Omega-3 fatty acids are very popular, owing to the enormous health benefits they have for skin and heart health. The most popular ones come from fish oil, which is over over-the-counter supplement extracted from fatty fish like sardines, anchovies, mackerel and salmon, new research has shown that they also bolster brain function and mental health at various stages of life. Research suggests that omega-3 fish oil supplements could enhance memory in individuals with cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Fish oil is a popular dietary supplement derived from fatty fish like sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and salmon. The two primary omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—are well-regarded for their heart health benefits, but their impact on the brain is equally significant, particularly in addressing issues like mild memory loss and depression.

What Are Fish Oil Omega-3s?

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats known for their crucial role in brain function and overall mental health. Fish oil is particularly rich in EPA and DHA, which are vital components of cell membranes and have strong anti-inflammatory effects in the body.

These omega-3s play a critical role in human development, and they are primarily found in fatty fish and fish oil. Since many people do not consume enough fish, supplementation is often recommended to ensure adequate intake of these essential fatty acids.

Although the body can convert another type of omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), into EPA and DHA, this process is not highly efficient. As a result, fish oil supplements may provide a convenient way to ensure optimal levels of omega-3s.

How Omega-3s Affect The Brain

EPA and DHA are essential for maintaining brain function throughout life. These fatty acids are abundant in the brain's cell membranes, helping to preserve cell health and facilitate communication between brain cells.

Research has shown that a lack of omega-3s can lead to cognitive impairments. In animal studies, diets deficient in omega-3s resulted in reduced DHA levels in the brain, leading to deficits in learning and memory. In older adults, lower DHA levels have been linked to a smaller brain size, which may indicate accelerated brain ageing.

Maintaining sufficient levels of omega-3s can help support cognitive function and may reduce the risk of age-related brain decline.

Fish Oil and Mild Memory Loss

Omega-3s have been studied for their potential to improve brain function in individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or age-related cognitive decline—conditions that result in memory loss and other cognitive challenges.

While research does not support the use of fish oil for improving brain function in people with Alzheimer’s disease, several studies suggest that fish oil may be beneficial in those with MCI. One study found that DHA supplementation led to improved memory and learning abilities in older adults with age-related cognitive decline. Another study showed improvements in brain function with omega-3 supplementation in people with MCI.

These findings suggest that fish oil may be most effective when taken in the early stages of cognitive decline, rather than in advanced cases of Alzheimer’s disease.

Fish Oil And DepressionIn addition to cognitive benefits, omega-3s in fish oil have been studied for their potential to improve mental health, particularly in people with depression. Research has shown that fish oil supplementation can help reduce depressive symptoms, with effects comparable to those of antidepressant medications.

The most significant improvements were observed in individuals also taking antidepressants, especially when the fish oil contained higher levels of EPA. The exact mechanism behind these benefits is still under investigation, but it is believed that omega-3s may affect serotonin receptors or exert anti-inflammatory effects in the brain.

Fish oil may also benefit individuals with other mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, though further research is needed.

Fish Oil And Healthy Brains

While omega-3s are essential for brain health, studies suggest that fish oil supplements do not improve brain function in healthy individuals with no memory problems. Observational studies have linked higher omega-3 intake from fish with better brain function, but supplementation with fish oil has not shown similar results in people with normal cognitive function.

Should You Consider Fish Oil For Brain Health?

For individuals experiencing mild cognitive decline or depression, omega-3s from fish oil may offer significant benefits for brain and mental health. The optimal dosage varies, but research suggests that 1,000–2,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil daily is a good starting point. People with depression should look for supplements with higher EPA content. It is pertinent to note that people should consult health experts before starting fish oil supplementation.

The NHS has issued a warning for anyone using a common painkiller, highlighting possible harmful interactions with other medications. Across the UK, many people turn to over-the-counter medicines for daily aches, colds, and minor illnesses. Among these, paracetamol is one of the most widely used, often taken for headaches, back pain, and cold symptoms. But, like any medication, it carries certain risks.

Who Should Be Careful?

The NHS has provided guidance on using paracetamol safely, including which drug combinations should be avoided. “Paracetamol is not suitable for some people,” the health body explains. This includes individuals who take warfarin, a drug that prevents blood clots. If you are on warfarin, you should check with your GP before taking paracetamol, the NHS advises. “Paracetamol can raise the risk of bleeding in those who regularly take warfarin.”

Safe Dosing Guidelines

Small doses of paracetamol alongside warfarin are generally considered safe. The NHS adds: “It’s safe to take paracetamol if you’re on warfarin. Stick to the lowest dose that relieves your pain. Exceeding four 500mg tablets in 24 hours for more than a few days can slow your blood clotting, putting you at risk of bleeding.”

Avoid Double Dosing

Combining paracetamol with other medicines containing the same ingredient—like co-codamol or some cold and flu remedies—can be risky due to the danger of overdose. Other common painkillers, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or codeine, do not contain paracetamol and can safely be taken at the same time.

Check with Your Doctor

The NHS advises consulting a doctor before taking paracetamol if you’re on medications for epilepsy or tuberculosis (TB), as these combinations can also pose risks.

Herbal Remedies and Supplements

Generally, paracetamol is not affected by herbal supplements, though the NHS notes: “There isn’t enough information to say whether herbal remedies, complementary medicines, or supplements are safe with paracetamol. They are not tested the same way as prescription or pharmacy medications and may interact differently.” Patients should inform their doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines or supplements they are taking.

Side Effects of Paracetamol

When taken at the recommended dose, paracetamol “very rarely” causes side effects. For a full list, refer to the information leaflet inside the packaging.

Serious Allergic Reactions

In rare cases, a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can occur. The NHS advises calling 999 immediately if you notice:

• Swelling of lips, mouth, throat, or tongue
• Rapid or labored breathing, wheezing, or a choking sensation
• A tight throat or difficulty swallowing
• Skin, lips, or tongue turning blue, grey, or pale (on darker skin, check palms or soles)
• Sudden confusion, extreme drowsiness, or dizziness
• Fainting and unresponsiveness
• A child appearing limp, floppy, or unresponsive, with difficulty lifting or focusing their head

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related death, according to the American Cancer Society. They state that colorectal cancer deaths in 2025 is expected to be 52,900. But why is the number so high, despite so many available treatments? One of the reasons behind it is the lack of early diagnosis.

However, with the help of a recent study that could completely change how we treat bowel cancer, also called colorectal cancer, scientists have found a moment very early on in the cancer life that they call the "Big Bang."

This moment is the key to understanding how the tumor grows and, most importantly, how it figures out how to hide from your body's immune system. Finding this hidden step gives doctors a new target for stopping cancer early and making existing powerful treatments work better.

Why is Cancer Difficult To Treat?

Bowel cancer is a significant problem, and while immunotherapy (which uses your own immune system to fight the disease) is a very promising treatment, it only works for a small number of people. This new research explains why the rest of the tumors are resistant. The “Big Bang” is the stage where the cancer cells essentially change their identity. They use complex biological tricks to stop showing the normal signs that would alert the immune system. This allows the cancer to secure its survival right from the start, dictating how dangerous it will be as it continues to grow.

How Do Cancer Cells Hide?

The main trick the cancer uses to hide is tied to something called neoantigens. Think of these as little "wanted" posters on the cancer cell's surface that tell the immune system, "Attack me!" The study found that cancer cells disrupt the creation of these posters. They do this using epigenetics. This doesn't involve changing the actual DNA code itself, but rather changing how the DNA is organized and read—like changing the font size or color of the book without changing the words. By making the part of the DNA that creates the "wanted" posters inaccessible, the cancer cells remove their disguise, effectively cloaking themselves and becoming invisible to your body's defenses.

Does Catching Colorectal Cancer Early Help?

The discovery that some bowel cancers essentially have this hidden evasion capability built in very early has massive implications for how doctors fight the disease. Experts like Professor Trevor Graham suggest that if doctors can treat the tumor right at or even before this “Big Bang” moment, they could make current treatments much more successful. This is also key for making cancer vaccines. Instead of just treating the existing tumor, these new vaccines could train your immune system to recognize and attack those "born-to-be-bad" cells before they can fully hide and cause the cancer to come back.

Is There A Better Way To Treat Colorectal Cancer?

This study was incredibly detailed because the scientists combined multiple high-tech ways of looking at the cancer, genetics, RNA, and epigenetics. Since they know how the cancer uses epigenetics to hide, they can now look for new combined treatments. For example, they propose mixing immunotherapy with epigenome-modifying drugs.

These special drugs could potentially force the cancer to put its "wanted" posters back up, making the cells visible again for the immunotherapy to destroy. This kind of personalized approach could help doctors predict how a tumor will act and design treatment just for that patient.

This "Big Bang" discovery is a major step forward in understanding bowel cancer. It gives scientists a single, unifying event that dictates how the tumor will behave and resist treatment.

This knowledge is important because it could lead to biomarkers, through simple tests, that tell doctors which patients will respond well to immunotherapy and which won't. Ultimately, this research promotes a new way of thinking: instead of just reacting to cancer once it's established, doctors can start to understand it proactively at its very beginning, leading to better outcomes for patients.

That sudden, foggy feeling where you can't focus, especially when you're super tired? New research suggests that these moments of zoning out are actually your brain's last-ditch effort to do the important cleaning it normally saves for when you're fast asleep. Your brain is trying to take a quick, emergency break.

We have all had days when focusing seems too difficult and you keep ‘spacing out’. When this happens, you take a moment to regain your composure and get back to what you were doing. While you may think that it is a simple lapse in attention, there is a lot that happens in your brain during this time.

The research, published in the Nature Neuroscience, shows this is the time your brain does its ‘maintenance work’ to ensure maximum functionality.

Why Do We Zone Out?

Scientists at MIT used special scanners to look deep inside the brain while people were trying to concentrate. They discovered that the exact moment someone zoned out, a wave of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear fluid that surrounds the brain, whooshed out, and then flowed right back in. This movement of fluid looks exactly like the process that happens during deep sleep, when the fluid washes away built-up waste and toxins from the day. When you're awake and tired, your brain is trying to force this cleaning process to happen.

How Does Our Brain Keep Functioning Fluidly?

A leading neuroscientist from the study explained that if you skip sleep, these cleaning waves start happening while you're awake, even though they shouldn't. The problem is that while the fluid is flowing and cleaning, you lose your ability to pay attention. It's a trade-off: your brain tries to clean up, but the price is that you can't focus on what you're doing. It’s almost like your brain is desperately trying to squeeze in a tiny bit of "microsleep" maintenance, which steals your focus.

The researchers had people do tests in the lab twice: once after they were well-rested, and once after they stayed up all night. Unsurprisingly, people performed much worse when they hadn't slept. Critically, the zoning out happened far more often after the all-nighter. When they looked at the brain data, they saw a clear pattern: when people's reaction times slowed down (meaning they were zoning out), the big fluid cleaning waves were always present. This strongly suggests your tired brain is trying to use these quick cycles to restore function, even if it makes you temporarily lose focus.

How Do We Know When We Zone Out?

The research revealed that when people zoned out, not only did the brain fluid move, but other things changed, too. Their breathing and heart rate slowed down, and their pupils got smaller. This makes the scientists suspect that a single, powerful "master switch" in the body controls both your high-level functions (like attention and perception) and these automatic, basic physical processes (like fluid movement and heart rate). The finding suggests that a lack of sleep affects your whole body through one central system.