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.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda has announced the launch of cervical cancer screenings using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) are now available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other health facilities for women between 30 and 65 years of age.

"Screening for cervical cancer is now available at 1,81,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, also known as Health and Wellness Centers, across the country as a part of population based screening for early detection and treatment," said Nadda, while addressing a press briefing at the World Health Organization virtually.

Using VIA, a low-cost, point-of-care method, trained health workers will screen women for cervical cancer. Those who test positive will then be referred to higher centers for diagnostic confirmation and further evaluation.

Nadda also shared that the cervical cancer screening in the country has been expanded as part of comprehensive primary healthcare under the National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).

"Over 86 million women have already been screened for cervical cancer under the program, reflecting India’s sustained commitment to early detection and prevention," Nadda informed.

Despite being highly preventable as well as treatable, cervical cancer is a public health concern in India.

The country loses one women every eight minutes to cervical cancer.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, about 42,000 new cases of cervical cancer is reported annually in India. This underscores the need for preventive measures such as vaccination and early screening.

The WHO Global Strategy to eliminate cervical cancer includes the 90-70-90 targets by 2030 -- vaccinating 90 per cent of girls against HPV, screening 70 percent of women, and ensuring treatment for 90 percent of those diagnosed with cervical disease.

In line with the global strategy to fight cervical cancer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently also launched a free HPV vaccination drive that will target health and well being of adolescent girls in the country.

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer develops in a women's cervix (uterus opening) due to abnormal cell growth, primarily caused by persistent HPV infection, a common infection that's passed through sexual contact.

When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents the virus from causing damage however, in a small percentage of people, the virus can survive for years and pave the way for some cervical cells to become cancerous.

Treatment involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with early detection significantly improving outcomes, though it remains a major cancer in low-income countries Cervical cancer can also be prevented through vaccination and regular screening (Pap/HPV tests).

Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer has no symptoms in the early days and therefore, is hard to detect until it has spread. However, the early-stage symptoms include:

• Vaginal bleeding after sex
• Vaginal bleeding post-menopause
• Vaginal bleeding between periods or unusually heavy/long periods
• Watery vaginal discharge with a strong odour or containing blood
• Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse
• Advanced Cervical Cancer Symptoms (when cancer has spread beyond the cervix)
• Painful or difficult bowel movements or rectal bleeding
• Painful or difficult urination or blood in the urine
• Persistent dull backache
• Swelling of the legs
• Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen

How Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?

Cervical cancer is largely preventable and, when detected early, it is highly treatable. The WHO recommends HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14, before they become sexually active, along with regular cervical screening from age 30, or 25 for women living with HIV.

Despite this, unequal access to vaccination, screening and treatment continues to drive higher rates of illness and deaths in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda has announced the launch of cervical cancer screenings using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) are now available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other health facilities for women between 30 and 65 years of age.

"Screening for cervical cancer is now available at 1,81,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, also known as Health and Wellness Centers, across the country as a part of population based screening for early detection and treatment," said Nadda, while addressing a press briefing at the World Health Organization virtually.

Using VIA, a low-cost, point-of-care method, trained health workers will screen women for cervical cancer. Those who test positive will then be referred to higher centers for diagnostic confirmation and further evaluation.

Nadda also shared that the cervical cancer screening in the country has been expanded as part of comprehensive primary healthcare under the National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).

"Over 86 million women have already been screened for cervical cancer under the program, reflecting India’s sustained commitment to early detection and prevention," Nadda informed.

Despite being highly preventable as well as treatable, cervical cancer is a public health concern in India.

The country loses one women every eight minutes to cervical cancer.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, about 42,000 new cases of cervical cancer is reported annually in India. This underscores the need for preventive measures such as vaccination and early screening.

The WHO Global Strategy to eliminate cervical cancer includes the 90-70-90 targets by 2030 -- vaccinating 90 per cent of girls against HPV, screening 70 percent of women, and ensuring treatment for 90 percent of those diagnosed with cervical disease.

In line with the global strategy to fight cervical cancer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently also launched a free HPV vaccination drive that will target health and well being of adolescent girls in the country.

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer develops in a women's cervix (uterus opening) due to abnormal cell growth, primarily caused by persistent HPV infection, a common infection that's passed through sexual contact.

When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents the virus from causing damage however, in a small percentage of people, the virus can survive for years and pave the way for some cervical cells to become cancerous.

Treatment involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with early detection significantly improving outcomes, though it remains a major cancer in low-income countries Cervical cancer can also be prevented through vaccination and regular screening (Pap/HPV tests).

Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer has no symptoms in the early days and therefore, is hard to detect until it has spread. However, the early-stage symptoms include:

• Vaginal bleeding after sex
• Vaginal bleeding post-menopause
• Vaginal bleeding between periods or unusually heavy/long periods
• Watery vaginal discharge with a strong odour or containing blood
• Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse
• Advanced Cervical Cancer Symptoms (when cancer has spread beyond the cervix)
• Painful or difficult bowel movements or rectal bleeding
• Painful or difficult urination or blood in the urine
• Persistent dull backache
• Swelling of the legs
• Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen

How Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?

Cervical cancer is largely preventable and, when detected early, it is highly treatable. The WHO recommends HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14, before they become sexually active, along with regular cervical screening from age 30, or 25 for women living with HIV.

Despite this, unequal access to vaccination, screening and treatment continues to drive higher rates of illness and deaths in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia.

Japan has confirmed an outbreak of HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) at a poultry farm, media reports said.

The avian flu, confirmed in Hokkaido in the northern prefecture, marks the fourth case and the country's 21st outbreak this season, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in a statement, said that the affected farm is located in the town of Abira, and keeps about 190,000 chickens.

The farm notified local health officials earlier this week, who rapidly followed up with a rapid avian influenza test.

The positive result was confirmed by genetic testing the following day.

“All chickens at the farm will be culled, incinerated, and buried to prevent further spread of the virus,” the authorities said.

Previously, the HPAI outbreak at a poultry farm in Iwate prefecture was reported in February.

Jiji Press reported that the outbreak in the town of Kanegasaki led to the culling of about 560,000 egg-laying hens at the affected farm.

The bird flu season in Japan typically runs from autumn until the following spring.

What Is HPAI? Global HPAI situation

HPAI is a classification for bird-flu viruses that cause severe disease and high mortality in poultry, and also spreads rapidly.

The influenza A H5N1 virus is one of the most common viruses that cause HPAI.

Others include

• Influenza A H5N8 virus
• Influenza A H5N6 virus
• Influenza A H7N9 virus

Outbreaks of HPAI, especially H5N1, continue in wild birds and poultry worldwide, with active disease zones being reported.

• India

While authorities are culling birds, no human cases have been reported.

• South Korea

• United States

Recent detections include the first confirmed HPAI infections in marine mammals (northern elephant seals) in California -- the first such reported cases in 2026.

• Other regions

Suspected HPAI cases have triggered poultry culls and control measures in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Europe reported multiple outbreaks on commercial poultry farms.

Human Cases

According to the World Health Organization, there have been about 994 confirmed human infections reported worldwide since 2003.

This virus does not appear to transmit easily from person to person, and sustained human-to-human transmission has not been reported.