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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Scientists pick up massive surge in painful gut disorder - and they think it's linked to a virus that has touched almost everyone's life
A new study has revealed a post-pandemic surge in gut-brain related disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The researchers compared data from the UK and US before the pandemic in 2017, and after the pandemic in 2023. They found a sharp 28 per cent increase from 4.7 to six per cent in cases of IBS which can cause stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhoea. This troublesome condition is classified as a gut-brain interaction disorder because it is rooted in problems with the gut communicating with the brain. There was also a 44 per cent rise from 8.3 to 11.9 per cent in functional dyspepsia—which causes stomach aches, bloating and premature feeling of fullness. Those with Long Covid—fatigue, breathlessness and muscle weakness triggered by the virus—were significantly more likely to have a gut-brain disorder. Worryingly those with the debilitating condition Long Covid also reported worse anxiety, depression and quality of life. Their recent findings were published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. It is estimated that since the pandemic began, nearly two million people in the UK have experienced Long Covid. This includes 1.3 million people with symptoms lasting for more than a year and 762,000 with symptoms lasting more than two years. Earlier this year, experts said they finally discovered the cause of Long Covid—and it is linked to dementia. Those suffering from Long Covid have suffered unique changes to their brains which can make it harder to think and speak. The previous study found they have fewer protective proteins in their brains and higher levels of inflammation—both of which have been linked to dementia. Long Covid patients also perform worse in language tests, such as finding the right word or understanding what certain words mean, which can be signs of brain fog. The study suggested, for the first time, that damage to the brain, rather than a ramped up immune system, causes the symptoms of Long Covid. Though the study included just 17 people, the researchers planned to use the findings to launch larger-scale studies to find the causes of Long Covid. The recent findings also follow a warning from experts that the virus may also dramatically raise the risk of dementia. Previously, US researchers found those suffering from Long Covid may be five times more likely to get the memory-robbing illness. Dr Gabriel de Erausquin, a neurologist at University of Texas Health San Antonio is exploring the link. The existing studies show those over 57 who've suffered Long Covid 'have the profile of a person with very early Alzheimer's', he told the Wall Street Journal. What is Long Covid? According to the NHS, if someone continues to have symptoms 12 weeks after being infected, they may be suffering from Long Covid. The most common symptoms include: Extreme tiredness (fatigue) Feeling short of breath Memory and concentration difficulties i.e. 'brain fog' Dizziness Heart palpitations Muscle aches and joint pains However, others also include:
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Exciting' new ‘all-over' scan can detect tiny traces of cancer anywhere in the body
SCIENTISTS have discovered a new way to track blood cancer, even when traditional tests miss it. A whole-body MRI scan can detect tiny traces of myeloma, a deadly blood cancer, and could transform how patients are monitored, experts say. 3 3 The test is radiation-free and can flag hidden cancer cells in the body. This is the case even when blood tests, bone marrow biopsies and CT scans show no signs of disease. Experts said that this scanning technique gives doctors an early warning of relapse and help guide future treatment plans. Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is a type of blood cancer that develops from plasma cells in the bone marrow. Around 6,200 people are diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK. Charity Myeloma UK estimates that there are around 33,000 people living with myeloma in the UK. It can affect many parts of the body and is not curable, but treatment can keep it under control. The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, trialled the technique on 70 patients undergoing stem cell transplants. They were all given a whole-body MRI before and after the treatment. Writing in the Blood Cancer Journal, experts said that one in three patients had signs of residual disease on whole-body MRI after treatment - which can be given to patients without the use of radiation. Overall survival was also significantly shorter in those with positive MRI findings. What is myeloma? The Royal Marsden has already adopted the whole-body image technique and it could help shape cancer care for patients around the country in the future. One patient under the treatment of the hospital described how the scanning technique "extended his life" and enabled him to "continue serving" the country. Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan, chief fire officer for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, was diagnosed with myeloma in 2009 while serving in the RAF. He has since relapsed twice, but thanks to whole-body MRI scans, his cancer was detected much earlier than would have been possible with a traditional CT scan. The father of three, 57, said: "With the constant threat of relapse, myeloma patients are in a long-term mental battle with this insidious disease. "However, being part of the whole-body MRI scan study at the Royal Marsden allowed my cancer to be closely watched and resulted in me being treated sooner than I would have been under normal protocols. 3 "This not only extended my life but after diagnosis, I returned to flying jets and to active operational duties. "I would eventually not be allowed to fly on medical grounds due to myeloma but paved the way to establishing the first training programme of Ukrainian forces in 2015 and I was called upon to run Nato air operations after the invasion of Ukraine. "This cutting-edge treatment not only extended my life but allowed me to continue serving my country." The 10 red flag symptoms of myeloma Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that occurs in the bone marrow. Despite being the third most common type of blood cancer, myeloma is difficult to detect as symptoms are often linked to general ageing or minor conditions. While it is incurable, myeloma is treatable in the majority of cases. Treatment can lead to periods of remission but the cancer will inevitably come back. Symptoms of myeloma: Persistent or unexplained pain for more than four to six weeks, particularly in the back or ribs Tiredness that doesn't improve with rest (fatigue) Frequent or hard-to-clear infections Easily broken bones or unexpected fractures Experiencing either frequent urination or minimal to no urination Swollen legs or abdomen Nosebleeds or unexplained bleeding or bruising Unexplained weight loss Numbness in the feet, hands, or legs Unexplained shortness of breath Professor Christina Messiou from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This study shows that whole-body MRI gives us valuable information about how well the myeloma has responded to treatment that other tests may miss. "It's exciting that we now have a standardised, non-invasive imaging method that can be used across cancer centres. "Whole-body MRI doesn't involve radiation or intravenous injections, which is important for patients who may require lifelong monitoring. "This is an important step towards smarter and kinder precision diagnostics for patients with cancer" Professor Martin Kaiser, also from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, added: "Access to this gold-standard precision imaging with whole-body MRI has revolutionised care for myeloma patients. "As the treatment options for myeloma increase and factors such as disease distribution across the body are increasingly understood as important to treatment response, the relevance of the whole-body MRI for personalising treatment will only increase over time."
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Secrets of hibernating animals could unlock new Alzheimer's treatments
Recent studies indicate that the remarkable abilities of hibernating animals, such as avoiding muscle and nerve decay and maintaining health despite significant weight changes, are also present in human DNA. These animals demonstrate recovery from symptoms akin to those observed in human conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer's, and stroke upon emerging from hibernation. The research highlights the 'fat mass and obesity locus' (FTO) gene cluster, which regulates adjacent genes to control metabolism and weight in hibernators. Experiments involving mutations to hibernator-specific gene regions in mice demonstrated alterations in their metabolism, weight gain, and recovery from a hibernation-like state. Scientists suggest that identifying and understanding these genetic control switches could pave the way for new treatments for diabetes, Alzheimer's, and other age-related diseases in humans.
