News

Daily digest April 16 2015

Missed the news? Read our summary of the latest health stories here

Snoring could be an early warning of Alzheimer’s

Regularly snoring at night could be a sign that you are at risk of early onset dementia, say scientists.

A study has found that people with sleep apnoea - a condition in which airways are obstructed - suffer from cognitive decline on average ten years earlier than their peers.

The researchers from New York University also discovered evidence that treatments for sleep apnoea could slow the onset of dementia.

More than 2,000 people were involved in the study, which looked at sleeping patterns and the age at which the first signs of cognitive decline occurred.

(£) Read more on the Times website: click here

One thousand troops stricken by MoD’s anti-malaria drug

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been accused of knowingly risking the mental health of its own soldiers after new figures showed that nearly 1,000 British servicemen and women have required psychiatric treatment after taking a discredited anti-malarial drug.

Psychosis, suicidal thoughts, depression and hallucinations are among the mental-health problems associated with Lariam, also known as mefloquine.

But the MoD has rejected all appeals to stop giving the drug to troops posted overseas - to the mounting fury of relatives, politicians and retired military figures who fear it could be responsible for an epidemic of psychiatric illness in Britain’s Armed Forces.

Read more on the Independent website: click here

Women are more likely to have a heart attack after divorce than men

Women who divorce have a higher risk of a heart attack than their former husbands, research warns.

Marrying again does little to cut the odds for ex-wives while, in contrast, it restores a man’s heart health.

The large-scale study, carried out by researchers at Duke University, North Carolina, said women may find it harder to get over the psychological pain of their first marriage failing.

It is thought this puts the body under long-term stress which, in turn, takes a potentially deadly toll on the heart.

Read more on the Daily Mail website: click here