Health & Social Care
Doing puzzles may speed up dementia
Mentally stimulating activities may help elderly people to delay mental decline for longer, but these may lead to a faster degeneration once the Alzheimer's disease sets in, research has warned. ... Full story
Cannabis 'can reduce nerve pain'
New research has found that smoking cannabis from a pipe can help reduce chronic neuropathic pain caused by injury or surgery, as well as decrease anxiety and depression. ... Full story
Cancer 'can be cut by exercise'
More than 10,000 cases of breast and bowel cancer could be prevented each year if people took more exercise, such as going for brisk walks, experts have said. ... Full story
MasterChef returns to BBC One with brand new headquarters and new audition shows
Off the back of its 2010 success, MasterChef, with its judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace, is moving to a brand new kitchen which will accommodate a bigger group of amateur cooks all hoping to be the next champion, it was announced today. ... Full story
Faith 'affects end-of-life care'
Non-religious doctors are almost twice as willing to take decisions that speed up death as those who hold a deep faith, research showed today. ... Full story
Teenage carer achieves 9 A* GCSEs
A teenager who is a carer for her mother and sister has been celebrating achieving 9 A*s in her GCSEs. ... Full story
Hundreds of people got active during North Tyneside Council’s first-ever Disability Sport Month.
A total of 361 people got involved in more than 60 hours of activities during the July initiative. ... Full story
GCSE results gender gap widens
The GCSE gender gap has widened with girls getting better grades than boys, according to the results body. ... Full story
Nice turns down bowel cancer drug
A drug which could benefit bowel cancer sufferers has been turned down for use on the NHS. ... Full story
Fear of falling 'boosts fall risk'
Older people who are afraid of falling over may in fact increase their risk of falling, research published in the British Medical Journal has found. ... Full story
Winter fuel payments eligibility age 'set to rise'
Reports have suggested that the Government is planning to raise the qualifying age for winter fuel payments as part of its welfare cuts. ... Full story
Stressed women 'risk Alzheimer's'
Women who suffer from repeated stress and anxiety in middle age are up to twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who do not, a study has shown. ... Full story
David Beckham stubborn on farewell match
David Beckham, 35, seems reluctant to acknowledge Fabio Capello's assertion that his days of playing international football are over. And despite Capello offering a chance for Beckham to officially say goodbye to England fans at a friendly match with France in November, the player insists he will not be announcing his retiremen ... Full story
Breast cancer death rate plummets
The number of women in Britain dying from breast cancer has fallen by more than 30%, research shows. ... Full story
Heart attacks 'more likely in cold'
New research has shown that people are more likely to suffer from heart attacks in cold weather. ... Full story
Foot docs can help avoid amputation
A study has found that having diabetes patients treated by podiatric physicians could prevent amputation. ... Full story
GP hits out at UK's health attitude
A leading doctor has warned that parents' attitudes towards food, smoking and alcohol is putting their children's health at risk. ... Full story
'Age Map' backs up pension age rise
The Government's plans to raise the state pension age to 66 has been backed up by a new 'Age Map' which reveals nearly a quarter of the UK population will be over 65 by 2031. ... Full story
Superdrug dispensing prescriptions
A high street health and beauty retailer has announced it is now dispensing private prescriptions at not-for-profit prices. ... Full story
Happy people 'are more creative'
People are more likely to be creative if they are outgoing and in a good mood compared to people who keep themselves to themselves, a new study has revealed. ... Full story
Majority unaware what their BMI is
The majority of people do not know their own body mass index (BMI) or body fat ratio although they understand unhealthy figures mean they have an increased risk of potentially serious health problems, a survey has found. ... Full story
Sociability 'boosts survival odds'
Healthy social relationships can help increase a person's chances of survival by 50%, a new study has suggested. ... Full story
Group opposes funding elderly care
Providing free personal care for older people through taxation could cost the equivalent of another NHS and should be ruled out, the Policy Exchange think tank has claimed. ... Full story
Disabled grant not to be expanded
Severely disabled people will no longer be able to apply to a Government fund that helps people live in their own homes rather than in residential care, a minister has said. ... Full story
Extra £5 million funding for carers
Respite services for people who care for others will receive additional funding worth £5 million, the Scottish Government has announced. ... Full story
TAKING VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE FALLS AND PROTECT AGAINST DEMENTIA ONSET.
About a third of over 65s will fall at least once a year ... Full story
Items scheme 'not value for money'
Providing vulnerable people with beds and cookers bought locally is not value for money, according to a Government spending watchdog. ... Full story
Disability welfare cuts defended
Deputy Prime Minster Nick Clegg has defended the Tory-Lib Dem Government's cuts to welfare payments for disabled people. ... Full story
Number of deafblind to rise by 60%
An increasing ageing population will see the number of Britons who are deafblind increase by 60% over the next two decades, according to charity Sense. ... Full story
Cannabis 'can reduce nerve pain'
New research has found that smoking cannabis from a pipe can help reduce chronic neuropathic pain caused by injury or surgery, as well as decrease anxiety and depression. ... Full story
