Health Report

Mind Medicine Australia share their thoughts on the recent approval of psychedelic compounds for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. 

A study in Sweden has looked at a possible association of maternal and paternal primary antibody immunodeficiencies — and if this provides a natural test of a hypothesis about parental immune activation.

An intriguing story about people who can't burp, and turn to the internet for answers. Turns out there's a surprising treatment to unlock their gas.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration recently approved the psychedelic compound psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression; and MDMA–or ecstasy–for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. A group of researchers think this is premature.

More people are tackling the bracing discomfort of ice bath sessions—for the touted health benefits ... but there are some serious risks, so pay attention to the instructions before hopping in.

Chronic, non-cancer-related pain is hard to treat and so alternate medications—like antidepressants—are used because of their action on the brain. A group of researchers has compiled the available evidence on their efficacy.

Australians will pay a lot to relieve the pain of arthritis—sometimes opting for unproven therapies using stem cells. Why does this happen?

Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have long looked for the reason why— it may be related to the amount of 'cognitive reserve' some groups have been able to accumulate.

Researchers have found that a protein in the K'gari (Fraser Island) funnel web spider venom has the ability to stop heart cells dying. It could also help preserve organs prior to transplant.

A genetic form of diabetes can occur later in life, and doesn't require insulin. A pilot project has looked at the benefits of early genetic testing for it.

The Strengthening Medicare Report was released recently, and the key recommendations include changes to the digital health environment; working to scope of practice; and modernising My Health Record.

Psilocybin and MDMA are now approved as treatments for depression and MDMA—with caveats. And still need co-ordination between clinicians and manufacturers (the TGA has not approved or registered specific psilocybin or MDMA medications).

A financial reward for obese people to achieve sustainable weight loss has proved successful—but the general health environment must also be considered.

How to make healthy weight work for a whole population and working on how food is presented and for which particular age groups—so a healthy choice can be made

The prescription rate for medications to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rose in recent years but was still below what's thought to be the extent of the condition.

Organ donation is one of the great miracles of our time, but that's not to say it's easy. To be viable, a heart needs to be transplanted within four or five hours, and this is a huge logistical challenge for a country the size of Australia.

The Garvan Institute has studied the combination of genetic profile alongside family history of people with cancers called sarcomas, and found genes to aid early diagnosis.

Sun Pharmaceuticals is a supplier of generic medications and they're in hot water about possible violations of the manufacturing process at their facility in Gujarat, India.

Fasting diets like the 5:2 or the 16/8 have become very popular. While there's lots of evidence for the benefits of the 5:2 diet in animals, there's hasn't been much in humans. The results are not out from a trial of intermittent fasting in overweight men and women.

One of the biggest puzzles for humans is the brain, or more precisely, the minds. It's a bit of a mystery but still possible to learn something about how to keep it in good order.

Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Royals have a tendency to change the course of history — in life and in death. 

From King George III's apparent madness, to Queen Victoria's genetic legacy, the Health Report takes a look back at the illnesses (and deaths) that have shaped the world.

Note that the change of broadcast time mentioned at the end of the program refers to our live program on Mondays.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) affects 7 or 8 per cent of people in their 60s, and one in four people in their 80s. In an ageing population the number of those with mild cognitive impairment will increase.

There's a new perspective on the cause and progress of Alzheimer's disease. Are we doing the right thing by removing accumulated amyloid protein from the brains of people with it?

Some people experience a tingly feeling when they hear certain noises and this feeling might be a useful intervention for people with anxiety.

Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia characterised by a rapid and irregular heartbeat. There is increasing evidence that relaxation methods like yoga and meditation can help manage the condition.

Hosts:

Dr Norman Swan

Tegan Taylor

More than two decades ago a major milestone in cancer research was reached with the discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Inherited mutations to these genes can dramatically increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. The discovery opened up new ways of knowing who is at risk of cancer, how to treat the cancer, and even how to prevent it happening in the first place. This moving feature describes what this genetic information means for families who have seen loved ones endure sometimes multiple cancers—and it explains the emerging frontier in medicine trying to change that.

Guests:

Michelle Brady

Anna Murphy

Dr Mark Pinese, Team Leader Personalised Medicine, Children’s Cancer Institute

A/Prof Paul James, Clinical Geneticist and Director, Familial Cancer Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital

Dr Laura Forrest, Senior Research Fellow and Genetic Counsellor, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Host: Dr Norman Swan

Interviewer and Producer: Sarah Sedghi

With COVID we've focused on vaccines and masks but there is more we can do, and the situation parallels a public health revolution from the mid-1800s.

If you're a modern human you likely carry a bit of tech on you to track how physically active you are. But how can we be sure it's really promoting activity?

Telomeres are small 'caps' on the ends of your chromosomes—the length of telomeres is seen as an indicator of how fast we age. How accurate could they be?

Hosts: Tegan Taylor and Dr Norman Swan