Latest news with #King'sCollegeLondon
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Revealed: The number of steps you need to improve your life expectancy
Walking 7,000 steps a day is the sweet spot for preventing many chronic diseases that can lead to an early death, a major study has shown. While the goal of 10,000 daily steps has become firmly established in the public consciousness, an international team of researchers found even a modest amount of walking brings major benefits. British scientists said it finally 'debunked the myth' of 10,000 steps and should encourage people to try and hit the lower target. The major review of 57 studies involving 160,000 adults, which was published in The Lancet, concluded that for most conditions health benefits tended to level off beyond 7,000 steps. Hitting 7,000 steps a day was found to reduce all-cause-mortality by 47 per cent, cardiovascular disease by 25 per cent, cancer by six per cent, diabetes by 14 per cent, dementia by 38 per cent and depression by 22 per cent. Health benefits were also apparent from 4,000 steps when compared to 'inactive' people who walked just 2,000, the study led by the University of Sydney found. Every extra 1,000 steps brought better outcomes, researchers found. Commenting on the study, Steven Harridge, professor of human and applied physiology at King's College London, said: 'Humans are designed to be physically active – our evolutionary heritage as hunter gatherers. 'There has been debate about the amount of activity an individual should be doing with 10,000 steps as a generalised target, not well evidenced. 'This paper shows that 7,000 steps is sufficient for reducing the risk for most diseases covered, and 10, 000 steps does not confer much additional benefit.' According to World Health Organisation data, insufficient physical activity is the fourth most frequent cause of death in the world, with 3.2 million deaths a year related to physical inactivity. Many health organisations recommend hitting 10,000 steps a day, although there is little evidence for the target, which is believed to have arisen from a Japanese marketing campaign in the 1960s. In the run-up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the company Yamasa sought to capitalise on the sudden interest in fitness, so designed the world's first wearable step-counter. They called it the Manpo-kei, or '10,000-step meter'. The company appears to have chosen the figure at random, as a fun goal, but it has stuck ever since. The new paper found that for heart disease, walking more than 7,000 steps was beneficial, but for most conditions there was little gain from putting in more said it was still unclear why walking brings such striking benefits but said it is likely to increase cardiorespiratory fitness, which is known to be positively associated with better health and all-cause mortality outcomes. Commenting on the research, Dr Daniel Bailey, an expert in sedentary behaviour and health at Brunel University of London, said the 7,000 steps target was more achievable for many people than 10,000 steps. 'Just adding more steps from your starting point can have important benefits for health,' he said. 'This study adds to existing evidence by showing that the more steps people do, the less their risk of developing different health conditions. 'The finding that doing 5,000-7,000 steps per day is beneficial, is an important addition to the literature which helps to debunk the myth that 10,000 steps per day should be the target for optimal health.' The Alzheimer's Society also welcomed the study saying it demonstrated that inactivity is a major risk factor for dementia. Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at the charity said: 'It adds to the evidence that what's good for the heart is good for the head.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
eNCA
17 hours ago
- General
- eNCA
Adopted in US, Greek Cold War kids find long-lost families
Robyn Bedell Zalewa grew up and spent all her adult life in the United States, but is part of a little-known chapter of Greek history -- the adoption of some 4,000 infants during the Cold War. Always knowing she came from Greece, she rediscovered her long-lost sister Sophia, who lives in the Athens area, and regained her Greek nationality two years ago. Connecticut-based Robyn goes by the name of Joanna when in Greece. There's just one snag. Her sister Sophia only speaks Greek, so the siblings communicate through an online translator tool. "What hurts me the most is not being able to have a conversation with Sophia," the 68-year-old told AFP. At the close of the Second World War and a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany, Greece was consumed by civil strife between royalists and communists that saw fighting continue until 1949. With thousands of Greek families plunged into disaster and poverty, an adoption movement gained momentum in the 1950s and 1960s, which saw babies and children sent abroad for adoption, mainly in the United States. Gonda Van Steen, director of the Centre for Hellenic Studies at King's College London, told AFP that Greece "was the main country of origin of children adopted in the US in the early 1950s". "American childless couples were willing to pay any price for a healthy white newborn," said Van Steen, who has conducted extensive research and authored a book on the subject. Greek-American Mary Cardaras campaigned for years so that children born in Greece, who are now in their sixties or seventies, could retrieve their birth nationality. "What followed (the first adoptions in Greece) was a tsunami of international adoptions," she said, citing in particular China, Vietnam, Russia and especially South Korea, where at least 140,000 children were adopted by foreign parents between 1955 and 1999. - 'A better life' - In Greece, the biological mothers of adopted children were often impoverished widows, some of whom had been raped or faced social stigmatisation for having a child out of wedlock. "They saw no other solution than to give the child away for him or her to have 'a better life'," Van Steen said. Greece simplified in May the process of obtaining birth documents to specifically enable individuals adopted until 1976 to regain Greek nationality. On the terrace of an Athens café, Bedell Zalewa proudly pulls her Greek passport and identity card from her handbag. Even though she had her adoption certificate -- not all children did -- she began the process well before new regulations were implemented and had to wait a long time before regaining Greek citizenship. "I always knew I had been adopted in Greece," said the pensioner who was born in Messini, in the Peloponnese region, before being adopted in Texas. AFP | Angelos TZORTZINIS "What I've wanted my entire life is to find my family," said Bedell Zalewa, her eyes welling up. Her story is one of a tenacious search for one's roots. Bedell Zalewa found her brothers and sister and even met her biological mother before she passed away. As the youngest of five, she was apparently given up for adoption because her widowed mother was too poor to raise her. The ties she has forged in Greece encourage her to stay there whenever she can. Cardaras, the retired journalist who was adopted in the Chicago area and lived for a long time in California, also always knew that she was of Greek origin. She kept her Greek birth passport, which was originally revoked when she left the country as a baby. - Faces on the street - When she returned to her native country for the first time on a summer vacation in 1972, she remembers looking "at every woman's face" on the street. AFP | Angelos TZORTZINIS "I wondered... if she was my mother," she said. Everything felt familiar to her: "The smells, the atmosphere, I was completely at home." "But it was only when my (adoptive) parents died that I really began to question the first months and years of my life," Cardaras said. Now settled in Athens, she is taking Greek classes and is making progress in understanding her native language. Better access to Greek nationality constitutes a deeply emotional breakthrough for adoptees with fragmented backgrounds. One of them recently shared their experience on social media. "At 12:47 PM Greek time, I received a message announcing that I am now reinstated as a Greek citizen! I am overwhelmed with emotion, thrilled, and on cloud nine!" Stephanie Pazoles wrote on Facebook.
a day ago
- Science
Spiders may have evolved in the ocean before adapting to land, well-preserved fossil reveals
One of the creepiest, crawliest creatures of the Earth may have been swimming before adapting to live on land, new research suggests. Spiders and their arachnid relatives may have actually originated in the sea, according to analysis of an "exquisitely preserved" fossil that lived 500 million years ago. The findings were published Tuesday in the journal Current Biology. Researchers at the University of Arizona completed a detailed analysis of the brain and central nervous system of an extinct animal called Mollisonia symmetrica, according to the study. The species was previously thought to represent an ancestral member of a specific group of arthropods called chelicerates that lived during the Cambrian period -- between 540 and 485 million years ago. Chelicerates were believed to be ancestors to modern-day horseshoe crabs. However, the scientists were surprised to discover that the neural arrangements in Mollisonia's fossilized brain are not organized like those in horseshoe crabs. Instead, they are organized the same way as in modern spiders and their relatives, the researchers said. The anterior part of Mollisonia's body -- the prosoma -- contains a radiating pattern of segmental ganglia that control the movements of five pairs of segmental appendages, the researchers said. In addition, an unsegmented brain extends short nerves to a pair of pincer-like "claws," similar to the fangs of spiders and other arachnids. The decisive feature that demonstrates the fossil was likely an early arachnid is the unique organization of the brain -- a reverse of the front-to-back arrangement found in present-day crustaceans, insects, centipedes and horseshoe crabs, the researchers said. It's as if the brain has been "flipped backwards," which is what is seen in modern spiders," said Nick Strausfeld, a regents professor at the University of Arizona and lead author of the paper, in a statement. This may be a crucial evolutionary development, as studies of existing spider brains suggest that a back-to-front arrangement in the brain provides shortcuts from neuronal control centers to underlying circuits, which control the spider's movements, said Frank Hirth, a reader of evolutionary neuroscience at King's College London and co-author of the paper. The arrangement likely helps the spiders hunt stealthily and dexterity for the spinning of webs. The arachnid brain is "unlike any other brain" on Earth, Strausfeld said. "This is a major step in evolution, which appears to be exclusive to arachnids," Hirth said. Spiders and scorpions have existed for about 400 million years with little change -- dominating the Earth as the most successful group of arthropodan predators. The finding challenges the widely held belief that diversification occurred only after a common ancestor had moved to the shore, according to the study. Previous fossil records appeared to indicate that arachnids lived and diversified exclusively on land. "It is still vigorously debated where and when arachnids first appeared, and what kind of chelicerates were their ancestors, and whether these were marine or semi-aquatic like horseshoe crabs," Strausfeld said. While the Mollisonia outwardly resembles some other early chelicerates from the time period, its body was composed of two parts: a rounded "carapace" in the front and a sturdy segmented trunk ending in a tail-like structure, the analysis found. Some researchers had previously compared its body composition to that of scorpions, but no one had previously claimed that it was anything "more exotic" than a chelicerate. The first creatures to come onto land were likely millipede-like anthropods and other ancestral, insect-like creatures -- an evolutionary branch of crustaceans, Strausfeld said. Early insects and millipedes were likely part of the Mollisonia-like arachnid's daily diet when they adapted to land, he added. The first arachnids on land may have also contributed to the evolution of insect wings, a "critical defense mechanism," Strausfeld said. The Mollisonia's lineage likely gave rise to spiders, scorpions, sun spiders, vinegarroons and whip scorpions, the researchers said.
AsiaOne
a day ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
'I want to be an independent senior': Xiang Yun on ageing positively and not relying on children, Entertainment News
In an ideal world, Xiang Yun wishes to live with her children and grandchildren in her twilight years, but she also knows not to force it. Speaking to AsiaOne on Monday (July 21) while promoting her new drama Where the Heart Belongs, the 64-year-old local veteran actress said: "I told myself that when I am older, I want to be an independent senior and not trouble my children. So, I don't mind living alone." Xiang Yun, who has been married to former actor Edmund Chen since 1989, shares two children, Chen Xi, 34, and 25-year-old Chen Yixin, with him. Chen Xi, who graduated with a master's degree in arts and cultural management from King's College London this January, recently tied the knot with his non-celebrity Japanese girlfriend, nicknamed Mimi. She added she understands that while "kinship brings warmth", everyone is ultimately alone in the end. Planning ahead to age healthily and happy For Xiang Yun, she believes in planning ahead and ageing positively. She revealed she had written her will in her 50s when she followed her mother — who died in 2023 — to do so. "Especially after my parents died, I feel that life in your senior years is not just about living one day at a time till the final day. There is a need to plan ahead, so that we can age healthily and happily. There is a need to get everything ready," she said. She also told us that while she has not put afterlife planning into action, she had briefly spoken to her family about her wishes. Xiang Yun shared: "I told them that I don't prefer prayers after my death. They can just scatter my ashes at sea and probably find a song to remember me by. That's my wish. When they hear this song in the future and think about me, they could tell someone that this song is a memory of me. That's already fulfilling enough. "I feel that everyone is busy with their own life, so a ritual to remember ancestors doesn't need to be elaborate. As long as there is remembrance, I think that's enough. So, I told them not to make it complicated, I just want to keep it simple." In Where the Heart Belongs, Xiang Yun plays Liu Zhen Wanyu, a senior citizen who lives in the fictional I'Deal City where an ageing population and declining marriage and birth rates resulted in the government implementing policies where the younger population could adopt senior citizens as parents. Wanyu, who is a hot-tempered and strong masseur, and Zhong Yilian (Kym Ng) are both adopted by Situ Ziyang (Romeo Tan), a consultant in the Housing and Senior Affairs Board. Both urge Ziyang to adopt another senior, so that they can complete their mahjong team, which leads him to adopting Li Xunkai (Yao Wenlong) eventually. Despite having no blood relations, they discover a sense of harmony in their found family. However, Xunkai later reports Ziyang for adopting seniors for insurance payouts, prompting a police investigation to uncover whether Ziyang's actions are acts of compassion or a calculated facade. Slowing down to experience life Xiang Yun also told us that remaining active is part of her plans to age healthily. She shared: "I feel that it's not healthy to live a lifestyle where you stop doing everything, especially in senior years. For me, I would plan my time to work, for leisure, hobbies and exercising. I also wish to fulfil my goals of doing social work in the future. I am constantly on the lookout for suitable things for me to do next." She had faced a few minor health scares in the past few years, including osteoporosis where she broke her teeth and sprained her back frequently as well as issues with her lymph nodes. These made her more conscious about her health, including watching her diet, exercising for bone health and studying about nutrition. She added that filming this drama has also led her to start going to the gym to work out. She has also slowed down her pace of life, finding opportunities to relax and spend time with family. She told us: "Over the years, I was constantly busy and anxious about work from the beginning till end of the year. But for the past two years, I have been slowing down and going on trips with Edmund to spend time with our son more frequently. "In recent years, I have spent more time on longer trips and taken the time to experience it fully. Unlike in the past where I would frequently feel anxious about going on overseas trips and returning to work quickly, which tired me out." Letting go of presumptions about being a senior Xiang Yun also believes in having a positive mindset and letting go of presumptions about being a senior. "I told myself that I wouldn't want to give others too much trouble in the future. Because seniors now are different from the past. We are exposed to different things, so I feel that we should be more cheerful and happier. "Times are different now... The younger generation view things differently and we may even have to learn from them sometimes. We should let go of beliefs about seniority, so that it's easier to get along with the younger generation." She also believed that it is important for senior citizens not to wallow in self-pity, but to remain positive and find friends to spend time with: "Everyone must face life and death, but we have a choice to decide on how we want to live." Where the Heart Belongs will be available on demand for free on Mewatch from July 28 and premieres on Channel 8 on July 31, airing on weekdays at 9pm. [[nid:720527]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
As Gaza hunger crisis deepens, where do truce talks stand?
DOHA: Mediators have been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas negotiators since July 6 as they scramble to end nearly two years of war in Gaza where fears of mass starvation are growing. Through 21 months of fighting both sides have clung to long-held positions preventing two short-lived truces being converted into a lasting ceasefire. The stakes are higher now with growing numbers of malnutrition deaths in the Palestinian territory casting a spotlight Israel's refusal to allow in more aid. With pressure for a breakthrough mounting, Washington said top envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Europe this week for talks on a Gaza ceasefire and aid corridor. US officials said he might head on to the Middle East. As the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates drastically, are the two sides closer to reaching an agreement? After more than two weeks of back and forth, efforts by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States are at a standstill. The proposal on the table involves a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas insists any agreement must include guarantees for a lasting end to the war. Israel rejects any such guarantees, insisting that Hamas must give up its capacity to fight or govern as a prerequisite for peace. "The cold hard truth is that for domestic political considerations neither (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu nor Hamas leaders in Gaza have an interest in seeing a swift outcome and a comprehensive ceasefire," said Karim Bitar, a lecturer in Middle Eastern studies at Paris's Sciences Po university. "Both would have to answer serious questions from their own constituencies," he added. While Israeli officials have said they are open to compromise, troops have expanded their operations this week into areas of Gaza that had largely been spared any ground offensives since the war began in October 2023. Israeli media have reported that Hamas negotiators in Doha have been unable to communicate directly with the military leadership in Gaza to approve Israeli pullback maps. Logistical issues compound existing rifts within the militant group. There are "technical aspects which are quite difficult to overcome because there is a growing disconnect between Hamas leadership in Gaza and the negotiators in Doha," Bitar said. For Andreas Krieg, a Middle East analyst at King's College London, "the talks are technically progressing, but in practical terms, they are approaching a stalemate." "What is on the table now is effectively just another prisoner swap deal, not a real ceasefire deal," he said. Hamas faces a dilemma: it is under pressure to secure some Israeli concessions but "on the other hand, it faces an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation." "The leadership may be debating how far it can compromise without appearing to surrender politically," he said. More than two million people in Gaza are facing severe food shortages, with more than 100 NGOs warning of "mass starvation." On Tuesday, the head of Gaza's largest hospital said 21 children died of malnutrition and starvation in three days. "Humanitarian pressure is mounting fast," Krieg said, with Hamas facing "rising desperation among the population, which could force it to accept an interim deal to alleviate suffering." But even if Hamas makes concessions, Israel has the upper hand and there can be no lasting ceasefire unless it wants one. "Unless the United States and Qatar... increase significantly their pressure on Israel, I am afraid that this round of negotiations will fail like the previous rounds," Bitar said.
