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People suffering from diabetes are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study.

Recent research published in the journal Diabetes indicated that those suffering with the condition before the age of 65 are at a 125 per cent risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Furthermore, the risk of Alzheimer’s was also higher for patients who developed diabetes in middle age.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Margaret Gatz said: "Our results … highlighted the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle during adulthood in order to reduce the risk of dementia late in life."

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, some 700,000 people in the UK currently suffer from the condition.

Meanwhile, it was recently reported that symptoms of anxiety and depression do not have an adverse affect on fertility treatment.

A Dutch study found that depression levels were not a factor in their chances of such patients becoming pregnant.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with Alzheimer’s disease

Parasitic worms, or helminths, could be used to treat the symptoms of asthma, according to a new study.

The effects are currently being analyzed by researchers in Nottingham who are infecting sufferers with hook worms.

Despite the fact that such parasites have been eliminated from humans due to hygiene improvements, experts believe they could be instrumental in regulating the immune system.

Professor of medical microbiology at University College London, Graham Rook, said: "Certain organisms that were there throughout our evolutionary history have developed a role in causing the immune system to develop and causing the policemen of the immune system to be operating at the right level."

Elsewhere, a recent US study published in the Clinical and Experimental Allergy journal indicated that eating fast food more than once or twice a week can significantly increase the risk of childhood asthma.

It found that excessive junk food can negate the positive benefits of breastfeeding which is known to lower the risk of the condition.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with asthma

Short bursts of exercise could help cut the risk of developing type II diabetes, researchers have found.

A study conducted by Professor James Timmons, from Herriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, revealed that intense periods of exercise lasting less than a minute can have positive effects.

"What we have found is that doing a few intense muscle exercises, each lasting only about 30 seconds, dramatically improves your metabolism in just two weeks," he said.

This should help people who find they do not have time to follow current exercise guidelines reduce their risk of type II diabetes and heart disease, Professor Timmons added.

In the study, 16 young men peddled exercise bikes as fast as they could in four bursts of 30 seconds.

The results, published in the BMC Endocrine Disorders function found insulin function was improved 23 per cent.

Earlier this week, Dr Kumkum Misra suggested GPs should be given training which would allow them to provide therapy for people suffering from type II diabetes.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with diabetes.

A new mouth swab test could highlight the genetic risk of developing breast cancer, according to scientists.

The deCODE test – from BreastHealth UK – could increase survival rates for high-risk women while also cutting the need for unnecessary screening.

According to the group, the test works by combining genetic factors with lifestyle information to ascertain risk.

Women found to be at a higher risk would then be put forward for more intensive screening, with the possibility of preventative chemotherapy.

Professor Gordon Wishart, medical director of Breast Health UK, said: "Decisions will be made in consultation with an experienced breast surgeon and patients will have access to a genetic counsellor where necessary."

Dr Sarah Cant, policy manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said the condition is a "complex disease" and more studies are needed to determine whether such tests can be useful.

Elsewhere, it was recently reported that a ‘tan jab’ which is being sold illegally could be responsible for rapidly-changing moles.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with cancer

Symptoms of anxiety and depression do not have an adverse affect on fertility treatment, it has been claimed.

A new study of 783 women by Dutch researchers examined the link between such treatment and mental health.

It found that, for 421 women, depression levels were not a factor in their chances of becoming pregnant.

Dr Bea Lintsen from Radboud University, Nijmegen, said: "We showed that psychological factors were not associated with the cancellation rate.

"In daily practice, the most important reason for cancellation will be medical: imminent ovarian hyperstimulation, or in contrast, poor ovarian response."

She also noted that biological factors such as pregnancy history, cause and duration of subfertility did not have an affect on pregnancy rate.

Meanwhile, a recent study conducted by union Unite in conjunction with the Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association claimed that there are not enough health visitors to deal with new mothers suffering from postnatal depression.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with depression

Eating fast food more than once or twice a week can significantly increase the risk of childhood asthma, it has been claimed.

A recent US study published in the Clinical and Experimental Allergy journal indicated that junk food can negate the positive benefits of being breastfed.

Past studies have already linked breastfeeding to lowering the likelihood of developing asthma during childhood.

The study, which was conducted at the University of Alberta, noted over half of the children polled ate fast food more than twice a week.

Commenting on the findings, senior author of the report Dr Anita Kozyrskyj said: "Like other studies, we found that fast food consumption was associated with asthma."

According to Asthma UK, some 1,400 deaths were caused by the condition in England during 2006 - 40 per cent of which were people aged under 14.

Recent research in New Zealand suggested that children who are stressed are at a higher risk of developing asthma in later life.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with asthma

A ‘tan jab’ which is being sold illegally could be responsible for rapidly-changing moles, skin experts have warned.

Two women recently attended a dermatology clinic with significant changes to moles and a deep tan, despite their fair skin type.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, dermatology experts point out that both patients were sunbed users and had injected the unlicensed drug Melanotan shortly before the alterations were noticed.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency recently advised consumers to be cautious about the drug, as it had not been tested for safety, quality or effectiveness and its side-effects were unknown.

A spokeswoman said: "This drug is not licensed anywhere in the world. We don’t know what the short or long-term side effects are because there have been no thorough clinical trials carried out."

In related news, it was recently reported that cancer patients in the UK can now apply for free prescriptions on the NHS.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with cancer

An obesity expert has called for a total ban on junk food advertisements which target children.

Professor Philip James says immediate action is required to halt the nation’s soaring obesity levels.

According to Professor James, chairman of the International Obesity TaskForce, food firms are taking advantage of consumers in the same way as tobacco companies.

He told a conference in London: "We have a catastrophic obesity epidemic and the food industry has had a vast impact on society. The food industry is represented by companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Cadbury which are damaging the health of people across the world."

Professor James also criticised the government for allowing fast food companies to join healthy living campaigns.

In related news, it was recently reported that an anti-obesity pill called Orsilat has been approved for over-the-counter sale at chemists in the EU.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity

Nurses and GPs should be trained to provide therapy for patients struggling with type II diabetes, it has been claimed.

Currently, a shortage of trained professionals means access to counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy is severely limited.

A recent study examined the effects of offering type II diabetes patients such treatment.

It found that blood glucose levels were reduced in patients whether they received therapy from psychological therapists or trained general health professionals including GPs and nurses.

Coventry GP Dr Kumkum Misra, who was trained to pilot the psychological therapies, said: "It generally not only improves the doctor-patient relationship but also helps the doctor to build the confidence of the patient to take more responsibility for caring for their problem."

Diabetes UK recently claimed that Northern Ireland is in need of a specific strategy to tackle the condition.

According to the charity, the number of people in the region diagnosed increased by eight per cent last year.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with diabetes

A new approach to breast cancer identification could help develop treatment courses for women worldwide, according to a new study.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University have used a new combination of MRI and ultrasound to measure the metabolism rates of the cancer cells.

According to the team, the new approach to identifying the form of breast cancer can help determine "which cells are metastasizing", and how they should be treated, earlier than other approaches.

Dr Ilan Tsarfaty, lead research from the university’s faculty of medicine, said the ultrasound will sense increased blood flow and MRI will detect an increase of oxygen consumption, which can "indicate cancer metastasis and unprecedented levels of sensitivity".

He added: "Current breast cancer treatments are not tailored to individual patients."

"Our approach to profiling individual tumours will not only help save lives today, it will provide the basic research for developing cancer drugs of the future."

Researchers from the University of Texas recently identified three factors which would determine whether breast cancer patients with the disease in only one mammary would require a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with breast cancer