Aromatherapy’s Anti-Aging Elixir: How 3 Essential Oils Can Transform Your Skin
While there is no dearth of products for anti-ageing but people are turning towards essential oils for this particular concern as they are natural and more than just skin care they have a holistic effect. As people age, the skin begins to break down and lose elasticity. This natural process causes wrinkles and fine lines to appear on the face around the forehead, mouth, and eyes.
Although essential oils will not eliminate wrinkles completely, they may be able to reduce their appearance. They are also a natural alternative to chemical creams and lotions. They may also:
Now that we spoke so highly of essential oils for anti-ageing let us look at the oils, we can turn to for this –
Sandalwood essential oil is one of the most fragrant of all oils that have been used widely in the beauty industry. It possesses a unique earthy aroma and holds a significant role in healing skin woes. The strong antioxidant nature of this oil is effective in scavenging free radicals from the skin and reduces oxidative damage. Furthermore, it flushes out the toxins from the skin and uplifts overall skin health and glow.
Lemon is well-known for its vitamin C content and potential health benefits for the immune system. However, lemon oils are also used in a variety of commercial skin care products to help reduce the signs of aging, such as wrinkles. All citrus essential oils, including lemon and grapefruit, make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. It is essential to avoid sun exposure for several hours after using citrus essential oils, so it is wise to apply them before bed.
The potent antimicrobial and antioxidant traits of rosemary essential oil help to cure skin problems like dermatitis, eczema, and rosacea. It is beneficial in maintaining the overall health and beauty of the skin. Rosemary essential oil is known to avert the alteration of the natural lipids of the skin surface and slow down signs of ageing.
Frankincense oil is well known for their potential to promote cell regeneration, fade away fine lines and wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity.
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People diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had a 71% higher rate of death from any cause than those without the condition, new review published in JAMA Network Open states. The findings highlight health risks that extend beyond ADHD's core symptoms.
The study also found higher rates of death by suicide and injuries. ADHD medication, on the other hand, was reported to cause overall lower mortality.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Liverpool reviewed 19 observational studies involving nearly 16 million people across three continents.
The review found that people with ADHD had an 89% higher rate of death by suicide and a 55% higher rate of death from intentional or unintentional injuries, compared to people without ADHD.
Deaths from natural causes, including those related to physical health conditions, were also 27% higher.
Researchers said several factors could contribute to these findings. People with ADHD may experience difficulties with impulse control and emotional regulation, as well as higher rates of other mental health conditions. Challenges with attention may also contribute to accidental injuries, including road accidents.
Physical health risks due to lifestyle may play a role too. Smoking, alcohol use, substance abuse and accessing healthcare could affect these results.
Senior author Professor Joshua Stott of UCL said, “We found that people with ADHD face an increased risk not only of death by suicide and injury, but also of deaths by natural causes, adding to evidence that health inequalities faced by people with ADHD are broad and wide-ranging.”
Also read: ADHD: Debunking Common Misconceptions About ADHD
The review found that people with ADHD who took prescribed medication had a 25% lower risk of death from any cause than those who did not take medication.
However, this finding was based on only three of the 19 studies included in the review. The researchers said that more research is needed to understand whether medication directly reduces mortality risk.
First author Lucy Corrigan of the University of Liverpool said, “Our findings provide early evidence to suggest that medication may play an important role in supporting the health of people with ADHD, but this is based on a small number of studies and further research is needed to clarify this link. And medication is just part of the story; many people with ADHD benefit from comprehensive, long-term treatment and support.”
Also read: Adult ADHD: How Does It Impact People's Lives? What Are Its Symptoms?
The researchers said that all the studies included in the review were observational. This means the results show associations and cannot establish that ADHD itself causes early death or that medication prevents it. The studies also differed in their methods and in the size of the risks they reported.
Stott said, “ADHD is not by definition a life-limiting condition as the right support and treatment can help people with ADHD to live long and healthy lives. Our findings underscore the importance of ensuring that everyone who may have ADHD has access to accurate diagnosis and treatment. While ADHD diagnosis rates have risen in recent years, they may still lag behind actual prevalence, particularly for older age groups where mortality risk may be most pertinent.”
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Morning walks are a popular part of many older adults’ daily routines. But is walking alone enough to maintain bone strength and prevent osteoporosis as we age?
Walking 30–40 minutes every day is a good habit. However, it may not be enough to maintain bone and muscle strength as we age. A person may walk daily and still struggle to get up from a low chair or maintain balance on an uneven surface. These are important signs of functional strength that deserve as much attention as daily step counts, experts said on World Osteoporosis Day.
Falls are a significant concern among older adults worldwide. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of 104 studies estimated that 26.5% of older adults globally experienced falls. In India, a 2026 analysis of data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India found that 11.56% of adults aged 60 and older reported a history of falls. Chronic joint disease was among the factors independently associated with falls.
Also read: Osteoporosis Affects Nearly 20% Of US Women Aged 50+: Why Screening Is Key
Dr. Siddhart Yadav, Senior Consultant, Orthopedics and Joint Replacement Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, told HealthandMe that bone density and muscle mass tend to decline with age.
“In women, bone loss can accelerate after menopause, while men too are at risk of age-related bone loss. When weaker bones are combined with reduced muscle strength and poor balance, even a relatively minor fall can result in a fracture, particularly around the hip or wrist,” he said.
“While women are hit hardest, often assuming household chores are adequate exercise, men are equally vulnerable as muscle mass silently declines after 50. In both, excess weight paired with weak muscle leaves weaker bones exposed to fractures during simple falls,” Dr. Thineshchandar Andiappan, Senior Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon, Athulya Geriatric Hospital told HealthandMe.
A casual morning walk alone may not provide enough stimulus to maintain bone density, muscle strength, and balance. Experts recommend combining walking with progressive resistance and strength training. Starting in your 40s can help preserve strength, but it is never too late to begin an appropriate exercise routine.
Along with regular walking, older adults should include simple strength and balance exercises in their routine.
Dr. Siddhart suggested chair sit-to-stands, supported squats, heel raises, and resistance-band exercises to help maintain the strength needed for everyday activities. Light dumbbell exercises for the upper body can also help strengthen the arms, shoulders and other upper-body muscles.
Exercises should be introduced gradually and tailored to individual health and mobility, particularly for people with osteoporosis or a history of fractures.
A 30-40-minute walk is beneficial, but it does not have to be completed in one stretch. If the muscles begin to feel tired, taking a short break of two to three minutes before resuming the walk is reasonable.
Read More: Osteoporosis Drugs Offer New Hope For Back Pain By Blocking Disc Mineralisation: Study
Along with exercise, adequate nutrition supports bone and muscle health. Calcium-rich foods such as milk, curd, paneer, ragi and sesame, together with adequate protein, can help meet nutritional needs. Vitamin D levels should be assessed when clinically indicated.
“Falls in elderly persons happen more often due to instability, muscle weakness, and other reasons. It is very important to address all the issues in addition to the management of osteoporosis for preventing such fractures. The comprehensive treatment will include a good diet, adequate sunlight exposure, in addition to exercises, which must involve weight training and stability-building training,” Dr. V Singaravadivelu, Senior Consultant and Academic Lead, Orthopaedic Surgery, Kauvery Hospital told HealthandMe.
Beef and lamb contain Neu5Gc, a naturally occurring sugar associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in a new study. (Image Credits: iStock)
A sugar naturally found in red meat may help explain why beef and lamb have long been linked to type 2 diabetes, according to a large new study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes’ Annual Meeting in Milan.
Researchers tracked nearly 90,000 adults with no history of diabetes or cancer through NutriNet-Sante, a long-running French health study, according to a release from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Over a median follow-up of 7.2 years, 966 participants developed type 2 diabetes.
The focus was a sugar called N-glycolylneuraminic acid, or Neu5Gc, found mainly in beef and lamb. People with the highest intake of meat-derived Neu5Gc had a 63% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with the lowest intake, the EASD reported. The risk rose steadily with intake: the second-highest group already carried a 41% higher risk.
“This is a relative risk: people in the top fifth of meat-derived Neu5Gc intake had a 63% higher risk than those in the bottom fifth, after accounting for many other factors,” said lead author Dr. Leopold Fezeu of Universite Sorbonne Paris Nord told Medical News Today. “It does not mean that 63% of high consumers will develop diabetes.”
Also Read: World Osteoporosis Day: Why Women Face A Higher Risk of Osteoporosis As They Age
Most mammals produce Neu5Gc naturally, but humans lost that ability after an ancient genetic mutation, according to the EASD. The sugar can still enter the body through food and get absorbed into human tissue. Because the body doesn’t recognise Neu5Gc as its own, the immune system may treat it as foreign, producing antibodies against it in a prolonged immune response called xenosialitis, previously linked to cardiovascular disease and cancer.
“Our findings support chronic inflammation as a specific mechanism linking red meat consumption with T2D, partly beyond the amount of red meat a person eats and partly independent of body fat,” Fezeu said.
Not just weight: Notably, obesity accounted for only about 13% of the link between Neu5Gc intake and diabetes risk, the EASD reported, suggesting the sugar’s effects may extend beyond weight gain alone.
Dairy showed no link: Despite also containing Neu5Gc, dairy products showed no association with diabetes risk, likely because cow’s milk contains far smaller amounts than red meat.
When researchers additionally adjusted for total red meat intake, the Neu5Gc-diabetes link weakened and was no longer statistically significant, though it pointed the same direction.
“There may be differences between sources, or other components of red meat may contribute,” Fezeu said, meaning the study can’t fully separate Neu5Gc’s effect from red meat generally.
Since the study is observational, it cannot prove Neu5Gc causes diabetes. Fezeu’s team plans to measure antibodies against Neu5Gc directly and study how it interacts with iron in red meat.
“Future research should explore whether reducing exposure to meat-derived Neu5Gc, for example by favoring poultry or plant-based proteins over beef and lamb... could help prevent T2D,” Fezeu said.
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