It was a fine day for many, as it was for Anup Semwal, a 23-year-old communication associate. Like many of us, on Wednesday, he too went out on that sunny day on a date and had a beautiful time. However, things changed completely when it started to rain.

Ignoring it, Semwal tried to book his bike. “It is the monsoon season, so a little rain does no harm,” he says. But soon things went haywire. “Before the bike could come, it started raining heavily and thus started three hours of anxiety,” he says.

Like many on Wednesday evening, Semwal too was stuck in traffic amid the waterlogged Delhi roads for three hours. To make things worse, he was dropped midway as the biker denied driving him through the Khanpur region.

“I waited outside a pan shop for someone to accept my ride, but no luck. An hour and a half went away—I was already drenched from the previous ride. My phone was losing battery, I started to panic,” he says. Luckily, an auto driver, who was homebound agreed to offer him a ride, but with a precondition that he will have to walk more than a kilometre through a stretch of road that “turns into a river everytime it rains.”

“I have a habit of overthinking, getting stuck in loop of thoughts. That stretch was indeed submerged, and all I could think about was getting electrocuted. Every step I took in that pool, I was praying to not get a shock. It was overwhelming,” he says.

Monsoon and Anxiety

Not just Semwal, but many others too faced anxiety when they had to reach home through the flooded roads. Fearing getting submerged, electrocuted or with the thought of being stuck in the traffic for an entire night. Many experience anxiety during the monsoons, fearing that they will be stuck in situations without a solution.

Mental health expert Dr Dharmesh Shah, who has been practising for the last 24 years, says that monsoon brings fear, anxiety and changes in how one feels. Being stuck in a situation like Semwal’s or many others who reach home after four hours for a ride that usually takes them one hour can be anxiety-inducing. However, there are ways one can try to combat it.

“If you find yourself stuck in traffic due to waterlogged roads, it's important to first accept the situation and focus on safety. Make sure your vehicle is secure and won't take on water. To manage anxiety, practice deep breathing and stay aware of your body's responses. Listening to calming music or watching something on your phone can be great distractions. It's also helpful to think positively and find small ways to enjoy the situation, like appreciating the break from your usual routine,” Shah says.

Furthermore, one can also use what is best available to them to calm themselves down. This can be their phone, music apps or a radio. “By listening to calming music, you can stay focused and calm, helping your body to relax and reduce the impact of stressful situations,” he says.

“When stuck in a stressful situation, healthy distractions can be very helpful. Listening to your favourite music, chatting with friends or family, playing games on your phone, or even taking selfies to document the moment can all serve as good distractions. These activities can help you pass the time and keep your mind off the stress until things improve,” remarks Dr Shah.

With Monsoon, Comes Depression

It is true that while many enjoy monsoon, it can also have a negative impact on your mental health. Apart from the anxiety-inducing experiences while manoeuvering through water-logged roads, monsoons can also lead to depression.

“Seasonal depression tends to worsen during the monsoon due to several factors, including reduced sunlight, higher humidity, and lower temperatures. The lack of sunlight can disrupt your body's internal clock and reduce serotonin levels, which can lead to feelings of depression. Additionally, the rainy weather often forces people to stay indoors, which can increase feelings of isolation and loneliness. The natural changes during the monsoon season can also lead to physical discomfort, such as body pains and mood swings, making symptoms of seasonal depression more pronounced,” says Dr Shah.

But there are ways one can manage the depression that comes with monsoon. Dr Shah recommends that one must try to get as much sunlight as possible, even if it means sitting near a window. Engaging in physical activities and hobbies can boost your mood, as can maintaining a healthy diet. “Practicing grounding activities like good sleep hygiene and breathing exercises (pranayama) can also help. Additionally, social interactions, mindfulness meditation, and community support play a crucial role in coping with seasonal depression,” he says.

An international team of researchers has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool that can significantly improve care for glaucoma -- a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, according to a study published in The Lancet Primary Care journal today.

Researchers led by those from the University of Lisbon in Portugal found that the AI-based screening tool halved the number of unnecessary referrals for glaucoma.

The study, released during the Glaucoma Awareness Week, also showed an accuracy level at par with human eye doctors.

"The high accuracy at excluding people without glaucoma is especially important, as false alarms can lead to unnecessary hospital visits, patient anxiety, and added strain on healthcare services," the researchers said.

According to the researchers, AI-based screening could:

• support earlier detection,
• reduce unnecessary specialist referrals,
• prevent avoidable vision loss,
• can be integrated into routine primary care in a cost-effective way

Key Findings

The study was carried out at a single screening center in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023.

The experts screened 671 adults aged 55-65 for glaucoma via the AI tool, analyzing images of the eyes. The images were then independently graded by six glaucoma experts.

The AI-tool:

• referred 66 people (9.8 percent) vs 118 referrals (18.0 percent) by the eye doctors,
• diagnosed glaucoma in 40 participants (6.4 percent).
• It correctly identified 78 percent of people who truly had glaucoma, vs 75 percent identified by the eye doctors
• Correctly ruled out the disease in 95 percent of people, vs 91 percent by eye doctors

While modelling studies suggest that screening could substantially reduce glaucoma-related visual impairment and blindness, barriers include the need for specialised diagnostic equipment and trained personnel, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and the intrinsically low positive predictive value of screening tests.

In such a scenario, the new study showed that "AI may provide a more viable option than population-wide screening", which may seem impractical.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a chronic disease that affects an estimated 80 million individuals globally, according to the World Glaucoma Association.

It is a progressive, degenerative disorder of the optic nerve that produces characteristic visual field damage.

The disease stems from a long asymptomatic phase, resulting in substantial underdiagnosis and delayed treatment.

Even in high-income countries, up to 50 percent of individuals with glaucoma remain undiagnosed, frequently presenting moderate to advanced disease at first detection.

By the year 2040, it is estimated that there will be 22 million individuals worldwide who are blind from glaucoma.

When to see a doctor for glaucoma:

• Vision suddenly gets blurry
• Severe eye pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Rainbow-colored rings or halos around lights

In adults, long periods of sleep deprivation has been linked to problems such as weakened immunity, weight gain, depression, and an increased risk of dementia. However, scientists are now paying closer attention to how sleep affects the brain much earlier in life.

However, a new University of North Carolina School of Medicine study suggests that disrupted sleep during early childhood may interfere with key stages of brain development and asl well as increase the risk of developing autism.

Why Sleep Matters For The Developing Brain

Sleep plays a crucial role in helping these synapses form and strengthen. During sleep, the brain organizes and stabilizes these neural connections, shaping the foundation for future brain function. If sleep is repeatedly disrupted during this delicate stage of development, the process may be affected.

Frequent waking or sleep disturbances could interfere with how these neural connections are formed, potentially influencing behavior and cognitive abilities later in life.

The Link Between Sleep And Autism

“The unique effects of sleep loss during development are largely unexplored,” Diering said. “Our data show that babies and children are more vulnerable to the negative effects of sleep disruption. We also found that sleep loss during this crucial period of time can negatively interact with underlying genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder.”

Sleep problems are already known to be common in people with autism. In fact, sleep disruption has been reported in more than 80 percent of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. However, researchers have long debated whether these sleep issues are a cause of the disorder or a consequence of it. Understanding how sleep interacts with brain development could help scientists detect autism earlier and potentially develop new treatment strategies.

Studying Sleep Disruption In Early Life

In earlier work conducted in 2022, researchers examined how sleep disruption during early life might interact with genetic factors linked to autism. Using mouse models, they disrupted sleep during the third week of life, a developmental stage roughly comparable to ages one to two in humans.

The study found that sleep disruption during this period produced long lasting behavioral changes. Male mice that were genetically vulnerable to autism showed deficits in social behavior later in life. These results suggested that sleep disruption during critical stages of development may interact with genetic risk factors in ways that shape long term behavior.

Younger Brains Respond Differently To Sleep Loss

To investigate further, researchers studied how developing and adult mice respond differently to sleep deprivation.

Using specially designed housing systems equipped with sensitive sensors, scientists tracked the animals’ breathing and movement. This allowed them to determine when the mice were awake and when they were asleep.

The researchers observed that adult mice were able to compensate for lost sleep. After experiencing sleep deprivation, the adults increased their sleep later during their normal active period. This process, known as sleep rebound, allowed them to recover some of the lost rest.

Younger mice behaved very differently. They showed no sleep rebound at all, meaning they did not compensate for the sleep they had lost. This finding suggests that younger brains may be far more vulnerable to the effects of sleep disruption.

The consequences were also visible in cognitive performance. Sleep deprived young mice performed poorly on learning and memory tasks, while adult mice were significantly more resilient after losing sleep.

Changes At The Level Of Brain Synapses

The results showed that sleep deprivation in young mice significantly altered the formation of synapses. These changes were not seen in adult mice. “This now provides one of the largest and most comprehensive datasets to examine the molecular effects of sleep loss across the lifespan,” Diering said.

Potential Future Treatments

“Development is not something that one can go back and do again,” Diering said. “Sleep is important for the entire life and especially during development. Understanding what we know now will place greater emphasis on understanding sleep issues in ASD and could lead to an important therapeutic avenue to treat ASD and other developmental conditions.”

The findings highlight an important message for parents and caregivers. During early childhood, healthy sleep patterns may play a critical role in shaping the brain for years to come.

Using amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis can significantly increase your risk of having a brain stroke particularly among younger adults, according to a new University of Cambridge analysis

The findings highlight how recreational drug use may contribute to a preventable health risk, especially among people under the age of 55.

Megan Ritson, a stroke genetics researcher at the University of Cambridge and lead author said the results provide strong evidence linking certain drugs to stroke risk.

“These findings provide compelling evidence that drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis are causal risk factors for stroke,” Ritson noted.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. This can happen when a blood vessel becomes blocked by a clot, known as an ischemic stroke, or when a blood vessel bursts and causes bleeding in the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke. Both types can lead to serious brain damage and can be life threatening.

Amphetamines Associated With The Highest Risk

When researchers combined data from eight previous studies, they found that recreational amphetamine use was associated with more than double the risk of stroke across all adult age groups. For individuals under the age of 55, the increase was even greater. In this group, amphetamine use was linked to nearly triple the risk of stroke compared with people who do not use the drug.

Across all age groups, the analysis found that amphetamine use increased the risk of ischemic stroke by 137 percent and hemorrhagic stroke by 183 percent. These figures reflect relative risk, meaning the probability of stroke is higher among users compared with non users.

Cocaine Shows A Similar Pattern

The analysis showed that cocaine use nearly doubled the risk of stroke of any kind and more than doubled the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Additional genetic investigations were conducted alongside the main analysis to better understand whether the relationship might be causal rather than simply linked to other lifestyle factors.

Eric Harshfield, a genetic epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, said the findings suggest the drugs themselves may play a direct role. “Our analysis suggests that it is these drugs themselves that increase the risk of stroke, not just other lifestyle factors among users,” Harshfield said.

Cannabis Linked To Smaller But Significant Risk

Among people under the age of 55, cannabis use was linked to a 14 percent increase in stroke risk. Although the increase is lower than that associated with stimulant drugs, researchers say it remains important because cannabis is widely used.

Opioids Showed No Clear Association

A Preventable Health Risk

The researchers also note that many of the studies included in the analysis relied on participants reporting their own drug use. Because of this, other lifestyle factors could potentially influence the results. Further research will be needed to better understand the biological mechanisms involved and how different patterns of drug use may affect stroke risk. Still, scientists say the evidence now available provides an important foundation for future public health strategies.

“These findings give us stronger evidence to guide future research and public health strategies,” Ritson said.