About 400,000 Australians are living with dementia and most of them have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. According to the National Institute on Aging, one of...
‘Smart drugs’ not so smart when it comes to complex problems Recent reports suggest stimulant drugs, usually used to treat ADHD are being taken by students and employees to increase their academic and work productivity. These drugs include methylphenidate,...
MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to strengthen the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner, and primary care teams. It zeroes in on a crucial aspect of our healthcare system, continuity of care –...
Social prescribing is the practice where health professionals, including GPs, have the resources and infrastructure to refer and/or link patients to a range of local, non-clinical social services, or even social activities groups – in a bid to address the social...
Breastfeeding is a natural way for a mother to feed her baby and it provides the nutrition a baby needs during their first 6 months. However, there are a range of obstacles that can make it hard – everything from parental exhaustion to lack of knowledge and even, in...
Breast cancer has several risk factors, in particular age and genetics. Drinking alcohol is also a significant risk factor but evidence suggests that some women aren’t aware of it. Considering a rising prevalence of risky drinking among middle-aged and older women,...
As we know, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a huge disparity in health outcomes compared to non-Indigenous Australians. In fact, the Department of Health highlights that the burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is 2.3...
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. According to Cancer Council NSW, about two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70. GPs play a critical role in skin cancer treatment –...
In times of emergency, like during a pandemic, getting accurate information and making informed decisions is crucial. But how do people learn about vaccines and share their experiences with others? A recent study conducted in Australia investigated how adults who were...
The treatment options which balance harm against good with men diagnosed with prostate cancer after prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening continue to be a huge debate. Now a major new study from the UK sheds light on the different paths available to men. In the...
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in the headlines over recent months but its impact on healthcare is already being felt – with some studies finding impressive results for AI programs trained to spot skin cancer, diagnose brain tumours mid-operation, and interpret...
Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are surging in the community Doctors are urging people to get immunised against the flu, especially the vulnerable and pregnant mothers, amid growing concerns that vaccination rates have plummeted, and with the start of...
