those who had sex the most (at least once a week) frequently scored better on cognitive ability tests than those who had infrequent, or no, sexual relations, Coventry University researchers found.

    The team, who looked at 73 men and women aged between 50 and 83, with no previous history of dementia, concluded: ‘The findings have important implications for the maintenance of intimate relations in later life.’

    The menopause can play a major role in dwindling libido for many women, partly caused by declining hormone levels

    The menopause can play a major role in dwindling libido for many women, partly caused by declining hormone levels

    Other studies have shown that regular sex can also help to lower blood pressure, ease stress and anxiety, improve sleep and boost immunity, which all have important roles in helping to prevent dementia.

    Scientists at Johns Hopkins University in the US found that men who have sex at least twice a week and women who report having satisfying sex lives are less likely to have a heart attack, a known risk factor for vascular dementia.

    How the Big O stimulates brain cells

    Having an orgasm could boost your brain power, according to research.

    More than 30 regions of the brain are stimulated when you climax – resulting in an explosion of activity that lasts for around ten seconds after the orgasm began, according to US research

    At that point, your brain is flooded with ‘feel good’ chemicals including dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, which boost mood and reduce anxiety.

    It’s thought that these chemical messengers latch on to parts of the brain responsible for memory, complex thoughts and decision making – giving you a cognitive boost, albeit temporarily.

    Separate studies suggest regular orgasms may have other long-term health benefits including boosting blood flow, blunting chronic pain and improving sleep. The benefits are similar for both men and women.

    Pep up your libido

    Middle age can be a time when sexual satisfaction flags for many – due to pressures of work, family commitments and other health and lifestyle issues.

    The menopause can play a major role in dwindling libido for many women, partly caused by declining hormone levels.

    Vaginal dryness, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and painful sex are also common post-menopause due to flagging oestrogen levels, which cause vaginal tissues to be thinner and drier. Dr Melanie Hacking, a GP and menopause specialist at Oxford Hormone Clinic, advises consulting your GP or a menopause specialist if these are troubling you to see if Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help.

    Some research shows that oestrogen replacement may also have a protective effect against dementia.

    A 2021 US study found that taking oestrogen replacement within ten years of the menopause (i.e. before 60) could reduce risk of dementia by up to 73 per cent.

    Meanwhile, erectile dysfunction affects more than half of men aged between 40 and 70. ‘It’s important that men don’t ignore this as it may be a symptom of underlying health problems so discuss it with your GP,’ says Dr Hacking.

    Treatments include over-the-counter medicine Viagra Connect and painless shockwave treatment to improve blood flow to the penis.  

    Poses that perk up the memory

    Yoga may help to slow the rate of cognitive decline. As well as improving balance and reducing stress, changing positions and chanting engage different parts of the brain, encouraging it to form new neural connections.

    A 2016 study looked at the effects of a 12-week yoga programme on older people (55 and above) with mild cognitive impairment, a risk factor for dementia. The volunteers saw improvements in mood and memory that lasted up to six month

    A 2016 study looked at the effects of a 12-week yoga programme on older people (55 and above) with mild cognitive impairment, a risk factor for dementia. The volunteers saw improvements in mood and memory that lasted up to six month

    In one 2016 study, scientists from the University of California studied the effects of a 12-week yoga programme on older people (55 and above) with mild cognitive impairment, a risk factor for dementia.

    The volunteers saw improvements in mood and memory that lasted up to six months.

    This was backed by MRI scans which identified increased activity in the areas of the brain involved in memory and complex decision making.

    The British Wheel of Yoga (bwy.org.uk) has details of classes near you.

    The Feel Good Fix, by Lavina Mehta, Penguin, £18.99. You can find free exercise tips on Lavina’s Instagram @feelgoodwithlavina and workouts on YouTube.

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