When it comes to medicine, it has been time and again proven that women bodies have been studied way less. This is why, even after science being this advance, has often lacked on how women's bodies react to different illness and their cures. It is the same in the case of Tourette syndrome. As per a study published in Neurology, there is an existing gender gap in diagnosing Tourette syndrome (TS).

Researchers have also found that women are not only less likely to be diagnosed with TS, but also experience longer delays in receiving a diagnosis. These findings, led by Dr. Marisela Elizabeth Dy-Hollins of Massachusetts General Hospital, highlight the urgent need for increased awareness and early screening of TS in females.

What Is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements and sounds, known as tics. These can include simple actions like blinking or throat clearing, as well as more complex behaviors such as jumping or repeating words. Tics must persist for at least a year for a diagnosis of TS or persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, where only movement or vocal tics are present.

Although TS is diagnosed about three times more often in males than females, the study suggests that this gap may not purely reflect biological differences. Instead, it may indicate that females are being underdiagnosed or diagnosed later due to differences in symptom presentation or societal biases.

Key Findings of the Study

Analyzing data from 2,109 people with TS and 294 with persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, the study revealed several important gender differences:

Diagnosis Rates: Only 61% of female participants had received a TS diagnosis before participating in the study, compared to 77% of males.

Delayed Diagnosis: On average, it took three years from symptom onset for females to be diagnosed, compared to two years for males.

Age at Diagnosis: Girls were typically diagnosed at an average age of 13, while boys were diagnosed around age 11.

Symptom Onset: Female participants showed slightly later onset of TS symptoms, around 6.5 years old compared to 6 years for males. However, for persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, symptoms actually appeared earlier in females (7.9 years) than males (8.9 years).

A limitation noted by researchers is that most participants were white, which may affect how broadly the findings can be applied across other racial and ethnic groups.

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

"These results suggest that healthcare professionals and parents should actively screen female individuals with tics to give them a better chance of managing symptoms over time," Dr. Dy-Hollins emphasized. Treatment strategies can vary and include:

Education: Teaching families, teachers, and patients about TS to reduce stigma and encourage early help-seeking.

Behavioral Therapies: Approaches like Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) can significantly help in managing symptoms.

Medications: In severe cases, medicines such as antipsychotics or muscle relaxants may be prescribed.

Watchful Waiting: Mild tics sometimes lessen over time without the need for intensive intervention.

Emotional Support: Addressing the psychological impact of TS is crucial for better overall well-being.

Closing the Gender Gap

Researchers believe differences in how tics present in girls and societal expectations may contribute to the delayed or missed diagnoses. Dr. Dy-Hollins stressed the importance of further research, particularly studies involving more diverse populations. Raising awareness and ensuring equitable healthcare practices are vital to better support all individuals living with Tourette syndrome.

Although as kids many of us enjoyed the perfect vision, it isn’t uncommon to find that you may need glasses as things start looking blurry. Weak eyesight can be caused due to a lot of reasons, whether it is strained usage of our eyesight like using improperly lit spaces to read, using electronics at night, or simply aging.

The simple science behind wear eyesight is when the muscles that aid our vision get weak. So, if there was just a way to rejuvenate those muscles, we would be able to see properly, right? But it is not that simple. Doing so would require surgical options, many of which are not available easily. However, a new study may have made headway into creating an eyedrop that will do the job.

A study presented on Sunday at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) suggests that eye drops could be a safe and effective treatment for presbyopia, a common age-related condition that causes long-sightedness and makes it difficult to focus on close-up objects. The study, conducted by experts in Argentina, explored a new type of eye drop that could offer a convenient alternative to wearing reading glasses.

Can Eyedrops Fix Weak Eyesight?

The eye drops contain two main ingredients that work together to improve near vision. The first is pilocarpine, a drug that makes the pupil smaller and tightens the muscle that controls the shape of the eye's lens. This action helps the eye focus on nearby objects more easily.

The second ingredient is diclofenac, which is a type of anti-inflammatory drug. It helps reduce any inflammation in the eye.

In the study, 766 people used these drops twice a day, typically once in the morning and again about six hours later. They were split into three groups, each receiving a different strength of the pilocarpine component (1%, 2%, or 3%) while the amount of diclofenac stayed the same for everyone.

How Effective Are Eyedrops For Weak Eyesight?

The study's findings were very encouraging, showing significant improvements in near vision for all participants, with the effects lasting for up to two years.

For the group using the lowest concentration of pilocarpine (1%), almost all 148 people were able to read at least two additional lines on a standard eye chart. In the group with the 2% concentration, 69% of the 248 people could read three or more extra lines. The best results were seen in the 3% group, where a remarkable 84% of the 370 people could read three or more extra lines.

On average, patients saw an improvement of more than three lines on the eye chart just one hour after using the drops. According to Dr. Giovanna Benozzi, a leading researcher, these drops offer a promising solution that is more convenient and has fewer risks than traditional options like reading glasses or surgery.

Are There Side-Effects of Eyedrops For Weak Eyesight?

While the results are positive, some experts have expressed caution about potential side effects. The most common ones reported were temporary blurred vision, eye irritation, and headaches.

However, experts warned that long-term use of pilocarpine could sometimes lead to side effects like reduced night vision. He also noted that using anti-inflammatory drops for a long time could pose risks to the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. He emphasized that more extensive and longer-term studies are needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the drops for widespread use.

As kids we were often encouraged to think positively and not let negative thoughts derail our mind. Letting negative thoughts remain too long in your head can make you feel fatigued and unable to do necessary tasks as well. However, how much of this is actually psychological?

Can you imagine having pain in your body, but there is no ailment that can fix it? Is it completely psychological? What many people do not know about mental health is that it can severely impact your bodily health as well. To put this to test, researchers in China looked into how this could affect the elderly population of China.

In a study published in June 2025, researchers noted that the population is getting older, and with that comes a big increase in cognitive problems in older adults. These issues range from simple age-related memory loss to more serious conditions like dementia. This isn't just a personal health issue; it affects families and society as a whole.

Is Cognitive Health Declining Faster?

According to the study, globally, about 55 million people have dementia, and that number is expected to jump to 139 million by 2050. In China, 6% of people over 60 have dementia, and 15.5% have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The total cost of caring for people with dementia in China could reach $1.89 trillion by 2050. Since there's no cure for dementia, it’s vital to find ways to prevent or delay its progress.

As people get older, their physical health declines, and so can their mental health. Anxiety and depression are very common, with over 20% of older Chinese adults experiencing symptoms. These mental health issues are a known risk factor for cognitive decline, but researchers are still trying to figure out exactly how they are connected.

Can Poor Mental Health Cause Decline In Memories?

To understand this, researchers looked into RNT. Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) is a pattern of stuck, negative thoughts that are hard to control. It includes two common habits: rumination, which is constantly replaying bad things from the past, and worry, which is focusing on future problems. Since RNT is a key symptom of many mental health issues like anxiety and depression, researchers think it might be a major reason why these issues are linked to a higher risk of dementia. This makes RNT a promising target for preventing cognitive decline.

Do Elderly People Have Negative Thoughts?

A study was conducted with 424 older adults in Wuhan, China, to see if there was a connection between RNT and their cognitive function, which includes skills like memory and attention.

Researchers used a survey called the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ) to measure RNT. A higher score meant a person engaged in more negative thinking. To check cognitive function, they used the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Test. A higher MoCA score meant better mental skills. The study also considered other factors like age, education, and health to ensure the results were accurate.

The results showed a clear negative link: people who had more RNT had lower cognitive scores. This connection was strong even after accounting for other factors like a person's age or how much education they had.

RNT appeared to affect most mental skills, like the ability to think and remember, but it didn't seem to affect language skills. The link was strongest in adults aged 60-79 and those who had at least a junior high school education. For people over 80 or those with very little education, the connection wasn't as noticeable.

How Can We Tackle Negative Thoughts In Elderly?

This study suggests that constantly dwelling on negative thoughts can wear out the brain, leading to a decline in memory and other mental abilities. The stress from RNT might actually change the brain's structure and function.

These findings suggest that checking older adults for RNT should become a part of health screenings. By identifying and helping people manage their negative thoughts early on, it may be possible to lower their risk of cognitive decline.

"Social support is regarded as a complex construct, which has long been suggested to have direct and buffering effects on patients' wellbeing and emotional adjustment to cancer." This is part of the abstract of a 2012 study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. True to this, a group of four, now make it a point to commemorate their win against cancer, every year.

Sandy Robertson, Terri Naab, Shari Hamlin, and Pricilla Bauer, all met each other at an oncology ward of the Methodist Hospital. They became each other's support system, fighting the same battle - breast cancer. They call their group the R-Gang. Why? If one takes a guess, the 'R' here stands for radiation, a therapy recommended to cancer patients. The R-Gang has all sorts of conversations, sometimes light and sometimes heavy.

The CBS reports that now, after successfully defeating cancer, the four meet on the 'shores of Lake Minnetonka at Maynard's, travelling across the country to commemorate each year they are still alive'.

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"I Will Never Let Go Of These Girls'

Bauer told CBS News that she was told that she had 60% chances of dying. "They said, '60/40, 60 you are gonna die'." She continues, "We were all sitting next to each other in that radiation room. At first, we were just polite to each other and we all just started talking."

"After the whole breast cancer diagnosis, I said, 'What am I doing in sales? I need to write.' And so I quit sales job and started writing." Bauer told CBS News.

Earlier, a group of seven, out of whom, two - Judy and Shirley, died of other illnesses, and Sherry, the youngest died of cancer; now the group of four celebrate their lives, for as long as they can.

Their friendship is special. "Even though it was tragic and horrible, it was one of the best times in my life because I met these people," said Naab. Hamlin seconded and said, "I will never let go of these girls. No, there's just no way."

All four are now cancer free, and will reunite at Maynard's the next year.

Cancer And Social Interaction

A 2017 study published by the Cambridge University Press noted that social interaction could have positive effect on a person's chance of survival after being treated for cancer. The author of the study Jeff Leinert and colleagues accessed the medical records of 4,691 cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy treatment in medical facilities in Oxfordshire, UK. The researchers found that being in the company of, and interacting with patients who survived cancer for at least 5 years after completing the treatment led to an increase in survival rate.

The 2012 study from Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention also noted that cross-sectional and prospective studies show a positive association between perceived social support and psychological adjustment following cancer treatment. Research also suggested a strong evidence for relationship between social support and improvement in cancer patients. The importance of social groups and social support for cancer patients were also pointed out by Dr Mrinal Gounder, while he spoke on Sarcoma Awareness in an exclusive interview with Health and Me.