Way before health influencer was a thing, Belle Gibson, an Australian influencer, and an Instagram Wellness Guru did it. The year was 2023, and she, 20 back then had declared to the world on her Instagram that she had been diagnosed with a "malignant brain cancer" and was given "six weeks, four months top" to live. However, she denied to opt for any radiotherapy or chemotherapy and wanted to start a "quest to heal myself naturally...through nutrition, patience, determination and love."

This is story form a decade old, has still not lost its relevant and has been featured in Netflix's latest release Apple Cider Vinegar. The story of Belle Gibson about a terminal illness and promoting alternative therapies continue to remain a warning a decade on.

The problem is not that she shared her story with 200,000 followers about her wellness journey, but the lies she told. Gibson faked her terminal illness just to promote her newly wellness and nutrition app and cookbook The Whole Pantry that she credited her diet for curing her terminal illness. Both of which soon became best-selling. She was also dubbed as "the most inspiring woman you have met this year" by Elle Australia in 2014, reports BBC. In fact, Cosmopolitan gave her a "Fun, Fearless Female" award.

What Is Her Story?

She claimed to have cancer in her blood, spleen, brain, uterus, and liver. However, soon her lies were exposed. Apple Cider Vinegar that features her story about the lies she had spread and the medical scam, is based on the book by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, who were the first one to bring out Gibson's medical history, revealing that she never had been diagnosed with cancer. The book is called The Woman Who Fooled the World.

Donelly and Toscano received a tip from Gibson's friend Chanelle who doubted her when she had a seizure but refused to call an ambulance or take her to the hospital. Her lies began to unravel in March 2015, when the Australian newspaper carried the investigation revealing that she never made the donations she claimed. However, she blamed "cash flow" as the issue for the delay. Then The Age published accounts of her close friends who questioned Gibson's illness, in fact, an Australian neurosurgeon, Professor Andrew Kaye shared that her claims did not add up.

Not just that, but everything was a lie, her name, her age, her story. When questioned again, in a June interview with 60 Minutes Australia, she said that she was wrongly diagnosed with cancer by a German alternative medical practitioner in 2009. She claimed that she did not know she was healthy until 2011.

"I lived for years with the fear that I was dying," Gibson said in the interview. "I wasn’t living in a space where I didn’t know that this was my reality."

"I’ve not been intentionally untruthful. I’ve been openly speaking about what was my reality," she said.

Where Is Belle Gibson Now?

After her lies were revealed, her wellness and nutrition app was pulled from the App Store, her book launch was canceled and Penguin stripped The Whole Pantry from shelves in Australia.

What could've been the reason for her to lie about her illness? Many think that she was suffering from Munchausen’s syndrome, though she denied any such thing. As per the National Health Service (NHS), it is a psychological condition where someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves. The intention is to project themselves in a "sick" role so that people care for them and they become the center of attention. It is named after Baron Munchausen, a fictional character named for a real-life retired German officer Karl Friedrich Hieronymus, who became famous for telling "wild, unbelievable tales about his exploits."

Did you know that among the 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, nearly two-thirds are women? This means women are almost twice as likely as men to develop the condition. While longer life expectancy partly explains the difference, research shows that hormonal changes after menopause, genetic factors, and certain lifestyle patterns also increase risk.

As a result, understanding the early warning signs and taking preventive steps is especially important for women, who face a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s as they age.

Women and Alzheimer’s: Why The Risk Is Higher

Dr. Brij Lal Choudhary, Consultant Neurologist at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur, points out that Alzheimer’s is often seen as a condition of old age, but women are disproportionately affected. Nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women, making it almost twice as common in women compared to men. While longer life expectancy plays a role, other factors, such as hormonal changes after menopause, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle patterns also increase risk.

Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Women Should Watch

Memory loss: Forgetting recent events, appointments, or familiar names, with lapses gradually worsening.

ALSO READ: Chronic Insomnia Could Increase The Risk Of Dementia By 40%: Study

• Difficulty managing tasks or problem-solving: Struggling with daily responsibilities, finances, or planning may indicate cognitive changes.
• Confusion: Feeling disoriented over simple or familiar activities.
• Mood or personality changes: Sudden anxiety, frequent irritability, or withdrawing from social life.
• Language difficulties: Trouble finding the right words or expressing thoughts clearly.

Increased Risk of Alzheimer's in WomenStudies consistently show that women are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to men. For instance, a Swedish study involving 16,926 participants found that, starting around age 80, women were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's than men of the same age. Similarly, research in Taiwan indicated that over a seven-year period, women had a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer's compared to men. A European meta-analysis revealed that approximately 13 women out of 1,000 developed Alzheimer's each year, compared to only seven men, as per Harvard Health Publishing.

ALSO READ: CDC Vaccine Panel Updates COVID-19 Guidelines: What You Need To Know

While the longer life expectancy of women contributes to this disparity, it doesn't fully explain the difference. Even among individuals of the same age, women are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's than men. This suggests that factors beyond longevity, such as hormonal changes, genetic predispositions, and immune system differences, may play significant roles in the increased risk for women.

How to Reduce Risk and Protect Cognitive HealthAlthough Alzheimer’s cannot be reversed, several steps can help lower risk and support brain health:

• Regular cognitive screenings to monitor changes over time.
• Mental stimulation through reading, puzzles, or learning new skills.
• Physical exercise to improve blood flow and overall health.
• Managing blood pressure and blood sugar to reduce vascular-related risks.

We all experience occasional forgetfulness or feel a bit scatterbrained from time to time, often attributing it to stress, a busy lifestyle, or simply getting older. However, repeated lapses in memory, confusion, or difficulty performing everyday tasks can sometimes signal the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Recognising these warning signs early is crucial, as timely awareness and intervention can help manage the condition more effectively and improve quality of life.

As we observe World Alzheimer’s Day 2025, it’s the perfect moment to learn about Alzheimer’s, understand its early indicators, and know what experts recommend paying attention to.

What Is Alzheimer’s?

ALSO READ: Chronic Insomnia Could Increase The Risk Of Dementia By 40%: Study

For most people, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s, according to the National Institute on Aging. Current estimates indicate that over 6 million Americans aged 65 and older may be living with Alzheimer’s. Age remains the greatest known risk factor, and with the population aging, the number of cases is expected to rise.

Stages of Alzheimer’sAlzheimer’s disease progresses gradually, with symptoms worsening over time. It is generally divided into three stages: early (mild), middle (moderate), and late (severe). In the early stage, memory lapses and confusion begin to interfere with daily life. During the middle stage, challenges with language, reasoning, and daily activities become more pronounced. In the late stage, individuals may lose the ability to communicate, require full-time care, and become highly dependent on others. Understanding the stages helps families and caregivers plan support and interventions more effectively.

Alzheimer’s vs Dementia

Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

• Persistent Memory Loss: Forgetting recent conversations, events, or important dates more often than usual, affecting daily life.
• Difficulty in Planning or Problem-Solving: Challenges with tasks like handling finances, following recipes, or keeping track of everyday responsibilities.
• Impairment of Spatial Memory: Forgetting familiar routes or even one’s way back home.
• Changes in Mood or Personality: Increased irritability, withdrawal from social activities, or unexpected anxiety and depression.

Blood pressure monitoring plays a key role in managing hypertension. For patients whose numbers are well controlled through lifestyle changes or medication, the question often arises: how often should they be checking at home? While regular monitoring helps track progress and detect changes early, checking too frequently can increase stress or lead to unnecessary worry. On the other hand, checking too infrequently may delay important adjustments in treatment. Below, we take a look at how much frequency is important to check your blood pressure.

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: How Often To Track Your Readings

When you have controlled hypertension, checking your readings at home with a validated monitor is important but doing it properly matters just as much. The CDC and American Heart Association recommend measuring at the same times each day, usually once in the morning and once in the evening. Take at least two readings, spaced 1-2 minutes apart, then average them.

Avoid caffeine, smoking, or exercise in the 30 minutes before taking a reading. Sit quietly for five minutes beforehand, keep your back supported, feet flat on the floor, arm at heart level, cuff on bare skin, and don’t talk during the measurement.

ALSO READ: American Heart Association Updates Hypertension Guidelines: Here’s What To Know

How many times per week? For people with stable, well-controlled blood pressure, checking 3 to 4 times per week may be sufficient. If just starting home monitoring or adjusting treatment, doctors may ask for readings over a week (3-7 days) to get a clear picture.

What is Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring?

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a method doctors use to track and understand high blood pressure over an entire day. Hypertension is diagnosed when the upper reading (systolic) is 130 mmHg or higher, or the lower reading (diastolic) is 80 mmHg or higher.

Unlike the usual check-up at a clinic, where a doctor measures your blood pressure once or twice with a cuff, ABPM gives a more complete picture. For this test, you wear a cuff on your arm that’s connected to a small device strapped to your waist or shoulder. The device automatically takes your blood pressure at regular intervals, every 15 to 30 minutes during the day and about once an hour at night, while you carry on with your normal activities, including sleep.

By the end of 24 hours, your doctor has dozens of readings instead of just one or two. This allows them to see your average blood pressure, how it changes throughout the day and night, and whether there are any unusual patterns. The device also records your heart rate, which adds more detail to the overall assessment.

Why Monitoring Matters Even When Blood Pressure Is Controlled?

ALSO READ: H3N2 Flu Wave Hits Delhi: Paracetamol and Dolo Failing, Expert Reveals What to Take Instead

Tracking your blood pressure helps detect these patterns early, allowing timely adjustments in treatment and preventing long-term complications such as heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage. According to the American Heart Association, even small, consistent changes in readings over time can provide critical insights for maintaining cardiovascular health.