The Art of Healing

There is a large proportion of our population who are wanting to age well. Dementia particularly is of concern to many, and with recent research pointing to a doubling of diagnoses by 2025, it was good to find new research on how a healthy diet can slow down dementia risk. It was a bit of a wake-up call to read about the opioid use in Australian care homes being 30 times higher than Japan, and good news that the government is putting $4m into shining the light on falls prevention in homes. But … as Hayley West says, we do need to start facing and talking more about death, and in her article she enlightens us about different methods of burial that will be coming to Australia. Similarly, the article by Jennifer O’Brien; Precious Time, is an example of how we can make more considered decisions towards the end of our lives. The article on why having a purpose is good for you can’t be overestimated, along with making sure you are drinking enough water every day (many of us aren’t). Sandra Surace has contributed an important piece on wellness washing, so we can understand the difference between giving wellness lip-service or really integrating it into strategic planning. And whilst we all know probiotics and prebiotics are the best foods we can eat, I don’t think we can ever over-emphasise this with seven ways we can include them in our diets every day. And I hope you enjoy the extract from Dr Michael Mosley’s latest book on sleep. Lots more in this issue including our popular book reviews and recipes. Enjoy and stay warm over Winter!

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR'S NOTE

Almost One-In-Five Suffering From Long COVID • A study of more than 11,000 Australians who tested positive to COVID-19 in 2022 has revealed almost one-in-five were still experiencing ongoing symptoms three months after the initial diagnosis.

State Of The World Report On Mental Health Post COVID • The expectation may have been that once the lockdowns lifted and the threat of COVID-19 subsided that our collective mental health would begin a recovery towards its pre-pandemic levels. However, recent data from 71 countries suggests otherwise.

PFAS FOREVER CHEMICALS Above Drinking Water Level Guidelines In Global Source • We’re likely underestimating the future impact of PFAS in the environment, a UNSW Sydney-led study shows.

ULTRASOUND THERAPY Shows Promise As A Treatment for Alzheimer's • University of Queensland researchers have found targeting amyloid plaque in the brain is not essential for ultrasound to deliver cognitive improvement in neurodegenerative disorders.

Happiness Takes Practise • Happiness can be learned according to new research from the University of Bristol. Their recent follow-up study indicates that initial wellbeing boosts are short-lived unless habits such as gratitude, exercise, meditation or journaling are maintained over the long-term.

Social Media Fuels Eating Disorders • Eating disorders are surging at an alarming rate. Emergency room visits for adolescent girls struggling with conditions such as anorexia or bulimia doubled from 2019 to 2021 (in the U.S.), according to the CDC. Meanwhile, discussions about eating disorders and self-harm on X, formerly Twitter, have quintupled.

Dementia Prevalence To Almost Double Over 30 Years • Recent figures released by Dementia Australia show the number of people with dementia is expected to nearly double by 2054.

Healthy Diet Slows Ageing and Lowers Dementia Risk • A healthier diet is associated with a reduced dementia risk and slower pace of ageing, according to a new study.

$4m Study To Transform Falls Prevention • Elderly Australians could have their risk of a potentially fatal fall reduced by up to 40 per cent if a $4 million James Cook University-led study proves successful.

Study Reveals Cannabis Extract Can Kill Melanoma Cells • A cannabis...