Climate change could raise child stunting cases in South Asia

Hot and humid conditions driven by climate change could increase cases of child stunting in South Asia by over three million by 2050, says a study conducted by the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA (UCSB).

UCSB researchers examined how exposure to extremely hot, humid conditions during pregnancy impacts children’s health in this populous region. ‘Height-for-age’ — a commonly used indicator for children under five — was analysed. The study published in the journal Science found that humidity worsens impact of exposure to heat because it prevents pregnant women from cooling down. “At the beginning of pregnancy, the foetus is very vulnerable, while at the end of pregnancy, the mother is vulnerable. Exposure to hot, humid conditions in utero is dangerous for child health, and more dangerous than just hot temperatures,” says lead author Katie McMahon, a doctoral student.

Adds Kathy Baylis, a professor in the department of geography at UCSB: “Exposure during the third trimester revealed that health outcomes due to heat and humidity were about four times worse than those from heat alone with the potential to increase stunting in South Asia by over three million children by 2050.

Alzheimer’s may be reversible, say researchers

In a major scientific advance, US researchers have shown in animal studies that Alzheimer’s disease may be reversible, challenging the long-held belief that the condition is irreversible. For more than a century, Alzheimer’s has been viewed as a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no possibility of recovery.

Published in Cell Reports Medicine, the study used multiple preclinical mouse models and analyses of human Alzheimer’s brain tissue. Researchers found that restoring a healthy balance of NAD — a key molecule involved in cellular energy — prevents and reverses Alzheimer’s-related damage.

“We are encouraged by the results,” says Andrew A. Pieper, senior author of the study and Director of the Brain Health Medicines Center at the Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals, Ohio (USA). “Restoring the brain’s energy balance led to pathological and functional recovery in mice with advanced Alzheimer’s. ”

One in three adolescents use alcohol or tobacco

One in three adolescents in India is at risk of developing health issues due to alcohol or tobacco usage, says a recent research study conducted by Bengaluru’s St. John’s Medical College, Christ University, and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.

The study, which surveyed 4,093 students from pre-university, undergrad, and higher secondary institutions in Bengaluru, reveals that 33 percent reported consuming alcohol and 18 percent used tobacco — at rates significantly higher than national and Karnataka averages. The median age for starting alcohol consumption was 17 years, with some beginning as early as eight, far below the legal drinking age of 18.

“Daily alcohol consumption among underage students is of special concern. Given the long-term health risks and addictive potential of these substances, there is a need for timely interventions beginning at school and early college levels, supported by parents and the wider community,” says the study.

80-85 percent of patients don’t receive timely psychiatric care

Four in five Indians suffering psychiatric disorders don’t receive timely or adequate treatment, leaving millions without professional care, indicate estimates of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS). Mental health experts say 80-85 percent of Indians with mental illness remain outside the formal healthcare system despite improved treatment and awareness.

Similarly, the National Mental Health Survey reports that over 85 percent of Indians with common mental disorders don’t seek or receive care, and more than 70 percent of people with mental illness globally, lack access to trained care.

“Mental illnesses are among the most treatable health conditions if identified early. Yet the fact that over 80 percent of patients don’t receive timely psychiatric care reflects a social, economic, and developmental issue that demands urgent national attention,” says Dr. Savita Malhotra, president of IPS.