Health Report

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Health news—for Medicare, and for psilocybin and MDMA | kilo creep and knee osteoarthritis | financial reward for weight loss | making healthy weight possible for a population Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

The Strengthening Medicare Report was released recently, and the key recommendations include changes to the digital health environment; working to scope of practice; and modernising My Health Record.

Psilocybin and MDMA are now approved as treatments for depression and MDMA—with caveats. And still need co-ordination between clinicians and manufacturers (the TGA has not approved or registered specific psilocybin or MDMA medications).

A financial reward for obese people to achieve sustainable weight loss has proved successful—but the general health environment must also be considered.

How to make healthy weight work for a whole population and working on how food is presented and for which particular age groups—so a healthy choice can be made

ADHD and access to care | heart transplant tech | sarcoma and heritability Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

The prescription rate for medications to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rose in recent years but was still below what's thought to be the extent of the condition.

Organ donation is one of the great miracles of our time, but that's not to say it's easy. To be viable, a heart needs to be transplanted within four or five hours, and this is a huge logistical challenge for a country the size of Australia.

The Garvan Institute has studied the combination of genetic profile alongside family history of people with cancers called sarcomas, and found genes to aid early diagnosis.

Safety of generic medicines in Australia | Intermittent fasting | Keeping track of mental well-being Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

Sun Pharmaceuticals is a supplier of generic medications and they're in hot water about possible violations of the manufacturing process at their facility in Gujarat, India.

Fasting diets like the 5:2 or the 16/8 have become very popular. While there's lots of evidence for the benefits of the 5:2 diet in animals, there's hasn't been much in humans. The results are not out from a trial of intermittent fasting in overweight men and women.

One of the biggest puzzles for humans is the brain, or more precisely, the minds. It's a bit of a mystery but still possible to learn something about how to keep it in good order.

Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

What do royals die of—and how have their deaths shaped history? Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Royals have a tendency to change the course of history — in life and in death.

From King George III's apparent madness, to Queen Victoria's genetic legacy, the Health Report takes a look back at the illnesses (and deaths) that have shaped the world.

Note that the change of broadcast time mentioned at the end of the program refers to our live program on Mondays.

Mild cognitive impairment | Alzheimer's | ASMR | atrial fibrilation Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) affects 7 or 8 per cent of people in their 60s, and one in four people in their 80s. In an ageing population the number of those with mild cognitive impairment will increase.

There's a new perspective on the cause and progress of Alzheimer's disease. Are we doing the right thing by removing accumulated amyloid protein from the brains of people with it?

Some people experience a tingly feeling when they hear certain noises and this feeling might be a useful intervention for people with anxiety.

Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia characterised by a rapid and irregular heartbeat. There is increasing evidence that relaxation methods like yoga and meditation can help manage the condition.

Hosts:

Dr Norman Swan

Tegan Taylor

The cancer risks that run through generations Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

More than two decades ago a major milestone in cancer research was reached with the discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Inherited mutations to these genes can dramatically increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. The discovery opened up new ways of knowing who is at risk of cancer, how to treat the cancer, and even how to prevent it happening in the first place. This moving feature describes what this genetic information means for families who have seen loved ones endure sometimes multiple cancers—and it explains the emerging frontier in medicine trying to change that.

Guests:

Michelle Brady

Anna Murphy

Dr Mark Pinese, Team Leader Personalised Medicine, Children’s Cancer Institute

A/Prof Paul James, Clinical Geneticist and Director, Familial Cancer Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital

Dr Laura Forrest, Senior Research Fellow and Genetic Counsellor, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Host: Dr Norman Swan

Interviewer and Producer: Sarah Sedghi

Ventilation | Wearables | Telomeres Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

With COVID we've focused on vaccines and masks but there is more we can do, and the situation parallels a public health revolution from the mid-1800s.

If you're a modern human you likely carry a bit of tech on you to track how physically active you are. But how can we be sure it's really promoting activity?

Telomeres are small 'caps' on the ends of your chromosomes—the length of telomeres is seen as an indicator of how fast we age. How accurate could they be?

Hosts: Tegan Taylor and Dr Norman Swan

The lowdown on longevity Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

It's expected now that on the whole we will live longer, but individuals want to know how to spend a longer life in good health—and to set a good foundation.

This program was first heard on 25 April, 2022

Dr Norman Swan's book was published in July 2022.

Guest:

Prof Luigi FontanaLeonard P Ullman Chair in Translational Metabolic HealthDirector, Healthy Longevity Research and Clinical ProgramCharles Perkins Centre | Sydney Medical School (Central Clinical School)Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney

Host: Dr Norman Swan

Genes, macular degeneration, and Alzheimer's disease | Glaucoma | Blood pressure control Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

A new study has found a genetic link between macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease—with implications for drug development.

The wellness space often refers to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide—or NAD. It's found in products promoting longevity—so may give you pause for thought—but shows promising results for human eyesight.

High blood pressure is one of the most toxic risk factors for heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, dementia, and probably premature ageing—so it's incredibly important to get blood pressure under control.

Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Omega 3 fatty acid supplements in pregnancy | The ageing process and autophagy | Dark Winter: a book about biological attacks, accidents, and COVID-19 Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

Fish oil supplements—aka omega 3 fatty acids—are taken by some women during pregnancy. What are the benefits, and who gets them?

Research into ageing has revealed a number of processes controlling its rate. Autophagy helps cells do a clean up. Researchers are wondering if it could be manipulated.

Is it possible to say whether a pandemic is a natural spillover from an animal, or an accidental release from a lab? In her new book, Dark Winter, Professor Raina MacIntyre warns that scientists may not be the people to identify the source of pandemics—rather that Intelligence and law enforcement services could have a better toolkit.

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