Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study looking at dietary intake and age at menopause
A new study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, reports that some food groups and specific nutrients are individually predictive of age at natural menopause. read more
expert reaction to a review of the association between mid-life anxiety and later life dementia
Researchers publishing a systematic review in BMJ Open, examine the association between mid-life anxiety and long-term risk for dementia. read more
expert reaction to EU ban on outdoor use of three neonicotinoid pesticides
Further restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides have been approved following a vote in the European Commission. read more
expert reaction to discussion paper on air pollution and crime
Researchers report in a discussion paper, published by the Institute of Labor Economics, that air pollution is a major driver of crime in London. read more
expert reaction to the latest on Alfie Evans
Scientists comment on the ongoing Alfie Evans case. read more
Life Sciences Industrial Strategy: Briefing with the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
A strong life sciences sector can simultaneously benefit the UK’s economy and help improve the nation’s health. But who in the Government is leading the delivery of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy? To whom are they accountable? What power do they have to harness Government departments and the NHS? read more
expert reaction to study investigating the association between different types of anticholinergic drugs and risk of dementia
A new study, published in the BMJ, estimates the association between duration and level of exposure to different classes of anticholinergic drugs and subsequent incident dementia. read more
Association between anticholinergic drugs and risk of dementia
Anticholinergic drugs act on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the nervous system and are used to treat a range of conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, urinary incontinence, depression, and allergies. read more
expert reaction to research on microplastics in Arctic sea ice
A study in Nature Communications suggests that Arctic sea ice is an important temporal sink and means of transport for microplastic. read more
expert reaction to the ongoing Alfie Evans case
Alfie Evans has been in Alder Hey hospital, in Liverpool, since December 2016 with a rare undiagnosed degenerative neurological condition. His father has reported that Alfie’s life support has been turned off.
expert reaction to study looking at caffeine in pregnancy and weight gain in children
A new study, published in BMJ Open, researchers study the association between maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and the child’s weight gain and overweigh risk up to 8 years.
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expert reaction to observational study of vigorous physical activity and motor neurone disease
Researchers publishing in The Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry investigate the association between physical activity (PA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in population-based case-control studies in three European countries using a validated and harmonised questionnaire read more
expert reaction to systematic review and meta-analysis on alcohol intake and premenstrual syndrome
A systematic review and meta-analysis examines the role of alcohol in the occurrence of PMS, published in BMJ Open. read more
expert reaction to Defra comments about the ‘hotspots’ of nerve agent undergoing decontamination in Salisbury
DEFRA has said that toxic nerve agent ‘hotspots’ could still be in the city of Salisbury following the novichok attack on an ex-Russian spy and his daughter.
expert reaction to House of Commons S&T committee report on Genomics and Genome Editing in the NHS
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has published a new report: Genomics and Genome Editing in the NHS. read more
expert reaction to research on the resilience of coral to climate change
Researchers publishing in PLoS Genetics examine the potential and limits for rapid genetic adaptation to warming in a Great Barrier Reef coral. read more
expert reaction to study looking at genome editing of stem cells for HIV in non-human primates
A new study, published in PLOS Pathogens, investigates the genome editing of bone-morrow stem cells in pigtail macaques as a potential treatment for simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV).
expert reaction to study investigating whether Hans Asperger actively assisted the Nazi euthanasia program
A new study, published in Molecular Autism, explores whether Hans Asperger – the doctor whom the condition Asperger’s syndrome was named after – actively cooperated with the Nazi regime. read more
The increasing burden of multiple illnesses
Rising numbers of people are living with two or more long-term health conditions – known as multimorbidity. Physical and mental … read more
expert reaction to study on gene therapy for beta-thalassaemia
Researchers use gene therapy – via a lentiviral vector – for patients with beta-thalassaemia, in a new study, published in the NEJM. read more