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Healthwise is a regular column written especially for
laterlife.com members and visitors. Welcome to healthwise
102.
For previous articles in the healthwise series
visit
'more healthwise'
NEWS AND VIEWS
POTENTIAL TO BRING BACK HEARING
Nine million people are classified as deaf or hard of hearing in the UK. Now a ground breaking gene therapy technique has shown the way for deaf people to have their hearing restored. Scientists have been able to trigger the growth of new hair cells in the inner ear which are responsible for picking up sound vibrations.
The scientists carried out tests on mice at the Oregon Hearing Research Centre in Portland, America, which resulted in the growth of new hair cells to detect noise.
Dr Mark Downs of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People said there was a long way to go but it was an exciting development.
NEW SUPER FOOD
Most of us know about pomegranates, blueberries, acai and all the other super foods acclaimed by various experts. Now a new super food is about to hit the British shops.
The aronia berry, a black fruit from North America, is said to have three times more antioxidants than blueberries and are high in vitamin B and C plus folic acid. The bad news is that, unlike blueberries, the aronia berry is quite tart and not very pleasant to eat on its own.
INJECTION FREE DIABETES
By 2025 there may be as many as four million sufferers of diabetes in the UK.
There is now some good news from a team from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in America. It has found a way to convert exocrine cells into functioning beta cells. Both these cells are in the pancreas but the vital insulin needed to keep us healthy is only produced by the beta cells. The scientists say the development give hope that one day these insulin producing beta cells could be injected into diabetics so that their bodies can produce once again the insulin they need.
SMILES FOR GRANDPARENTS
The Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at Birkbeck College in London say that babies as young as four months can recognize emotions such as smiles in people’s faces.
The study also showed that babies could pick up other demonstrative signals such as eye brows being raised.
Anyone who has been a parent will probably endorse the fact that young babies respond to facial signs, but it is good to get official endorsement that smiling will definitely be picked up as a sign of friendship by your grandchild.
If
in any doubt about any of the information covered in healthwise articles and
it's relevance for you, consult your GP.
IN THE PREVIOUS EDITION
TEST COMING TO PREDICT YOUR RISK OF BLINDNESS
Macular Degeneration (AMD) is one of the most feared problems as one grows older.
REPAIRING TEETH A NATURAL WAY
A natural way to repair holes in teeth has been developed by the Leeds Dental Institute.
PROVED – OLDER PEOPLE NEED LESS SLEEP!
New research has shown that older people really do need less sleep than younger people.
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