Health & Wellbeing

Why do some people naturally make it to the ripe old age of 100 while remaining free of illness or disease? A new study may have an answer to that question, and the bottom line is that it has to do with what’s in our gut.

A new study has found that consuming a widely available artificial sweetener produces a chemical that is damaging to DNA. The findings raise concerns about whether the sweetener is a contributing factor to a number of health problems.

We take soap for granted but in some developing countries it is an unaffordable luxury. Researchers have developed a single-use, biodegradable soap-on-a-tab that may improve public health in areas that don't have access to running water.

Good sleep and good nutrition are the cornerstones of good health. We know how diet can affect general health, but what effect does what we eat have on how well we sleep? A new study has looked at how diet can directly affect sleep quality.

We all know fruit and vegetables are good for our overall health. But in a first-of-its-kind multi-year study, researchers have shown that flavanols found in these foods are tied to brain function, and a deficiency may drive age-related memory loss.

Researchers have developed a self-administered smartphone app to screen for Alzheimer’s disease by analyzing speech patterns. With subtle speech disturbances being an early indicator, this may be an easy way to obtain a diagnosis quicker.

Researchers have demonstrated how effective plants are at ridding the air in your home, school, or workplace of toxic, potentially cancer-causing pollutants, providing a sustainable, low-cost way of ensuring that the air you breathe is cleaner.

Researchers have found that showing patients images of plaque buildup in their arteries not only educates them but motivates them to address the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, reducing bad cholesterol and blood pressure.

Globally, micro- and nanoplastics and plastic additives are widespread across our food supply. While we have an understanding of how they get there, there remains a massive gap in what we know about their effects on our health.

Chronic muscle loss doesn't simply make a person physically weaker. Among other things, it increases the risk of serious falls … and even death. A new urine test, however, could allow it to be detected earlier than ever before.

Even though vegan diets consistently emerge as a healthy way to eat, there are certain nutrients that are difficult to get without consuming animal products. Research has now found that two of them are produced by nursing vegan mothers, regardless.

Researchers have developed an algorithm that uses genetic markers to predict whether a type 2 diabetic will develop kidney disease years in advance, offering early treatment of this common and serious - but preventable - complication.

Heart attack symptoms are sometimes similar to other non-heart-related conditions. UK researchers have used machine learning to develop a fast, highly accurate tool for helping doctors diagnose the potentially fatal condition.

Researchers have developed a tool that rapidly detects bacteria in saliva using SHERLOCK, the evolution of CRISPR. You may soon be leaving the dentist with comprehensive information about the health of your mouth as well as your overall health.

We've recently heard about several experimental devices that monitor the pressure in glaucoma patients' eyes. The miLens contact lens – which is the latest to cross our radar – has just completed clinical trials, and could be available by next year.