The Art of Healing

Food. It is never too far from our minds, so in this issue our Feature is on Food & Nutrition. Starting with some bad news on the increase in the number of people under 50 being diagnosed with bowel cancer, we then move on to some solutions including: tracking our eating habits to improve mental health; we feature eight of the best foods for optimal brain health; we talk to one of the founders of Box Divvy® - a complete alternative to the traditional supermarket system; and we look at how we can address climate change by changing our food systems. We also have a couple of research articles on how certain drugs may actually worsen health conditions, and it is very exciting to share that James Cook University is the first university in Australia to teach doctors how to deprescribe medications safely. And can you imagine a world where the economy serves us? Our article on wellbeing economies discusses this and we also delve into whether smartwatches could be the health companions of a new era. Also some health trends for 2025, such as a concept mirror that scans your health and then talks to you about it, and an analogue wellness trend that seems to be indicating a demand for slower, low-tech lives – a big collective yay! Lots more in this issue – out beginning March 2025 for our Autumn downunder and the Fall in the northern hemisphere. Enjoy

A simple walking habit can change absolutely everything.

The Art of Healing

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR'S NOTE

Latest Future Research from the Mayo Clinic

Health Trends for 2025

Neuropathic Pain Drugs Found To Increase Risk of Hip Fracture in Older Adults • A new study by Monash University medicine safety experts found the use of gabapentinoids – medicines widely used to treat neuropathic pain – increased the risk of hip fractures, especially in older patients who were frail or had kidney disease.

Common Painkillers Like Ibuprofen May Worsen Joint Inflammation • Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often used for osteoarthritis pain may actually exacerbate inflammation in arthritic knee joints, a recent study suggests.

Dolphins in Gulf of Mexico Testing Positive For Fentanyl • Just a few months after cocaine was detected in the bodies of sharks off the coast of South America, research has found fentanyl and other drugs in dozens of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, adding to a growing record of pharmaceuticals infiltrating our marine environments.

James Cook University First to Teach Safe Deprescribing of Psychiatric Medications • James Cook University’s College of Medicine undergraduate and postgraduate medical degrees have become the first in Australia to teach doctors how to help patients who want to safely reduce or stop taking antidepressants and other psychotropic medications.

Drinking More Green Tea Reduces Risk of Dementia Brain Lesions • A new study links drinking green tea with having fewer white matter lesions in the brains of Japanese seniors, potentially providing a level of protection against dementia.

Researchers Train AI To Diagnose Lung Diseases • Artificial Intelligence (AI) could become a radiologist’s best friend, with researchers training the technology to accurately diagnose pneumonia, COVID-19 and other lung diseases.

Should Your Age Determine How Long You Drive A Car? • Could you imagine having a driving lesson in your 50s or 60s, even though you’ve been driving since your late teens? The idea isn’t as far-fetched as it may seem. The latest research into older driver behaviour is finding that tailored driving lessons can improve older driver performance and safety on the road.

15 Factors Linked to Young-Onset Dementia • While dementia is much more common in older adults, hundreds of thousands of people are diagnosed with young-onset dementia each year.

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