Study suggests long-term Covid symptoms could be rare in school-age children
Less than one in 20 COVID-positive children who are still experiencing symptoms are symptomatic beyond four weeks.
It is one of the first studies to offer a detailed description of COVID illness in symptomatic school-aged children suggesting that long term symptoms are rare in this age group. It is published in the journal, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. The study consisted of data on 1,734 children aged between five and seventeen years old. Researchers found that the children’s symptoms lasted for five days in the younger age group (five to eleven) and seven days in older children (twelve to seventeen).
Study: Could exposure to air pollution be linked to increased dementia risk?
By comparing data from two studies, researchers have identified a potential link between air pollution and dementia.
The data was compiled from two large, long-running studies in the Puget Sound region. One study began in the late 1970s examining air pollution and the other began in 1994 analysing risk factors for dementia.The study
A small increase in fine particle pollution levels was detected (PM2.5 or particle matter 2.5 micrometres or smaller) at specific addresses in the Seattle area. This was associated with a greater risk for dementia for those living in that area.
NHS hospitals in North Midlands remember colleagues lost to COVID with memory trees
Reflective gardens and ‘memory trees’ installed at hospitals in the North Midlands to mark the death of colleagues and loved ones during COVID.
The tree contains the names of those who have died in the past year. The reflective gardens will offer staff at Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, and County Hospital in Stafford, a place to spend their breaks in quiet contemplation. Five staff members have passed away due to COVID-19 and their names have been engraved on the commemorative trees.
Could our driving help to diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease?
Researchers have combined Global Positioning System-based (GPS) with AI to detect early-onset Alzheimer’s in drivers, revealing a high level of accuracy in diagnosis.
The DRIVES Study at Washington University in St. Louis, led by Catherine Roe and Ganesh Babulal and funded by the National Institute on Aging. They proposed that those who had been diagnosed would make different decisions when driving in comparison to those without the disease. Alzheimer drivers may drive for shorter periods of time, stick to commonly used routes, travel less at night and make abrupt changes to their driving. AI has the advantage of being able to read from large amounts of cases and diagnoses without bias or judgement. It is thought that this could lead to more correct diagnosis.
Footballers’ position and length of career could increase dementia risk – study
A landmark study on footballers from the University of Glasgow revealed that goalkeepers only suffer dementia as much as the general public but defenders are five times more likely to be diagnosed.
The research analysed the health records of around 8000 former professional footballers in Scotland. It found that outfield players were almost four times as likely as ordinary members of the public. It also discovered that defenders develop dementia later in life at a rate of five times the general public.
The results did not vary depending on the era that the footballers played in. The study included data on players who played in 1930 all the way to the 1990s. This shows there has been no change to the risk of neurodegenerative disease despite changes to technology and head injury management over decades.
