EXCLUSIVE Doctors can notice cancer and diabetes in your eyes... are you overlooking the clues?
The eyes are the window to the soul, but they may also be the key to spotting deadly diseases, doctors warn.
Dark specks on the iris could just be a sign of too much summertime sunshine. But in rare cases, they could be the first clue to spotting deadly eye cancers.
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BreakingNews.ie
30 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Demand for GP consultations to increase by 23 per cent by 2040
New research projects that the demand for general practitioner (GP) consultations will increase by at least 23 per cent by 2040, reflecting continued population growth. The new report released by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) considers a range of scenarios based on varying assumptions about population growth and ageing, the pace of healthy ageing, and policy reforms. Advertisement The rising demand for general practice services is largely driven by population growth and, to a lesser extent, population ageing. Ireland's population is projected to increase from 5.3 million in 2023 to between 5.9 and 6.3 million by 2040, with the range reflecting differing assumptions on future migration trends. The proportion of the population aged under 25 will decrease while the proportion aged 50 and over will increase. While all age groups use general practice services, utilisation tends to increase with age. GP consultations are projected to grow from 19.4 million in 2023 to between 23.9 million and 25.2 million by 2040, growth of between 23 and 30 per cent. Advertisement Requirements for an additional 943 to 1,211 GPs by 2040 are projected, relative to a 2023 headcount of 3,928 GPs. General practice nurse consultations are projected to grow from 5.7 million in 2023 to between 7.5 million and 7.8 million by 2040, growth of between 32 and 36 per cent. Requirements for an additional 761 to 868 general practice nurses by 2040 are projected, relative to a 2023 headcount of 2,288 GPNs. Growing demand The Irish College of GPs welcomed the research by the ESRI and said it is aware of the growing demand for GP services. Advertisement The chair of the board of the Irish College of GPs, Dr Deirdre Collins, said: 'We are acutely aware of the impact of the growing population, and the ageing population, on GP services. T "his ESRI report is welcome, because it helps give fresh insights into the challenges facing policy makers and the HSE in meeting the growing demand for GP services.' The chief executive of the Irish College of GPs, Fintan Foy, said: 'The ESRI report paints a stark picture of the impact of the growing population on GP demand in the coming years. "With the support of the HSE and the Department of Health, we remain positive that we can continue to address the challenges of GP shortages. We hope that the resources needed to ensure GPs can set up in areas of new population and where GPs are retiring, can be available when needed. "We believe the Strategic Review of General Practice needs to be expedited to ensure we can put long term plans in place to meet the growing healthcare needs of the Irish population.'
Medical News Today
an hour ago
- Medical News Today
Alzheimer's: How does exercise protect the brain as people age?
A new study aims to explain exercise's protective effect on the brain from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Guille eFaingold/Stocksy Past studies show that certain lifestyle changes — such as getting more physical activity — may help lower a person's risk for Alzheimer's disease or slow its progression. A new study sheds light on how physical activity helps protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease on a cellular level. Scientists believe these findings may one day lead to new prevention and treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, past studies show that certain lifestyle changes may help decrease a person's risk for the disease or slow down its progression. One of these main lifestyle changes is physical activity. A study published in April 2025 reported that increasing physical activity in middle age may help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease. A study published in May 2025 says older adults who sit less may lower their risk for the condition. Now, a new study recently published in the journal Nature Neuroscience sheds light on how physical activity helps protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease on a cellular level. Scientists believe these findings may one day lead to new prevention and treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease. 'Single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) is a technique that allows (us to) analyze gene activity by examining the RNA inside on a cell by cell level, giving us precise information about the activation state of each and every single cell in the tissue examined,' Christiane D. Wrann, DVM, PhD, a neuroscientist and leader of the Program in Neuroprotection in Exercise at the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute and the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, and senior author of this study, explained to Medical News Today . 'We used this sophisticated technology to examine how exercise reshapes [the] brain in an important region in the brain of mouse models for Alzheimer's disease,' Wrann added. Scientists focused on the hippocampus of the brain, which is responsible for making new memories and keeping old ones, as well as processing emotions and learning new information. Using a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease — that were later verified in human Alzheimer's disease brain tissue samples — researchers found that exercise changed activity in the hippocampus' immune cells called microglia , as well as a specific type of neurovascular-associated astrocyte (NVA) . NVAs are cells associated with the brain's blood vessels that help make sure the brain receives enough oxygen and is an important part of the blood-brain barrier . '[Our findings mean] that exercise can remodel these important cell types on the transcriptional/gene expression level, which likely increases their neuroprotective properties. 'It [is] one example, how on the molecular level exercise can improve brain cells in Alzheimer's disease, hopefully rendering them more functionally.' — Christiane D. Wrann, DVM, PhD Additionally, Wrann and her team pinpointed a metabolic gene called ATPIF1 as an important regulator to create new neurons in the brain. 'ATPIF1 is a mitochondrial protein that regulates cellular energy production AKA — a gene that regulates energy metabolism,' Wrann detailed. 'Research has shown that stimulating neurogenesis can protect against cognitive decline in aging or Alzheimer's disease. In our study, we show that ATPIF1 is an important regulator of neurogenesis.' 'Exercise is important for your brain health — please keep exercising to protect your brain,' she continued. 'Alzheimer's disease is incurable at the moment. There are smart and dedicated scientists working on finding innovative treatment options.' 'This work not only sheds light on how exercise benefits the brain but also uncovers potential cell-specific targets for future Alzheimer's therapies,' Nathan Tucker, PhD, a biostatistician at SUNY Upstate Medical University and co-senior of the study said in a press release. 'Our study offers a valuable resource for the scientific community investigating Alzheimer's prevention and treatment.' MNT also had the opportunity to speak with Gary Small, MD, chair of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study. Small commented that this study's findings are consistent with the well-documented link between physical activity and brain health, including its role in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and of slowing its progression in people who already suffer from the disease. 'While the basic conclusion that exercise is important to brain health is not new, these new findings showing the impact of physical activity on key brain cells such as microglia and neurovascular-associated astrocytes provide a more nuanced and deeper understanding why the brain responds to exercise,' he explained. 'Astrocytes and microglia play a crucial role in both initiating and regulating the inflammatory response. Thus, these results further elucidate the link between heightened brain inflammation and cognitive decline,' he said. 'Brain health has a strong influence on our quality of life. Cognitive decline affects not just the physical and behavioral health of the patient, but also has an impact on their caregivers and all who care about the person. The bottom line is that dementia and Alzheimer's disease are not inevitable parts of aging. We can take steps to reduce the risk through lifestyle habits. And even for those who develop the disease, making changes in diet, physical activity, and stress management can slow the progression and extend the time when a person can enjoy a fulfilling quality of life.' — Gary Small, MD 'The more we understand how cognitive decline occurs, and what can change the course of its development and progression, the more opportunities there are to find ways to treat it,' Small added.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Exclusive: US to drop guidance to limit alcohol to one or two drinks per day, sources say
June 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Dietary Guidelines are expected to eliminate the long-standing recommendation that adults limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks per day, according to three sources familiar with the matter, in what could be a major win for an industry threatened by heightened scrutiny of alcohol's health effects. The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which could be released as early as this month, are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks, the sources said. The guidelines are still under development and subject to change, two of the sources and a fourth individual familiar with the process said. Currently, the recommendations advise limiting drinking to one serving or less per day for women and two or less for men, widely seen as a moderate level. Similar guidelines exist in countries such as the United Kingdom, which advises limiting drinking to 14 units per week, while Canada, however, has adopted a more cautious stance, warning that health risks begin to increase after just two drinks per week. Even moderate drinking is linked to some health risks, such as higher risk of breast cancer, though some studies have also found an association with possible health benefits, such as a lower risk of stroke. The fourth source said that the scientific basis for recommending specific daily limits is limited, and the goal is to ensure the guidelines reflect only the most robust evidence. The new guidelines, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are closely watched internationally and influence policies ranging from school lunch programs to medical advice. Neither department responded to requests for comment. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known teetotaler, has remained largely silent on alcohol but has emphasised a focus on whole foods in the upcoming guidelines. Some alcohol executives had feared a move towards tighter recommendations on alcohol intake as authorities like the World Health Organization upped their warnings about alcohol's health risks. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer and called for warning labels on alcoholic drinks. Major industry players, including Diageo (DGE.L), opens new tab and Anheuser-Busch InBev ( opens new tab, have lobbied lawmakers throughout the review process. Senate records show each company spent millions on lobbying efforts related to the guidelines and a range of other issues such as tax and trade in 2024 and 2025. Both companies declined to comment. The new guidelines are set to move away from suggesting consumers limit alcohol consumption to a specific number of daily servings, according to the three sources, who asked not to be named in order to speak freely. One person said the new alcohol-related recommendation will probably be limited to a sentence or two. Another said the existing numbers tied to moderate drinking could still appear in a longer appendix. While industry representatives have lobbied lawmakers on the guidelines or how they should be decided, some officials and researchers advocated for tighter restrictions. Reports intended to inform the guidelines have meanwhile drawn different conclusions about alcohol's health effects and the science around this. The guidelines, which are reviewed every five years, have advised drinking in moderation and defined that as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two for men since 1990. Eva Greenthal, a senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit focused on nutrition, health and food safety, said the more general language expected in the guidelines was "so vague as to be unhelpful". Under such a change, the message that even moderate drinking can increase risks, especially for breast cancer, would get lost, she continued. Two studies were produced to inform the development of the guidelines. The first found that moderate drinking was associated with increased risk of some cancers, but a decreased risk of dying from any cause and some cardiovascular problems like stroke. The evidence for some other health impacts was insufficient to draw conclusions, it found. The other report conversely found the risk of dying from alcohol use, including increased risk for seven cancers, begins at any or low levels of alcohol use and increases with higher consumption.
