Early menopause and diabetes
Type 2 diabetes affects about a tenth of all adults globally. Studies have typically focused on white men, but we know women may have unique risk factors for and predispositions towards type 2 diabetes – including menopause. Recent research at the University of...
Processed foods and depression
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 2.1 million Australians, or 9.3 per cent of our population, are suffering from some form of depression. A growing body of research indicates that what we eat plays a role in determining our risk of depression. While...
Non drug treatments for both osteoarthritis pain and depression
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, nearly half of Australians of all ages (46.6%) had one or more chronic condition, and almost one in five (18.6%) had two or more. Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, and psychological issues like depression and...
Cuff size and the accuracy of automated blood pressure readings
A blood pressure reading is a critical indicator of risk for stroke, heart disease and dementia. But what is the effect of using a standard size blood pressure (BP) cuff regardless of an individual’s mid-upper arm circumference on BP readings when using an automated...
Additional COVID-19 vaccine now recommended for vulnerable Australians
COVID-19 is now one of Australia's leading causes of death according to data from the Bureau of Statistics. This is an important reminder for eligible Australians to get a booster shot. All adults can get a booster if it’s been 6 months or longer since their last...
Marriage and money – how cognitive decline affects the household finances
The interactions between ageing, cognition and financial health have been of growing interest to economists and public health researchers. We’re living longer, and that means greater numbers of people will experience cognitive decline. Older adults have major...
Direct-to-consumer egg-timer tests make misleading marketing claims
The egg-timer test, known clinically as anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) testing, is marketed to the public as a way of testing fertility for women but that in fact is exactly what it does not do. AMH is linked to the number of egg sacs in a woman’s ovaries – a proxy for...
What causes low testosterone?
Low testosterone is linked to worse health outcomes among older men, especially in the areas of diabetes, dementia and mortality. But the scientific literature is still not clear on whether diminishing levels of testosterone are just due to ageing itself, or if the...
Australian researchers call for new definition of menopause
For many women – and some transgender men and non-binary individuals, menopause marks a significant life stage, usually occurring after midlife. While the end of menstrual cycles is a common marker, experiences and symptoms vary widely. While menopause doesn’t in...
Getting started with MyMedicare patient registration
MyMedicare is now open for voluntary registration to Australians with a valid Medicare card or a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Veteran card. A practice must be registered in MyMedicare before a patient can start their own registration. There are multiple ways...
Navigating MyMedicare: What you can do now to prepare
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 –...
Is the quality of sleep more important than quantity
We have often heard that an adult needs between seven and nine hours sleep a night to feel properly refreshed and to function at their best the next day. A new international study led by researchers at Monash University has found that it’s the quality of sleep rather...
