Behind the Headlines

Does eating fish really extend your life?

Tuesday Apr 2 2013

"Eating fish in old age 'can extend life'," The Daily Telegraph proclaims, among several mainstream papers covering the story. But before you head out to buy some...

Bowel cancer up 30% for men in 35 years

Tuesday Apr 2 2013

A rise in bowel cancer among men has been reported across the UK media. The news is based on figures released by Cancer Research UK, coinciding with the start of bowel cancer awareness month...

High UK child death rates unfairly blamed on GPs

Thursday Mar 28 2013

"Almost 2,000 British children a year die from 'avoidable' causes because family doctors lack training in paediatric care," The Independent alarmingly claims. The story comes from a review of health services for children across 15 countries...

Could new gene markers herald better cancer tests?

Thursday Mar 28 2013

Most of the UK media have reported on what has been described as landmark research into the genetics of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. Many commentators state that this will lead to cheap and reliable screening tests…

Can regular saunas harm sperm quality?

Wednesday Mar 27 2013

"Men who visit saunas may be damaging their sperm," the Mail Online website warns. This warning comes from the results of a tiny study involving just 10 men asked to follow a Scandinavian-style sauna programme...

New guidelines on child antisocial behaviour

Wednesday Mar 27 2013

BBC News is reporting that there is a new ‘Guide to help parents to spot 'problem behaviour’’, while The Daily Telegraph claims that ‘More than one million parents could be offered state-funded lessons…

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Social isolation increases death risk in older people

Tuesday Mar 26 2013

"Social isolation is associated with a higher risk of death in older people regardless of whether they consider themselves lonely," BBC News has reported. Previous research has suggested that people who have limited social contact are...

Do TV and video games really make kids naughty?

Tuesday Mar 26 2013

“Watching TV for three hours a day will not harm your children”, The Independent reports. However, The Daily Express contradicts this, saying “Too much television turns children into monsters”. In this case…

Brain protein may play role in Down's syndrome

Monday Mar 25 2013

BBC News reports that low levels of a particular protein may contribute to some of the characteristics of Down's syndrome. The news comes from a study that builds on previous research into the condition...

Can Parkinson's drug help old people decide?

Monday Mar 25 2013

"A drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease could help older people make better decisions," the Mail Online website reports after a recent study found that L-dopa, a medication used to boost dopamine levels, aided decision making in some elderly people…