Experiencing daytime sleepiness is something that is usually perceived as a minor inconvenience, but for older adults, it could be an early warning sign of Dementia. This neurodegenerative disease leads to the progressive decline of brain cells. This eventually

affects memory, cognition, and personality, making everyday tasks more difficult. As one of the fastest-growing neurological disorders across the world, dementia poses a significant health threat to ageing populations.

Is Dementia Linked To Poor Sleep?

For this study, researchers followed 445 older adults (average age 76) over three years, aiming to determine whether poor sleep could increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which often leads to dementia. At the start, none of the participants had MCI, but by the end of the study, 36 individuals had developed the condition.

The researchers discovered that participants with poor sleep were more likely to develop MCI compared to those who slept well. However, when depression symptoms were taken into account, the link between poor sleep and MCI became less pronounced, suggesting that while sleep issues are a concern, mental health also plays a key role in dementia risk.

To assess sleep quality, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used, evaluating factors such as sleep duration, disturbances, and daytime alertness. Among these, "daytime dysfunction"—defined as excessive sleepiness and low energy during the day—was most strongly associated with an increased risk of MCI. Those experiencing daytime dysfunction were more than three times as likely to develop MCI as those who didn’t report such symptoms.

There are many types of dementia:

Dementia is not a specific disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is an overall term that describes a decline in mental ability that interferes with daily life. People with dementia often have symptoms like trouble remembering, thinking, or making everyday decisions. These symptoms tend to get worse over time.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, and it mostly affects the elderly. Each form of dementia has a different cause. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal ageing. An estimated 6.7 million older adults have Alzheimer's disease in the United States. That number is expected to double by 2060, as per data from the CDC.

In 2022, 3.8% of men and 4.2% women in US were diagnosed with dementia. The percentage of people increase with age from 1.7% for those aged 65-74 to 13.1% for those aged 85 and older. Alzheimer's accounts for 60 to 80% of all dementia cases and it is most prevalent in California, Florida, and Texas, as these states have the highest number of people.

Amid concerns over the ongoing Ebola outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan has declared a new cholera outbreak, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced.

The outbreak has been reported in West Kordofan state.

As of June 20, Sudan's State Ministry of Health had reported 838 suspected cholera cases, seven confirmed cases and 117 deaths.

Conflict Hampering Response

"The outbreak is unfolding amid the continued disruption of health services caused by conflict. Population displacement is making access to essential health care even more difficult. At the same time, insecurity and access constraints continue to delay the deployment of response teams and delivery of medical supplies and humanitarian assistance," Tedros said.

He added that WHO is coordinating the response with partners by scaling up cholera treatment centers and oral rehydration points, delivering cholera kits, installing handwashing stations, training chlorinators, hygiene promoters and health workers, and supporting community health education.

Third Cholera Wave Since 2023

Also Read: Ebola Outbreak Spreads To Fourth Province In DR Congo As Cases Rise To 1,274

Since the conflict began in 2023, Sudan has declared three waves of cholera outbreaks, with the most recent before this one occurring in January 2025 in White Nile State.

The latest announcement comes less than four months after Sudan declared the end of a cholera outbreak that began in July 2024. That outbreak spread across all 18 states, infected more than 124,000 people and claimed 3,573 lives.

According to the health ministry, the outbreak was largely linked to contaminated drinking water after the city's water supply facility was damaged in an attack by paramilitary forces.

War Fueling Disease Spread

Read More: WHO Warns of 70% Risk of Ebola Spread to South Sudan

The combination of conflict, displacement, damaged infrastructure and recurring disease outbreaks has placed millions at risk, with children under five among the most vulnerable.

According to the UNICEF, Sudan's healthcare system is also on the verge of collapse, leaving millions of children at greater risk of infectious diseases. Continued displacement has forced families into overcrowded settlements with limited access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare, creating ideal conditions for cholera and other waterborne diseases to spread.

The outbreaks have been intensified by multiple factors. The war has displaced millions, forcing many into camps with poor sanitation. Health centers, schools and water facilities have been damaged or repurposed as shelters.

Seasonal rains and flooding have further contaminated water sources, accelerating disease transmission.

What Is Cholera?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. This can be transmitted through drinking water or eating food that contains the bacteria. While most people who get cholera don't get sick, it can cause life-threatening diarrhea and vomiting.

CDC notes that each year, 1.3 to 4 million people around the world get cholera. Among them, 21,000 to 143,000 people die.

What Are The Common Symptoms?

The common symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• vomiting
• leg cramps
• losing body fluids
• dehydration and shock
• Usually, people develop symptoms within 1 to 10 days of consuming the bacteria.

Who Is At More Risk?

People who live in areas with unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene are at the highest risk of getting cholera. The disease can spread quickly in areas where sewage and drinking water are not adequately treated. It can also live in brackish water, which is slightly salty, or in coastal water. Thus, eating raw shellfish can also cause cholera.

The deadly Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has spread to a fourth province, raising concerns about wider regional transmission.

Until now, the outbreak had been confined to North Kivu, South Kivu, and the conflict-hit Ituri province, the epicentre of the current outbreak. Cases have also been reported across the border in Uganda.

The virus has now reached Haut-Uele province, which borders South Sudan and the Central African Republic, according to AFP.

WHO Warns Of Regional Spread

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The development also increases the risk of the virus spreading to South Sudan. A new World Health Organization (WHO) modelling study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases estimates there is a 70 per cent chance the outbreak will reach South Sudan soon.

Haut-Uele province is home to around 15 million people. Health officials said the first case in Haut-Uele was detected after an infected person travelled from Bunia, the capital of Ituri. The patient later died, according to sources at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB).

Cases Climb To 1,274, With 360 Deaths

Confirmed Ebola cases have risen to 1,274, including 360 deaths, according to the WHO.

The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Clinical trials are expected to begin in the coming days, according to the WHO, which has issued an international alert over the outbreak.

The WHO projections estimate the outbreak could reach about 8,210 cases and 1,420 deaths by mid-September if transmission continues.

Drug Trials Set To Begin

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The first clinical trial of drugs that may treat the Bundibugyo virus is expected to begin in the DRC next week. A separate trial testing an antiviral drug to prevent infection among close contacts is scheduled to start a week later.

Scientists say efforts to develop vaccines and treatments are being hampered by the lack of a viable sample of the Bundibugyo virus.

DRC Restricts Public Gatherings

Separately, Reuters reported on June 29 that the DRC has banned public gatherings in four provinces, including the capital, Kinshasa, as authorities attempt to contain the outbreak.

The ban comes ahead of a planned protest in Kinshasa on July 8 against proposed constitutional reforms. Opposition leaders have described the restriction as "politically motivated."

US CDC Raises Response To Highest Level

Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised its emergency response to the outbreak to Level 1, its highest activation level. The designation, reserved for the most severe public health emergencies, allows the agency to deploy its maximum response capacity.

Despite the escalation, the CDC said the risk of Ebola spreading to the United States remains low.

Jamsin Bhasin recently took to Instagram to share a health update with her fans. She shared that she was hospitalized in Dubai after suffering from a serious infection during her birthday trip. She then revealed that she was diagnosed with terminal ileitis and high-risk infection, and inflammation.

Jasmin Bhasin Diagnosed With Terminal Ileitis

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Jasmin Bhasin shared a video in which she said, “So as soon as I landed in Dubai the next day, I fell severely sick and had to get hospitalized because I was diagnosed with terminal ileitis and severe high-risk infection and inflammation. But hopefully I will recover soon and will be back.”

She also said that she is recovering well and will be back on her feet soon.

She added, “I am so sorry I have not been able to respond to all your lovely messages and post, but Aly has already posted this birthday cake and how we didn't end up how we expected. Life is very unexpected but I am much better and should be back soon, but I am grateful to all of your love for my birthday and all your best wishes for my speedy recovery.”

What Is Terminal Ileitis?

Terminal ileitis is the inflammation of the terminal ileum, the final section of the small intestine that connects to the large intestine (colon). The terminal ileum has multiple important functions, including:

• Absorbing vitamin B12 in the body

• Absorbing bile acids, which help digest fats

• Playing a role in the body's immune system

Symptoms Of Terminal Ileitis

Here are some common symptoms of terminal ileitis:

• Pain and discomfort in the lower right side of the abdomen

• Chronic diarrhea (sometimes)

• Weight loss

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Blood in the stool (more common with Crohn's disease than with many infections)

Terminal Ileitis & Crohn’s Disease

HealthandMe spoke to Dr. Pramod Kadam, Consultant, General Surgery, Ruby Hall Clinic about terminal ileitis and Crohn's disease. Dr. Kadam explains, "It is generally related to inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's disease, but, it is essential to remember that the diagnosis of terminal ileitis is not a diagnosis but rather a clinical finding and can have many causes. Occasionally it can be caused by bacterial or viral infection, by prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), by intestinal tuberculosis, by lack of blood supply to the intestine or by other inflammation."

However, terminal ileitis can also result from several other conditions. They are:

• Bacterial infections (such as Yersiniosis, Salmonellosis, or Campylobacteriosis)

• Ulcerative colitis (rarely, through backwash ileitis)

• Intestinal tuberculosis (especially in countries where TB is common)

• Long-term use of Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs

• Certain cancers

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Dr. Kadam also shared an update about the condition's diagnosis. He says, "The diagnosis typically relies on a series of blood tests, a stool examination, imaging tests (CT or MRI scans) and a colonoscopy with a biopsy to identify the underlying cause of the inflammation. Treatment depends upon the underlying condition. Antibiotics may be needed for infectious conditions, but anti-inflammatory drugs, immune-modulating drugs or biologic drugs may be used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases. Surgical intervention is indicated only in cases of complications like intestinal constriction, intestinal blockage or perforation."

Before this, Jasmin also faced another health scare during one of her shoots. She shared that she experienced severe discomfort in her eye, which escalated into a painful corneal injury.

Later, she found out that her eye injury was identified as a reaction to her contact lenses. She went on to raise awareness about proper care and hygiene when using contact lenses. She revealed that receiving prompt medical attention and care is essential when it comes to such eye injuries.