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The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Million-year-old stone tools found on Indonesian island could unravel mystery of ‘hobbit' humans
Humans may have crossed mainland Southeast Asia to occupy surrounding islands much earlier than previously thought, according to a new study that sheds more light on the origin of the Flores 'hobbit' species. The hobbit, Homo floresiensis, was a small-bodied human species that likely emerged from the Homo erectus after they had crossed the marine barrier around Southeast Asia to inhabit Indonesia's Flores island a million years ago. Homo erectus likely underwent hundreds of thousands of years of dwarfism on that isolated island to evolve into the hobbit species. But exactly how this might have happened is a mystery researchers say million-year-old stone tools found on Indonesia's Sulawesi island could help unravel. The tools include sharp-edged stone fragments that the ancient humans made from larger pebbles likely taken from nearby riverbeds. Previous research suggested that the Wallacea archipelago was occupied from at least 1.02 million years ago, based on the presence of stone tools at Wolo Sege on Flores, while Talepu on Sulawesi was inhabited around 194 thousand years ago. The latest find at Calio indicates early humans reached Sulawesi far earlier than thought, 'at around the same time as Flores, if not earlier'. The stone artefacts point to the island being a tool-making site and a hunting ground nearly 1.04 million years ago. 'Sulawesi is a wild card. It is like a mini-continent in itself,' study co-author Adam Brumm said. 'This discovery adds to our understanding of the movement of extinct humans across the Wallace Line, a transitional zone beyond which unique and often quite peculiar animal species evolved in isolation.' The findings also raise questions about the evolution of the 'hobbit' humans. 'If hominins were cut off on this huge and ecologically rich island for a million years, would they have undergone the same evolutionary changes as the Flores hobbits? Or would something totally different have happened?' Dr Brumm said. 'It's a significant piece of the puzzle but the Calio site has yet to yield any hominin fossils. So while we now know there were tool-makers on Sulawesi a million years ago, their identity remains a mystery.'
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Common pill taken by millions could ‘slash your risk of dementia and dying young'
A CHEAP pill already taken by millions of patients could slash your risk of dementia and early death, scientists say. This is none other than metformin, "the most widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes", according to researchers from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan. 1 They found that people who were taking the treatment were less likely to develop memory-robbing dementia or die from any cause. The results were based on a study of 452,777 adults who were either overweight or obese, published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Obesity and diabetes have both been shown to up the risk of dementia. Some studies report that diabetics have a 70 per cent higher risk of getting the condition, compared to those without diabetes. Meanwhile, being obese between the ages of 35-65 can increase dementia risk in later-life by about 30 per cent. Metformin is the most common treatment for type 2 diabetes, which affects over 5 million Brits, according to Diabetes UK. The drug is also used to help prevent type 2 diabetes in people at high risk of developing it. It works by curbing the amount of sugar pumped around the body by the liver and helping the insulin you produce work better. "Metformin has many advantages over other diabetic drugs. It has strong glucose-lowering effects, a reliable safety profile and is relatively cheap," researchers said. "Metformin also reduces the likelihood of dementia in patients with diabetes." Common painkiller used for back pain ups risk of dementia by 29%, scientists warn But some studies suggest the drug doesn't protect against dementia, as it can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, which has been linked to cognitive decline. It could increase the risk of Alzheimer's, a type of dementia, research suggests. "Whether metformin's beneficial effects in patients with dementia can be applied to the general population is unclear," the study authors noted. The study included about 905,000 people in total, split evenly into two groups: metformin users and non-metformin users. They were matched to be similar in age, health, and other factors for a fair comparison. The metformin group had been prescribed the drug at least twice in their lives, for at least six months. Researchers categorised study participants by their body mass index (BMI) as: Overweight: BMI 25–29.9 Obese class I: BMI 30–34.9 Obese class II: BMI 35–39.9 Morbidly obese: BMI over 40 They followed patients for 10 years and found that those who took metformin had a lower risk of developing dementia, regardless of their BMI. Class I and II obese patients saw the greatest reduction in risk - 8 and 4 per cent respectively, compared to people who didn't take metformin. Manage blood sugar levels Strictly follow a diabetes management plan, as prescribed by a healthcare professional. This includes medication, diet and exercise. Regularly monitor blood sugar levels and manage insulin appropriately. Adopt a healthy lifestyle Follow a balanced diet in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, with limited saturated fat, sugar, and salt. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and other conditions linked to dementia. Weight management through diet and exercise can help mitigate these risks. Engage in activities that challenge your mind, such as puzzles, reading, learning new skills, or socialising. Address other risk factors High blood pressure and cholesterol can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of both cardiovascular disease and dementia. Regular check-ups and appropriate treatment are essential. Excessive alcohol consumption can negatively impact brain health. Moderate drinking or abstaining from alcohol can be beneficial. Hearing loss can contribute to cognitive decline. Addressing hearing problems through hearing aids or other interventions can help maintain cognitive function. Seek professional guidance Regular medical check-ups are important for monitoring overall health and identifying and addressing potential risk factors early on. Work with your doctor, diabetes educator, or other healthcare professionals to develop a personalized plan for managing your diabetes and reducing your risk of dementia. Researchers said the drug's ability to lower inflammation in obese patients may have something to do with this. "Since central nervous system inflammation and neuroinflammation are crucial factors in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of metformin are especially beneficial in patients with obesity," they wrote. "We observed that the protective effect of metformin against dementia was consistent across all BMI categories greater than 25." Metformin-users also had a lower risk of early death, between 28 and 26 per cent. "This study is strong because it included a large sample of metformin users and patients with obesity and dementia, using data from more than 184 million patients worldwide," researchers said. "The use of real-world data allows for a better understanding of how treatments perform in a heterogeneous population because the data are captured from diverse, real-life settings. "Therefore, the findings of this study can be readily generalised to whole populations." But they acknowledge that their study had certain limitations too, including that the dataset only covered a 10 year period, restricting researchers' ability to evaluate the long-term effects of metformin. They concluded: "Our study findings indicate that metformin may help reduce the risk of dementia in obese patients, which could further contribute to improving all-cause mortality. "However, further research is required to explore the mechanisms by which metformin reduces the risk of dementia." Experts have previously suggested that using metformin to help treat dementia could cut costs. Dr Sara Imarisio, who used to be head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'Repurposing an existing drug used for another health condition would be a cheaper and inexpensive way to bring about a new dementia treatment. 'Diabetes is a risk factor for dementia and there is a lot of interest in the links between the two conditions." But recent research suggests that weight-loss jabs are better at curbing dementia risk in people with type 2 diabetes than metformin. Metformin is generally the first-line medication for type 2 diabetes, while GLP-1 receptor agonists are often used as second-line or add-on therapy when metformin is not sufficient or tolerated. Early signs of dementia It's not unusual for your memory to lapse a bit as you get older. But dementia is different from 'just getting old' as it will cause noticeable - rather than gradual - changes to mental abilities and make managing everyday tasks and activities increasingly difficult. The symptoms of dementia may be small to start with, but get worse over time. Below are some examples of possible signs. Memory loss Memory loss is a key sign of dementia. This can include: Forgetting something you were only recently told. You may ask for the same information repeatedly – for example, 'Are the doors locked?' Putting objects in unusual places – for example, putting your house keys in the refrigerator. Being unable to learn new tasks, like how to use a new washing machine. Planning and decision making issues People with dementia can have difficulty with planning and decision making. This can include: Getting very confused when planning or thinking things through. Struggling to stay focused on a single task. Not making informed, careful decisions when dealing with money or looking at risks. Finding it hard to manage regular payments, budgets or monthly bills. Problems with language and understanding In people with dementia, this can manifest as: Having frequent problems finding the right word or regularly referring to objects as 'that thing'. Finding it hard to take part in conversations. Regularly being unable to follow what someone is saying even without distractions. Losing sense of time and place Dementia can cause problems with orientation, including: Losing track of the date, season or the passage of time. Getting lost in a place that is familiar or that should be easy to find your way around – for example, a supermarket. Regularly being unable to follow what someone is saying even without distractions. Problems with vision and perception This can mean having problems making sense of what you see. For example, having difficulty judging distances on stairs, or mistaking reflections or patterns for other objects. Mood and behavioural changes Finally, dementia can also make people act differently or shift their mood. This can mean: Becoming withdrawn and losing interest in work, friends or hobbies. Feeling unusually sad, anxious, frightened or low in confidence. Getting easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places that usually feel comfortable or familiar.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Full-fat milk vs low-fat milk: Study finally reveals which is healthier for your heart
A decades-long study has finally revealed how healthy full-fat and low-fat milk are, with researchers concluding that one is safer for your heart. Experts analysed three decades of health data and found the fat level of milk influenced a person's risk of dying of heart disease. The study published in the The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition used data from three cardiovascular health screenings conducted between 1974 and 1988. Researchers in Norway tracked the data of 73,860 individuals, with an average age of 41, over 33 years and recorded 26,393 deaths, including 8,590 from cardiovascular disease. They found those who drank full-fat milk had a higher mortality risk in than those who drank low-fat milk. Researchers were able to make this comparison due to a unique historical context. In the 1970s, most people in Norway drank whole milk, but by the 1980s more people drank low-fat milk. This meant researchers were able to investigate the long-term health consequences of drinking both of these milk types. Those who drank the most milk in the study had a 22 per cent increased risk of all-cause mortality and a 12 per cent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease in comparison to those who drank the least. But further analysis revealed whole milk in particular was driving this increased risk of death. When researchers compared full-fat and low-fat milk and adjusted for how much they drank, they found consuming low-fat milk was associated with a 11 per cent lower mortality risk and a 7 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than consuming whole milk. The findings remained consistent even after excluding early deaths or participants with pre-existing conditions. However, low-fat milk drinkers tended to be females, have higher education and not smoke, in comparison to whole fat milk drinkers who frequently reported being current smokers. Study authors concluded: 'Associations between milk intake and cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality varied by type of milk, with positive associations found for whole milk and a modestly inverse association with ischemic heart disease and all-cause mortality was found for low-fat milk when compared with whole milk.' The results are in line with current NHS health advice. Most of the fat in milk and dairy foods is saturated fat which when eating in large amounts can contribute to weight gain, the NHS explains. A diet high in saturated fat can also lead to raised levels of cholesterol in the blood, increasing the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
