Latest news with #CambridgeUniversity
DW
4 hours ago
- Health
- DW
Late-life depression: Learn to spot the signs early – DW – 07/25/2025
Depression goes undiagnosed when symptoms are mistaken for age-related physical illnesses. We need to treat mental health issues earlier in life. It is perhaps the last place you would expect to find a generational divide, but even in mental health, we (those of us of a certain age) are told, "We (those of us of a younger age) are more aware of mental health than you" — as if awareness alone could remedy depression. There is actually some truth to this. "There are shifts in younger generations and also in older generations. But unfortunately mental health is still very stigmatized for older adults," said Pascal Schlechter at the Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Germany. "It's quite a big step [for some people] to admit, 'I have a mental health problem and I want to talk about it.'" But it's not only older patients who lack awareness or a willingness to talk about depression. It can also be their doctors, who may misdiagnose a mental health problem as a physical one, common when you grow old. "If a 30-year-old tells you they've stopped going out and are withdrawing [from social interaction], you would ask them, 'Is anything wrong with your mental health? Are you depressed?'," said Schlechter. "But with an older person, you might say, 'You're fatigued. It's just part of the normal aging process. Just rest.'" To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The generational divide closes when we talk about symptoms of depression — there is little to no difference in depression between younger and older adults. While at Cambridge University in the UK, Schlechter co-published a paper on the development of depressive symptoms in older adults, based on the results from a longitudinal study that tracked the progress of more than 11,000 people over a period of 16 years. Schlechter and colleagues found the same symptoms in older adults as in younger adults: Patients expressed they , or that , they , had , or felt . However, they noted: "In older adults, depression often presents with more somatic symptoms than in younger populations." When we spoke in July 2025, Schlechter added: "Medical or somatic symptoms may be part of a depression, but [older adults] often misattribute these symptoms to their aging process. This can lead to delayed recognition, [and as a result] their depression may manifest more chronically." So, there is that difference: Whether it's due to a lack of awareness among patients and physicians, or stigma, depression can be worse for older people. That may be because the depression is combined with — or, in part, "triggered" by — a somatic (physical) illness, or symptoms of depression were left unaddressed earlier in life — perhaps also due to a lack of awareness or stigma. As with most illnesses the earlier depression or anxiety are diagnosed, the better the chances of treating them. Some social factors also contribute to depression. As we enter late life, we are often forced to adjust to changes in our social status, our identity through work or elsewhere in a community, and people start dying around us. We may even experience abuse from our carers, as highlighted information from the World Health Organization on depression — another, potential contributing factor. All these things can bring what may have been a mild, latent depression to the fore in a chronic and severe way. There is a sense when talking to experts in the field that physicians may prefer to tackle physical ailments in older adults than mental ones. No matter what age a person is, depression is difficult to treat. But when older adults present with both physical and mental health problems, it is even harder. "In both poorer and richer health systems in Europe, one of the main instruments we have to deal with depression is medication," said Albino Oliveira-Maia, who heads the Neuropsychiatry Unit at the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal. "When treating older adults [with] medication, [there is a] higher likelihood for interaction with other medication and for toxicities [to occur]," Oliveira-Maia told DW. "That might mean physicians pay more attention to physical health problems than mental health." But medication is not the only treatment for depression — there are also a range of psychotherapy options, or so-called talk therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, and many others, specific to a patient's situation. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video One aspect of depression we have not touch on yet is suicide. Suicide affects all groups of people, young and old, male and female. But regulation often prevents people from participating in research if they are known to have suicidal thoughts or show suicidal behavior. And that means there is a lack of understanding and knowledge among researchers. "This is obviously an ethical concern," said Oliveira-Maia. "It's an act of generosity to participate in a research program, so we need to protect the people. But in doing that, there are sometimes consequences that lead to slower progress for some of the patients that are most in need." People over 65 years can also be excluded from trials if they have existing medical conditions, such as vascular lesions in the brain, said Oliveira-Maia. Scientifically, this makes sense, even if only from a cold, unemotional perspective: If people die or their illnesses worsen during a trial, it can make it impossible for other teams to verify the results — which is a standard process and safety net in research, especially in the development of new medication. Both Schlechter and Oliveira-Maia have reservations about awareness campaigns, and specifically about self-diagnosis, which can go either way — a younger person may be more inclined to say, "Yes, I have a mental health problem" even if they don't, and an older person may deny all the signs. "For younger generations, there is more public awareness due to social media. And there are good campaigns that provide valid information," said Schlechter. "But there's also a lot of misinformation out there." Oliveira-Maia, meanwhile, is concerned about people misdiagnosing themselves, whether they are young or old. "While [they are] valuable, there is also some data to suggest that the awareness campaigns can in themselves lead to misclassification in that some people that are healthy can value their normal symptoms of sadness and anxiety as a mental health problem." The solution, as always with any illness or symptom that concerns you, is to speak to a health professional you can trust.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Walking 7,000 steps a day a huge boost to health: research
PARIS - People who walk 7,000 steps a day have a dramatically lower risk of a broad range of serious health problems, the largest review of the evidence yet said Thursday. The most widely promoted target for people tracking their number of steps is 10,000 -- but that figure reportedly originally came from a 1960s marketing campaign for a Japanese pedometer. To find a more scientific target, an international team of researchers sifted through 57 previous studies that covered 160,000 people. The results published in the Lancet Public Health journal found that walking 7,000 steps a day nearly halved people's risk of early death from all causes, compared to 2,000 steps. The study also looked into health problems not previously covered by research into step counts. Walking 7,000 steps a day was linked to people's risk of dementia falling by 38 percent, depression dropping 22 percent and diabetes decreasing 14 percent. It was also associated with lower rates of cancer and falls, though the researchers warned this was based on less evidence. "You don't need to hit 10,000 steps a day to get major health benefits," Paddy Dempsey, a study co-author and medical researcher at Cambridge University, told AFP. "The biggest gains happen before 7,000 steps, and then benefits tend to level off," he said. While people's speeds vary widely, 7,000 steps adds up to roughly an hour of walking throughout the day. Dempsey emphasised that people already managing 10,000 or more steps should keep it up. But he had a message for people who might find 7,000 steps daunting: "don't be discouraged". "If you're only getting 2,000–3,000 steps a day, aim to add an extra 1,000 steps. That's just 10–15 minutes of light walking spread across the day," he said. Andrew Scott, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth not involved in the study, said that "it demonstrates that overall more is always better". "People should not focus too much on the numbers, particularly on days where activity is limited," he added. The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity a week. Nearly a third of people worldwide do not reach this target, according to the WHO.
eNCA
2 days ago
- Health
- eNCA
Walking 7,000 steps a day a huge boost to health: research
NEW YORK - People who walk 7,000 steps a day have a dramatically lower risk of a broad range of serious health problems, the largest review of the evidence yet said. The most widely promoted target for people tracking their number of steps is 10,000 -- but that figure reportedly originally came from a 1960s marketing campaign for a Japanese pedometer. To find a more scientific target, an international team of researchers sifted through 57 previous studies that covered 160,000 people. The results published in the Lancet Public Health journal found that walking 7,000 steps a day nearly halved people's risk of early death from all causes, compared to 2,000 steps. The study also looked into health problems not previously covered by research into step counts. Walking 7,000 steps a day was linked to people's risk of dementia falling by 38 percent, depression dropping 22 percent and diabetes decreasing 14 percent. It was also associated with lower rates of cancer and falls, though the researchers warned this was based on less evidence. "You don't need to hit 10,000 steps a day to get major health benefits," Paddy Dempsey, a study co-author and medical researcher at Cambridge University, told AFP. "The biggest gains happen before 7,000 steps, and then benefits tend to level off," he said. While people's speeds vary widely, 7,000 steps adds up to roughly an hour of walking throughout the day. Dempsey emphasised that people already managing 10,000 or more steps should keep it up. But he had a message for people who might find 7,000 steps daunting: "don't be discouraged". "If you're only getting 2,000–3,000 steps a day, aim to add an extra 1,000 steps. That's just 10–15 minutes of light walking spread across the day," he said. Andrew Scott, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth not involved in the study, said that "it demonstrates that overall more is always better". "People should not focus too much on the numbers, particularly on days where activity is limited," he added. The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity a week. Nearly a third of people worldwide do not reach this target, according to the WHO.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
How to get out of a reading slump: Try one of these 8 page-turner books
Like the common cold, the reading slump and its symptoms will come to us all eventually. The pages don't turn as fast as they used to. The characters don't feel as relatable. The plots don't hit the same. You don't have motivation to pick up your book at all. If this is you, the dreaded reading slump has arrived. It could be because you read a book so good nothing else compares. Or, on the flipside, your last book was so bad – too slow, too predictable, too unbelievable – you're hesitant to take a chance on another title. Whatever the cause, we've got a prescription. These books have something for everyone – old and new reads spanning fiction and nonfiction, from thriller to romance to memoir. What they all have is inventive plots, intriguing characters and twists sure to keep you glued to the page. 'None of This is True' by Lisa Jewell 'None of This is True' is my go-to slump-buster. This twisty thriller follows a woman who finds herself the subject of her own true crime podcast. Alix Summers, a popular podcaster, meets the unassuming Josie Fair, a woman on the cusp of changing her life, who wants to be the next subject of Alix's series. When she agrees, Alix unravels Josie's strange, confusing and dark past. 'Yellowface' by R.F. Kuang Propulsive, chilling and darkly comedic, 'Yellowface' is about a white author co-opting an Asian American author's work and passing it off as her own. Floundering writer June Hayward is jealous of her friend Athena Liu, a literary darling. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her barely finished manuscript and turns it into her editor. What follows is a web of lies, cultural appropriation and ethnically ambiguous author profiles, scandals and secrets. 'First-Time Caller' by B.K. Borison Romance readers should pick up this 'Sleepless in Seattle'-inspired love story to get back in the groove. 'First-Time Caller' follows Aiden Valentine, a jaded romance hotline radio host, and Lucie Stone, a single mom and romantic whose well-meaning daughter calls into the show asking for dating advice for her mom. 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn Any Gillian Flynn thriller makes for a good reading slump cure. Flynn's writing is fast-paced and compulsively readable, and 'Sharp Objects' will have you staying up until you turn the last shocking page. This thriller is about a reporter, fresh out of a psych hospital, returning to her small hometown and complicated family to cover the murders of two preteen girls. 'Educated' by Tara Westover 'Educated' is a memoir you won't be able to put down, and follows one woman's journey from a sheltered, religious survivalist family to a Ph.D. at Cambridge University. It grapples with narcissistic parenting, a strict Mormon upbringing and the deeply ingrained distrust in medicine and education Westover had to unlearn on her own. Some of Westover's stories will horrify, others are heart-wrenching and all will leave you with a compassionate view of her search for liberation. 'Legendborn' by Tracy Deonn Looking for a new fantasy series to get you hooked? Check out 'Legendborn.' This first novel follows Bree Matthews, a 16-year-old looking to escape her grief while at a residential program for gifted high schoolers. But when she witnesses a magical attack on her first night – a flying demon and a secret society of students hunting the creatures – she unlocks her own magic. Now, she'll have to infiltrate the secret Legendborn society and use her powers to face the truth about her mother's death. 'The God of the Woods' by Liz Moore This mystery may be on the longer side at nearly 500 pages, but it's thoroughly unputdownable. 'The God of the Woods' opens on a camp counselor discovering a 13-year-old camper is missing. To complicate matters, the young girl is also the daughter of the camp's wealthy owners, and her tragedy is eerily similar to her brother's cold case disappearance over a decade ago. 'Seven Days in June' by Tia Williams In 'Seven Days in June,' two lauded authors have a chance encounter at a New York panel of Black literati 20 years after they spent a week madly in the throes of teenage love. Over the next seven days, Eva and Shane reconnect and rehash the passionate romance of their youth. But can Eva trust the man who once broke her heart? Williams' contemporary romance explores modern motherhood, chronic pain and second-chance romance. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sue Perkins 'touched inappropriately' by Orville the Duck on Light Lunch
Comedian Sue Perkins was allegedly touched by puppet Orville the Duck during her TV series Light Lunch, which she hosted with best pal Mel Giedroyc during the 1990s Sue Perkins' co-host has claimed she was touched by puppet Orville the Duck as she spoke out against the "Naughty Nineties". The comedian and former Great British Bake Off host, 55, claimed the famous green bird got handsy with her. Her best friend and co-star Mel Giedroyc, 57, spoke of the alleged incident on Channel 4 daytime show Light Lunch. They were hosting the programme together in 1997 when they saw that children's entertainer Keith Harris was invited on. He turned up with the giant green duckling, who wore a nappy. Mel recalled: 'We're back in the Naughty Nineties - woof! Weren't they naughty - they were a very naughty decade. 'The most memorable of all the lunches, we had three puppeteers with their puppets for lunch. We had Keith Harris with Orville, who got a bit naughty with Sue! Well, Orville did," she claimed on the Parenting Hell podcast. She added: 'Yes. Harris via Orville got a bit 'Naughty Nineties.'' Fellow comedian and podcast host Rob Beckett asked: 'He was nipping at the body?' Mel replied: 'Yes. There is a ruddy hand (in there)!' Josh Widdecombe added: 'They'd get away with it by claiming it was a grey area," to which Mel agreed as she said: "Exactly!" Keith, who died in 2015 aged 67, and the two other guests Roger de Courcey with Nookie Bear and Matthew Corbett with Sooty, were all allegedly captivated by Sue. Mel claimed: 'They were trying to get all over Perks's grill, she was the honey trap, I was just the fly buzzing round the edge rather desperately. They bloomin' loved Perks, all of them.' Sue and Mel met while studying at Cambridge University, where they launched their long-standing career together. In the 1990s, the comedy duo wrote for BBC Radio 4 show Weekending and created sketches for French & Saunders. They went on to host daytime shows Light Lunch and Late Lunch for Channel 4 between 1997 and 1998. Their series ended in 1999 and Mel insisted they have fond memories of Light Lunch. Mel even revealed there was plenty going on off screen as she admitted to snogging a runner on the programme. She said it was a then-unknown Dermot O'Leary as he was working one of his very first TV jobs. 'There was a lot going down - it should have been called Heavy Lunch," she teased. Mel and Sue returned to screens years later as the hosts of Great British Bake Off. They held the positions between 2010 and 2016 on the BBC. However, the pair quit in protest of the show's move to Channel 4 and would go on to host their short-lived chat show on ITV called Mel and Sue. The pair confessed they were "shocked and saddened" to discover the news of Bake Off's move and explained they "made no secret" of their desire for the show to remain where it was. The Mirror has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
