The Art of Healing

Our news and research from the health & wellness sector in this issue reveals a lot: ovarian cancer is now the fastest growing cancer in Australia, with incidence rising fast in the 25-44 year old age group; ‘forever chemicals’ have now been found in mother’s blood; and the long term impacts of eating disorders are serious. But while the bad news is hard to take, we always balance this with good news: fasting shows dynamic change to human brains; playing and listening to music positively impacts dementia risk; and ‘superager’ brains defy cognitive decline. So lots of interesting reading for you. Our Feature this issue is on Ageing, Beauty and Skincare, with some good news here as well – 60 may be when many of us peak. We include some of the latest stats on aesthetic medicine from around the world; and share some problematic and positive beauty hacks. Feature articles includes how ultra-processed foods are taking over our diets, and in our interview/Q&A with Dr Joshua Pate, an Australian expert and researcher on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health, we look into the differences between a search on Google, AI and chatbots; the pros and cons of AI in health, and just how fast generative technology is moving. In our Healing section, we share some interesting research on how different classes talk with each other, and why Telepsychology may work for many people with mental health issues. And of course our usual Book Reviews – including our Faves, and our recipes – including the yummy Frosted Hummingbird Cake. Enjoy!

The Art of Healing

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR’S NOTE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Report Reveals Australia’s Fastest-Growing Women’s Cancer • Uterine cancers have become Australia’s fastest-growing women’s cancer, with incidence doubling over the past 25 years and projected to continue to surge. Without immediate action, more than 44,000 women are expected to be diagnosed by 2035, and 8,900 will lose their lives to the disease.

Better Funding Needed for Chronic Conditions • The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has stressed that a public health system which forces patients with complex or chronic conditions to pay-out-of-pocket for longer consultations can’t claim to offer universal coverage, and has urged governments to protect patients from financial hardship.

Long Term Impacts of Eating Disorders Are Serious • Eating disorders can take a serious toll on the body, prompting experts to call for overlooked long-term consequences to be addressed by healthcare services.

Fasting Shows Dymanic Changes to Human Brains • Scientists looking to tackle our ongoing obesity crisis have made an important discovery: intermittent calorie restriction leads to significant changes in both the gut and the brain.

Is Sustainable Development Research Really Focused on Wellbeing? • For decades, progress on the United Nations’ sustainability agenda has been tallied in economic terms - GDP growth, productivity, investments. But how well does this consider wellbeing and the way people actually feel?

Forever Chemicals Found in Mother’s Blood • ’Forever chemicals’s already have a shocking reputation and now new research has linked these substances to brain changes in children born to mothers exposed to common PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

Music Positively Impacts Dementia Risk • Listening or playing music into old age could reduce the risk of dementia by almost 40 percent, a new study has found.

‘Superager’ Brains Defy Cognitive Decline • Superagers retain sharp minds into their 80s and beyond, defying the idea that cognitive decline is inevitable as we age. A 25-year study of these enviable few now reveals some of what’s special about their underlying neurology.

Medications Can Harm The Microbiome

Common Heartburn and Blood Pressure Medicines Linked to Adverse...