Unlike what most of us think, our organs, even the brain, get worn out over time. The concept of wear and tear also applies here, however, how susceptible is our brain to this process? Can it affect our brain size? Research shows it may.

A new study published in Nature Communication, suggests that knowing how the shape of your brain changes over time could be really important for spotting dementia early. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) and the University of La Laguna in Spain found that when the brain's overall structure shifts, it's often connected to a drop in your mental abilities, like how well you can remember things or figure out problems. Getting a better handle on this could lead to improved care and better treatments for memory loss.

How Does Your Brain’s Shape Change

Scientists think that some of the normal wear and tear that eventually causes diseases like dementia also change the brain's structure and shape. If we can watch out for these changes in shape, it might be a relatively easy way to catch dementia sooner than before.

Most research on the aging brain just focuses on how much tissue is lost in certain areas. But these researchers looked at something different. the overall shape of the brain shifts in systematic ways, and those shifts are closely tied to whether someone shows cognitive impairment.

The team studied 2,603 MRI brain scans from people ranging from 30 up to 97 years old. They tracked how the brain's structure and shape changed over time and compared these changes to the scores people got on tests measuring their thinking abilities.

They noticed that as people got older, the changes (shrinking and expanding) didn't happen evenly everywhere in the brain. They also saw that in people who were already struggling with their thinking skills, this unevenness was much clearer.

For example, the areas of the brain toward the back were found to shrink more with age, particularly in those who scored poorly on tests for reasoning ability. The researchers need to collect a lot more information to be absolutely certain about these links, but this study strongly suggests they exist.

Can The Size Of Our Brain Be A Sign Of Alzheimer’s?

The findings offer a new, surprising idea about what might cause neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, where brain damage gets worse over time.

The researchers suggest that the changes in the brain's shape over time might actually start to squeeze a very important memory center called the entorhinal cortex. This is critical because that same region is the place where the harmful, toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer's typically begun to gather first.

UC Irvine neuroscientist Michael Yassa said this squeeze could help explain why the entorhinal cortex is the "ground zero" for Alzheimer's damage. He explained that if the aging brain is slowly changing shape in a way that "squeezes this fragile region against a rigid boundary, it may create the perfect storm for damage to take root."

Understanding this physical process gives scientists a whole new way to think about how Alzheimer's disease works and offers the exciting possibility of detecting it much earlier.

To move forward, the team needs to look at more brain scans and take more precise measurements. They are especially interested in finding out why some brain areas might expand with age and how that relates to thinking ability.

Society often teaches people to expect mood swings, cramps, and general chaos when girls enter puberty. However, a healthcare professional suggests that this perspective may be causing people to miss important warning signs about a teen girl's overall health and well-being.

In an Instagram post, Holly Miller, OB/GYN (obstetrician and gynecologist) listed the things people often overlook when it comes to women’s health. The core message is that people should stop accepting certain struggles as "normal" and instead consider them as potential reasons to investigate deeper.

10 Ways People Often Dismiss Teen Girls’ Health

In the post caption, Dr Holly detailed 10 different things that people have normalized teen girls and their health concerns.

"She’s just moody."

Don't simply blame hormones; constant moodiness could point to serious mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or even PMDD. These conditions require professional support and should not be ignored.

"She’s always tired—probably just growing."

Extreme tiredness is often a sign of a real physical problem. It might be an iron deficiency, a thyroid imbalance, or a cortisol (stress hormone) issue caused by poor sleep or constant stress.

"Crippling period pain? Welcome to womanhood."

Pain that stops daily life is not normal. It could be endometriosis, a condition where tissue grows outside the uterus. The doctor reminds us this painful issue can begin when girls are very young.

"She’s gaining weight—probably eating too much."

Unexpected weight gain can signal deeper health problems. Look for PCOS (a hormone disorder), insulin resistance, or emotional eating as a way to cope with unacknowledged stress.

"She cries over everything—classic drama queen."

Crying often and intensely isn't always drama. It may be a sign of a trauma response where the teen’s nervous system is easily overwhelmed. Be compassionate and seek help.

"She’s super self-conscious—all teens are."

Intense focus on flaws is not just typical shyness. It could be body dysmorphia or a disordered eating pattern, which social media pressures can make much worse.

"Her acne is bad—part of being a teenager."

Severe acne can be a clue that something is off with her hormones. It often signals a hormonal imbalance caused by high male hormones (androgens) or an underlying condition like PCOS.

"She misses school during her period—she’ll toughen up."

Missing school due to periods is not normal. The true cause could be painful conditions like menstrual migraines, endometriosis, or PMDD, which are all treatable with the correct medical care.

"She’s embarrassed to talk about periods—normal!"

Shame around periods is often caused by a lack of proper education. It might mean she needs a safe and open space to ask questions and fully understand her own changing body.

"It’s just a phase—she’ll grow out of it."

Some teen troubles fade, but if you have a strong feeling that something is wrong, trust your gut. Don't wait; it's vital to speak up and advocate for the teen's health now.

The doctor concludes that people must recognize that not every struggle is "just hormones." If a daughter, niece, student, or any teen girl is struggling, it is not "overreacting" to ask questions and seek professional help; the doctor states that it is the smart and necessary thing to do.

One of the most common cancers in women, it is estimated that, breast cancer affected 2.3 millon women in 2022 and caused 670,000 deaths globally. While it is a common form of cancer, how many people know signs of breast cancer? According to a survey conducted by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center/OSUCCC, while more than 90 per cent knew lumps in breast was a sign, less than half knew what the other signs were.

A breast cancer surgeon, Dr Lauren Ramsey, pointed out four key points that everyone should know about breast cancer.

Learning is the best way to combat and increase chances of diagnoses because it is one of the most curable forms of cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, almost 100 per cent survive their cancer for the first five years or more, so when it is diagnosed early, one has more chances.

In an Instagram post titled, ‘Advice I would give you as a breast cancer surgeon if I wasn’t afraid of hurting your feelings’, Dr Ramsey listed these key points.

4 Key Points About Breast Cancer

In the captions, Dr Ramsey explained that having accurate information is necessary if we want to increase the chances of survival.

Family History Isn't the Only Risk Factor

A lot of people think they only need to worry about breast cancer if a parent or siblings have had it, but that idea is wrong. Only a tiny fraction—just 5 to 10 per cent—of all breast cancer cases are actually caused by inherited gene faults, like the well-known BRCA mutation.

This means that most cases of breast cancer happen to people who have no strong family history of the disease. It's really important for everyone to get regular screenings, such as mammograms, regardless of what their family's medical history looks like.

A Lump Isn't the Only Symptom

It's a common misunderstanding that breast cancer always starts with a hard lump you can feel. However, that's not always true.

You need to pay attention to other possible signs and changes. These signs can include changes to the skin on your breast, like redness or dimpling - like an orange peel, discharge coming from the nipple, new swelling in the breast or armpit, or even just a feeling of subtle, unusual pain. Get to know what your breasts normally look and feel like, so you can tell your doctor right away if anything new or strange appears.

Dense Tissue Complicates Detection

Many women have dense breast tissue, which is totally normal. However, this type of tissue makes finding a tumor much harder when a mammogram is performed.

On an X-ray, both dense breast tissue and cancerous tumors look white. This makes it easy for tumors to hide behind the tissue. If your breasts are dense, your doctor might suggest extra tests like an ultrasound or MRI after your mammogram. Always make sure to ask if your breast density was written on your mammogram report so you know if further checks are necessary.

Lifestyle Choices Make a Real Difference

All the advice you hear about healthy living truly does help lower your risk of developing breast cancer. It's not just talk!

Even small, simple changes can have a powerful impact on your health. A great place to start is by cutting back on alcohol and processed foods. Make it a point to also move your body more every day. These healthy habits are effective steps you can take starting right now to protect yourself and lower your risk.

We had lost many years, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the life expectancy was cut short. In fact in 2021, COVID-19 was the leading cause of death. However, it seems to have recovered in the recent times, reports a new Lancet Study, conducted by the University of Washington School of Medicine's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). As per the new report, the numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels after falling during the height of COVID-19.

Humans are now living nearly two decades longer than they were in 1950. The research was based on the study of 204 countries and territories. However, the issue that scientists point out remain in the "emerging crisis" of rising death rates among the adolescent and young adults.

As far as COVID-19 itself is concerned, it fell from the leading cause of death in 2021 to 20th place in 2023, with heart disease and stroke rising to again becoming the leading cause of death, worldwide.

What Shifts Have Been Noticed?

Across the world, deaths have shifted away from infectious diseases. Many experts have time and again said that now these viruses, while they continue to mutate, no longer pose a serious threat. In fact, deaths from measles, diarrhea, and tuberculosis have seen a decline, with noncommunicable diseases now accounting for about two-thirds of global mortality and morbidity.

Experts say that while deaths from cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke have declined since the 1990s, cases of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s have surged. “The world’s rapidly aging population and shifting risk factors have created a new wave of global health challenges,” said Dr. Christopher Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). “The findings of the Global Burden of Disease study serve as a wake-up call for governments and healthcare leaders to act quickly and strategically against these emerging threats to public health.”

More Than Half Of These Diseases Are Preventable

Research tells us that more than half of these diseases are preventable.

IHME in its study found that conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels and obesity are among the 10 risk factors that can have greatest effect and increase mortality rates. Between 2010 and 2023, there was an 11% higher burden of disease due to high body mass index and a 6% increase due to high blood sugar.

However, most of these can be prevented. Other factors include environmental factors like pollution and lead exposure. This could also lead to issues in newborn health, low birthweight and short gestation.

Why Do The Youth Have Shorter Life Expectancy?

As per the research, deaths among people aged 20 to 39 in high-income North America have surged over the past decade. This has been driven by suicide, drug overdoses, and excessive alcohol use. Mortality among those aged 5 to 19 has also climbed in places like Eastern Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa, where infectious diseases and accidental injuries remain major causes.

“The world’s aging population and shifting risk factors have created a new wave of global health challenges,” said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray. “The Global Burden of Disease study is a wake-up call for governments and healthcare leaders to act swiftly and strategically in addressing these alarming trends.”