All posts tagged: affects

There’s New Evidence for How Loneliness Affects Memory in Old Age

There’s New Evidence for How Loneliness Affects Memory in Old Age

Published by skeptic

Neuroscientists know that there is a link between loneliness and cognitive decline in older adults, although it is still difficult to understand the exact magnitude of the link. A new longitudinal study provides evidence that a proportion of people who feel lonely end up having more memory impairment, though this doesn’t necessarily mean that their brains age faster. The report, published in Aging & Mental Health, shows that older adults with higher levels of loneliness scored lower on tests of immediate and delayed recall. Even so, the rate at which their memory declined over six years was virtually identical to those who were not lonely. “It suggests that loneliness may play a more prominent role in the initial state of memory than in its progressive decline,” said Luis Carlos Venegas-Sanabria of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Universidad del Rosario, who led the research. “The study underscores the importance of addressing loneliness as a significant factor in the context of cognitive performance in older adults.” Six-Year Study of Thousands of Single People The …

Hormuz domino effect: How the Middle East crisis affects food, flights and global supply chains

Hormuz domino effect: How the Middle East crisis affects food, flights and global supply chains

Published by Sam Flores

Iran announced Friday it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz for all commercial vessels for the remainder of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, raising hopes of an end to the standoff that has rattled energy markets and sent global fuel prices soaring. Tehran had effectively blocked the strategic waterway, one of the world’s busiest oil shipping channels, since the US and Israel attacked the country on February 28. Washington hit back this week with its own blockade of Iranian ports, which US President Donald Trump said Friday would “remain in force”.  Closure of the strait has sent oil prices soaring to over $100 a barrel and gas climbing by more than 12 percent, in turn unleashing a domino effect of consequences – from kerosene shortages to a looming world food crisis. Here’s a look at some of the ripple effects from the Hormuz crisis. Read moreUS blockade of the Strait of Hormuz: What do the numbers show? The risk of kerosene shortages is greatest in Asia, and to a lesser extent Europe, as they both rely on oil from …

What is osteopenia? The bone condition that develops silently and affects millions of people

What is osteopenia? The bone condition that develops silently and affects millions of people

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Around 40% of adults worldwide are affected by osteopenia: a loss of bone mineral density. This condition is extremely common, particularly in postmenopausal women and elderly adults. It’s estimated that more than 500,000 fractures occur annually in the UK due to low bone density. Osteopenia itself does not usually cause symptoms and it develops silently over time. Many people may not even be aware that they have the condition until they have experienced a fracture or had a bone density test, typically recommended because of risk factors such as age and menopause. This makes osteopenia a significant but often under-recognised public health issue. Bone is a dynamic tissue that undergoes continuous renewal through a process called bone remodelling. During this process, old bone is broken down (resorption) and new bone is formed (formation). During early adulthood this process is balanced, so …

Mars Enters Aries This Week & Affects Each Zodiac Sign From April 6 – 12, 2026

Mars Enters Aries This Week & Affects Each Zodiac Sign From April 6 – 12, 2026

Published by Jenni Sidey

There’s a powerful energy shift happening this week as Mars, the planet of ambition and drive, enters Aries. It affects each zodiac sign differently from April 6 to 12, 2026. The week begins with the Sagittarius Moon, which helps us get back on track after the Full Moon in Libra last week. Then, on April 8, the Capricorn Moon shows us that we are the bosses of our own destiny. This is not a period to doubt ourselves.  Mars enters Aries on April 9, bringing action and creativity with it. However, we can expect Mars and Saturn to clash in the next several weeks. The Aquarius Moon on Friday, April 10, makes it easier to dream again. We have to keep fighting and believing in ourselves as we continue to transform. Aries Design: YourTango This is your season, Aries, and reaching for the stars enables you to see your potential for growth. While you can expect to face challenges over the next month, the transits this week remind you to stay optimistic and grounded.  Make …

DLD: The under-recognised condition that affects 8% of children

DLD: The under-recognised condition that affects 8% of children

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Six-year-old Antoni, born in the UK to Polish parents, speaks only a few English words in class and often looks confused when the teacher gives instructions. He could simply be adjusting to English – or the problem could be developmental language disorder (DLD), a condition that severely impairs a child’s ability to learn, use and understand spoken language. Such challenges are increasingly common for parents and teachers. In England, for example, around 21% of schoolchildren are growing up with a first language other than English. While most children’s language development – whether monolingual or multilingual – is typical, the average classroom includes two DLD-affected children. DLD’s prevalence, roughly 8%, is similar worldwide, from China to Mexico. Even so, DLD remains under-recognised and under-served – especially compared to other developmental conditions, such as dyslexia, autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Identifying …

The school you go to affects whether you become Neet – new research

The school you go to affects whether you become Neet – new research

Published by skeptic

Almost 1 million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training. These so-called Neets – aged 16 to 24 – face a significantly higher risk of long-term unemployment, poor health and involvement in crime. The proportion of 16- to 17-year-olds who are Neet is now higher than when the participation age was raised in 2014, requiring young people in England to stay in education or training until 18. The government has launched an inquiry into why so many are falling out of work and study. Most research into this problem has focused on the characteristics of individual young people: low exam results, high absenteeism, socio-economic disadvantage. These factors matter, of course. But in our new research, we asked a different question: do the characteristics of the school itself make a difference to whether its leavers end up Neet? The answer, it turns out, is yes – and it may have a lot to do with school culture and inclusivity. We analysed publicly available data from over 3,000 secondary schools in England …

Powell says Fed can ‘wait and see’ how war affects inflation

Powell says Fed can ‘wait and see’ how war affects inflation

Published by Sam Flores

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday (Mar 30) said the US central bank can wait to see how the Iran war affects the economy and inflation, noting that policymakers typically look through shocks such as those from higher oil prices. “We feel like our policy’s in a good place for us to wait and see how that turns out,” Powell said during a question-and-answer session held as part of a macroeconomics class at Harvard University. His remarks appeared to calm financial markets that last week had reflected rising expectations the Fed may try to head off higher inflation by raising rates. Those rate hike bets have all but disappeared. As the Iran war enters its fifth week and US gasoline prices rise to around an average of US$4 a gallon, Powell acknowledged the potential squeeze between the Fed‘s two mandates of full employment and price stability. “There’s sort of downside risk to the labour market, which suggests keep rates low, but there’s upside risk to inflation, which suggests maybe don’t keep rates …

DLD: The under-recognised condition that affects 8% of children

What is DLD? The under-recognised condition that affects 8% of children

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Six-year-old Antoni, born in the UK to Polish parents, speaks only a few English words in class and often looks confused when the teacher gives instructions. He could simply be adjusting to English – or the problem could be developmental language disorder (DLD), a condition that severely impairs a child’s ability to learn, use and understand spoken language. Such challenges are increasingly common for parents and teachers. In England, for example, around 21% of schoolchildren are growing up with a first language other than English. While most children’s language development – whether monolingual or multilingual – is typical, the average classroom includes two DLD-affected children. DLD’s prevalence, roughly 8%, is similar worldwide, from China to Mexico. Even so, DLD remains under-recognised and under-served – especially compared to other developmental conditions, such as dyslexia, autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Identifying …

Jesy Nelson speaks out after fresh news on condition that affects her twin daughters

Jesy Nelson speaks out after fresh news on condition that affects her twin daughters

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has described her feelings as “bittersweet” following Scotland’s decision to become the first UK nation to screen babies for a rare muscle disease affecting her daughters. Earlier this year, the 34-year-old announced that her twin girls, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson, had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic condition leading to progressive muscle wastage. Since then, Nelson has actively campaigned for universal newborn screening, highlighting how early treatment can prevent some of the most devastating impacts of the illness. In a post on her Instagram story on Monday, Nelson said: “Today my heart feels super heavy. It’s a very bittersweet moment knowing that Scotland had become the first UK nation to screen babies for SMA. “We’re so close yet so far. “I will never be able to understand why we still do not …