Your nose could detect Alzheimer’s years before symptoms begin

Posted on 11/04/2026 by Boris Clair

A declining sense of smell may be one of the earliest warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, appearing even before noticeable memory problems. New research from scientists at DZNE and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) offers fresh insight into why this happens. The study points to the brain’s immune system as a key player, showing that it may mistakenly attack nerve fibers that are essential for detecting odors. Published in Nature Communications, the research combines evidence from mice and humans, including brain tissue analysis and so-called PET scanning. These findings could help improve early detection and open the door to earlier treatment.

According to the researchers, smell-related problems arise when immune cells in the brain, known as “microglia,” begin removing connections between two important regions: the olfactory bulb and the locus coeruleus. The olfactory bulb, located in the forebrain, processes signals from scent receptors in the nose. The locus coeruleus, found in the brainstem, helps regulate this process through long nerve fibers that extend to the olfactory bulb.

“The locus coeruleus regulates a variety physiological mechanisms. These include, for example, cerebral blood flow, sleep-wake cycles, and sensory processing. The latter applies, in particular, also to the sense of smell,” says Dr. Lars Paeger, a scientist at DZNE and LMU. “Our study suggests that in early Alzheimer’s disease, changes occur in the nerve fibers linking the locus coeruleus to the olfactory bulb. These alterations signal to the microglia that affected fibers are defective or superfluous. Consequently, the microglia break them down.”

Alterations in the membrane

The team, led by Dr. Lars Paeger and co-author Prof. Dr. Jochen Herms, identified specific changes in the membranes of these nerve fibers. They found that phosphatidylserine, a fatty molecule normally located on the inside of a neuron’s membrane, had shifted to the outer surface.

“Presence of phosphatidylserine at the outer site of the cell membrane is known to be an “eat-me” signal for microglia. In the olfactory bulb, this is usually associated with a process called synaptic pruning, which serves to remove unnecessary or dysfunctional neuronal connections,” explains Paeger. “In our situation, we assume that the shift in membrane composition is triggered by hyperactivity of the affected neurons due to Alzheimer’s disease. That is, these neurons exhibit abnormal firing.”

Evidence From Animal Models, Human Tissue, and Brain Scans

The conclusions are supported by multiple lines of evidence. The researchers studied mice that show Alzheimer’s-like features, examined brain tissue from deceased patients, and analyzed positron emission tomography (PET) scans from individuals with Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment.

“Smell issues in Alzheimer’s disease and damage to the associated nerves have been discussed for some time. However, the causes were unclear until yet. Now, our ﬁndings point to an immunological mechanism as cause for such dysfunctions — and, in particular, that such events already arise in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Joachim Herms, a research group leader at DZNE and LMU as well as a member of the Munich-based “SyNergy” Cluster of Excellence.

Implications for Early Diagnosis and Treatment

So-called amyloid-beta antibodies have recently become available for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. For these therapies to work effectively, they must be given early in the disease process. This is where the new findings could make a difference.

“Our findings could pave the way for the early identification of patients at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, enabling them to undergo comprehensive testing to confirm the diagnosis before cognitive problems arise. This would allow earlier intervention with amyloid-beta antibodies, increasing the probability of a positive response,” says Herms.

Big Mistakes Cast: Where You’ve Seen The Stars Of The Netflix Series Before

Posted on 11/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Six years after the much-loved Schitt’s Creek finale, Dan Levy is returning to the TV world with his new Netflix series.

The Emmy winner has teamed up with Bottoms and I Love LA writer Rachel Sennott to create Big Mistakes, an exciting eight-part series that’s part comedy, part heist, part caper and part gritty crime drama.

As well as co-creating Big Mistakes and writing select episodes, Dan also takes the lead as a priest who lands both himself and his sister in hot water when some petty thievery grabs the attention of a criminal organisation.

He’s joined by an impressive cast of recognisable faces in Big Mistakes, many of whom you’re sure to recognise from their TV, movie and stage careers.

For those who’ve already been enjoying the new show, here’s your quick guide to where you’ve seen the cast before…

Dan Levy

As mentioned above, Dan Levy was a co-creator and star of the beloved sitcom Schitt’s Creek, in which he starred as David Rose alongside his famous dad, Eugene Levy.

The Canadian star initially got his start in TV presenting rather than acting, working on the likes of MTV Live, The Hills’ “after show”, the Canadian version of Great British Bake Off and the cooking show Dismantled.

Since Schitt’s Creek, his acting work has included Modern Family, Sex Education, The Idol and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

He’s also acted in films like Disney’s Haunted Mansion, the Christmas comedy Happiest Season and the dark comedy Good Grief, the first offering to come from Dan’s deal with Netflix.

Taylor Ortega

Dan’s on-screen sister in Big Mistakes is played by Taylor Ortega, who Succession fans might remember for her one-episode stint as Greta, before she was cast in the US remake of the British comedy Ghosts.

You could have also seen her in Love Life, Welcome To Flatch or Netflix’s The Four Seasons, as well as films like Another Simple Favour or Wine Club.

Meanwhile, if you were a Kim Possible fan back in the day, you might be interested to hear that she played Shego in Disney’s 2019 live-action movie based on the classic cartoon.

Laurie Metcalf

Laurie Metcalf won three Emmys for her work in the sitcom Roseanne, but you might also recognise her for her Oscar-nominated performance as the mum character in Lady Bird.

Over the years, she’s also made memorable appearances as a murderous supermarket shopper in the iconic Desperate Housewives episode Bang, Sheldon’s mother in The Big Bang Theory, Augusta Gein in Monster and exhausted tour manager Weed in Hacks (for which she won her fourth Emmy).

Her film work includes everything from Uncle Buck, Toy Story and Leaving Las Vegas to Scream 2 and Runaway Bride.

We’d be remiss not to mention her stage career, too, as Laurie is a six-time Tony nominee (and two-time winner), treading the boards as everyone from Misery’s Annie Wilkes (opposite Bruce Willis’ Paul Sheldon), A Doll House’s Nora Helmer and Hillary Clinton.

Elizabeth Perkins

With a screen career spanning 40 years, it’s tough to know exactly where to start with Elizabeth Perkins.

Over the decades, she’s appeared in films like The Flintstones, Miracle On 34th Street, Finding Nemo and, more recently, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse and The Housemaid.

She’s perhaps best known for her TV work, though, which includes playing Celia in Weeds, Janet Malone in This Is Us, Birdie in Glow and Jackie O’Neill in Sharp Objects, which earned her a Critics’ Choice Award nomination.

Abby Quinn

Horror fans might be familiar with Abby’s performances in the likes of Knock At The Cabin, I’m Thinking Of Ending Things or Hell Of A Summer.

Abby has also had minor roles in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women adaptation, the sinister Black Mirror episode Arkangel, the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul and the 21st century revival of the sitcom Mad About You.

Mark Ivanir

Between 2015 and 2018, Mark Ivanir had a recurring role in the thriller Homeland, playing Ivan Krupin, an SVR agent.

His other notable TV roles have included the Netflix political drama Zero Day, the dark comedy Barry and Amazon Prime’s original series Transparent.

As for his film work, he has appeared in Schindler’s List, The Terminal and the critically-panned musical Emilia Perez.

Jack Innanen

A comedian as well as an actor, Jack Innanen rose to prominence in the early 2020s thanks to his viral TikTok videos, landing him roles in the Canadian series The Dessert and The Office Movers.

Since then, he’s appeared in the main cast of the sitcom Adults, and recently hinted at a possible role in the next season of Heated Rivalry.

Boran Kuzum

Originally hailing from Turkey, Boran Kuzum’s work primarily consists of shows and films in his home country including Wounded Love, Bihter: A Forbidden Passion and Magnificent Century: Kösem.

Before being cast in Big Mistakes, he also played a pivotal role in another Netflix series, Kimler Geldi, Kimler Geçti (known in English-speaking territories as Thank You, Next).

Joe Barbara

Joe Barbara’s career began in the late 1990s, with roles in US soaps like Another World (which he appeared in over a four-year period) and All My Children.

More recently, he’s acted in FBI, Blue Bloods and lent his voice to the Grand Theft Auto games series, playing crime boss Ray Boccino.

Josh Fadem

Comedian, writer and actor Josh Fadem’s stand-out work has included playing Phil Busby in the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks, Pat Stanley in On Becoming A God In Central Florida, Simon Barrons in 30 Rock and Joey Dixon in Better Call Saul.

He also repeatedly portrayed Sean Penn in the sketch comedy series The Midnight Show and Adolf Hitler in The Crossroads Of History, in addition to roles in Reservation Dogs, Tulsa King, Minx and Adventure Time.

Jacob Gutierrez

Playing Tareq in Big Mistakes is definitely Jacob Guttierez’s biggest TV role to date, but he has appeared in the TV series A Crime To Remember, Bull and Dear Edward in recent years.

He’s also acted in short films, including A Night Off and It’s Not You, It’s Her.

Big Mistakes is now streaming on Netflix.

Bridget Jones’s Diary: 25 Facts You Probably Never Knew

Posted on 11/04/2026 by Boris Clair

It’s time to dust off your biggest and comfiest pants, cook up some blue soup and warm up your pipes for a Céline Dion sing-a-long because a very special anniversary is just around the corner.

This month marks 25 years since Bridget Jones made her big screen debut, diary in hand, introducing the world to one of 21st century British cinema’s most iconic and beloved characters.

Bridget Jones’s Diary has gone on to become one of the most enduring and game-changing romantic comedies of its time, going on to gross hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, spawn three sequels and even earn its leading lady Renée Zellweger her first Oscar nominations (she’s since gone on to win two, as it goes).

A quarter-century later, you might think you know Bridget inside and out (and love her “just as she is”), but we bet there’s still plenty about the enduring movie classic that you still don’t know.

To commemorate its 25th anniversary, here are 25 behind-the-scenes facts you probably never knew about how Bridget Jones’s Diary was made…

Alright, we’re starting with a pretty obvious one here, but for those who didn’t know, both the original novel Bridget Jones’s Diary and the movie were inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice

Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding said back in 2001: “Jane Austen’s plots are very good and have been market researched over a number of centuries so I decided simply to steal one of them.”

“I thought she wouldn’t mind,” Helen quipped. “And anyway, she’s dead.”

Because of the book’s ties to Pride And Prejudice, the Bridget Jones team were always adamant that Mark Darcy should be played by Colin Firth, who previously appeared in the BBC’s much-loved adaptation of the Jane Austen book

“Colin always had to be Mark Darcy,” producer Eric Fellner put it around the film’s release. “As the story unfolds, and the audience comes to understand Mark Darcy, he transforms from a seemingly snobby and cold intellectual into a thoughtful and sensitive man.”

Colin Firth as Mr Darcy years before he'd play his character's namesake in Bridget Jones's Diary — Colin Firth as Mr Darcy years before he’d play his character’s namesake in Bridget Jones’s Diary

There is another Pride & Prejudice reference hidden in Bridget Jones’s Diary that we’re only clocking now 25 years later

The publishing house where Bridget Jones works is called Pemberley Press, a subtle nod to Mr Darcy’s estate in the Austen classic.

When Bridget walks in on the woman that Daniel Cleaver has been cheating on her with, she’s covering herself with a Pemberley Press portfolio, sporting an image of a stately home not unlike Darcy’s.

There are more Pride & Prejudice references than you might realise in Bridget Jones's Diary — There are more Pride & Prejudice references than you might realise in Bridget Jones’s Diary

When it came to casting the role of Bridget Jones, Renée Zellweger wasn’t actually the first choice

In fact, the role first went to Toni Collette, who turned it down because she was appearing in a Broadway play at the time filming was due to get underway.

She told Watch What Happens Live in 2023: “I have no regrets – life happens as it’s meant to.”

The casting process apparently took around two years before producers found their Bridget in Renée Zellweger.

Of course, the decision to cast an American actor as such an iconic Londoner wasn’t exactly met with unanimous praise, but Renée pulled it out of the bag and won over her detractors in the end.

Toni Collette was originally picked to play Bridget Jones before Renée Zellweger was cast

To help perfect her British twang to play Bridget Jones, Renée Zellweger worked with the famous dialect coach Barbara Berkery

Right before Renée worked with Barbar Berkery, the dialect coach had helped Gwyneth Paltrow on her way to winning an Oscar for Shakespeare In Love.

Before that, she’d also coached Gwynnie while she was playing a Londoner in the 90s classic Sliding Doors.

It’s fair to say that Hugh Grant wasn’t initially convinced by Renée Zellweger’s Bridget Jones accent…

“She came in, doing quite a good British accent, but it was Princess Margaret,” Hugh recalled in the 2020 documentary Becoming Bridget Jones. “That was a little startling.”

After the suggestion that she “loosen it up a bit”, Hugh claimed that Renée’s next attempt was more “Princess Margaret having a stroke – but a week later, it was bang on”.

Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant in character as Bridget Jones and Daniel Cleaver

To help retain her accent, Renée Zellweger continued speaking in Bridget Jones’ voice even between takes

Sally Phillips once told Lorraine: “I’d made quite good friends with her during the filming [but] I realised towards the end, when she suddenly lost a stone in the last week, and started talking in a Texan accent at the wrap party, I’d made friends with Bridget, not Renée.”

It’s well-documented that Renée Zellweger intentionally gained weight to help her play Bridget Jones, which she did by increasing her food intake and not exercising

For the second Bridget Jones film, Renée opted for prosthetics rather than gaining the weight back, and by the third and fourth films, it was decided that the actor and her on-screen counterpart should be the same size.

As well as her accent and weight gain, Renée Zellweger also got into the Bridget Jones mindset by working a brief internship at a publishing house

Like her character, Renée Zellweger did some work at a publishing house to help her prepare for Bridget Jones's Diary — Like her character, Renée Zellweger did some work at a publishing house to help her prepare for Bridget Jones’s Diary

“A young work experience woman came into the office and introduced herself as Bridget and we were all a bit bemused by the fact that Bridget seemed to have really nice clothes (not smart, just a lot better than our outfits) and a transatlantic accent,” Mary Mount – who was working as an editorial assistant at Picador at the time – recalled last year. “I thought she looked vaguely familiar but in that way that you can’t really place.”

One of the future Oscar winner’s tasks was cutting out any press clippings about Picardo at the time.

Unfortunately, the big story surrounding Picador at the time was the fact that a Bridget Jones movie was in the works, meaning “her job was literally to cut out nasty articles about herself”.

“She kept her cool,” said Camilla Elworthy, who oversaw Renée during her work experience. “But [she] did scribble ‘rubbish’ in the margins of one piece.”

As for the rest of the Bridget Jones’s Diary cast, Hugh Grant actually turned down the part of Daniel Cleaver on several occasions

Colin Firth, Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant in promotional material for Bridget Jones's Diary — Colin Firth, Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant in promotional material for Bridget Jones’s Diary

“The only reason for that was because I didn’t feel they had the script quite right for a long time,” he admitted in the lead-up to its release. “And I kept saying, it’s not working. Just get Richard Curtis to come in and help rewrite it.”

Hugh had already worked with Richard Curtis on Four Weddings And A Funeral and Notting Hill, with the two later reuniting on Love Actually and the second Bridget Jones movie.

“As soon as Richard came on board, I signed on the dotted line,” the Bafta winner added. “So, that’s all it was.”

Bridget Jones’s Diary was filmmaker Sharon Maguire’s feature-length directing debut, although she did already have a connection to the source material

Sharon was close friends with Helen Fielding, and was heavily rumoured to be have been the inspiration for “Shazzer”, the character played on screen by Sally Phillips.

“I’m delighted to be in the book, especially as Shazzer is so much wittier than me,” Sharon once told The Telegraph. “The only thing is that you go to parties and you worry that people will expect you to be funnier than you really are.”

“Helen was just writing about our lives – hilariously,” she later told the LA Times in 2016, adding: “Thirtysomethings had come out of long relationships in their 20s and realised they hadn’t ended up married or with children. We were in our 30s, behaving like we were 17-year-olds and having a great time but still floundering around asking questions about relationships, careers, biological clocks.”

Sally Phillips has played "Shazzer" in all four Bridget Jones movies — Sally Phillips has played “Shazzer” in all four Bridget Jones movies

Salman Rushdie’s Bridget Jones’s Diary cameo came about he, too, was a friend of Helen Fielding

“For me, it was very simple,” he told Texas Monthly in 2001. “Helen Fielding, the author of the book, is an old pal of mine, and she asked if I’d come along and make a fool of myself, and I said, ‘Why not?’.”

As for sharing the screen with the movie’s leading lady, the author added: “Renée was wonderful, I thought, and at the premiere we had a little joke. I told her that my performance is what held the film together – and she agreed. She thought it was a pivotal role.”

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The exterior of Bridget Jones’ flat was a pub just off Borough market

The Globe Tavern, to be exact, which was already notable as it’s rumoured to be the location where the Great Train Robbery of 1963 was planned.

All those wintery scenes at Bridget Jones’ parents’ home were actually shot at the height of summer

Because of this, several locations in Snowshill, Worcestershire had to be covered in fake snow to make the setting more believable.

Bridget Jones's Diary might put you in a wintery mood but it was actually shot at the height of summer — Bridget Jones’s Diary might put you in a wintery mood but it was actually shot at the height of summer

As a result – Colin Firth didn’t exactly have the best time filming in his infamous Bridget Jones reindeer jumper…

Colin told Entertainment Weekly in 2020: “The set was lit at about 140 degrees Fahrenheit; it melted candles and desiccated the turkey curry. I almost tore the jumper to pieces pulling it off between takes – I probably lost about 15 pounds. I had little love for it by the end.”

…not that it actually is a reindeer, mind you

“We sent out the knitting challenge to approximately 20 or 30 knitters,” Sharon Morgan also told Entertainment Weekly for the same piece. “At first, none of the designs worked. They were lovely, but they just weren’t funny. So eventually we decided it had to be a moose, not a reindeer.”

“I never noticed it was a moose,” Colin added.

Not a reindeer jumper but a moose, apparently

Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy’s fight sequence is one of Bridget Jones’s Diary’s stand-out scenes – but it could have looked very different

“There had been an earlier idea to make the fight look sexy,” Colin told the LA Times. “We were going to be buff and our shirts were going to be ripped off.

“I looked at myself and said, ‘You’re certainly never going to get that type with me’.”

Colin Firth and Hugh Grant decided between them to keep their Bridget Jones fight a little more… well… British

Colin Firth and Hugh Grant's characters have it out in Bridget Jones's Diary — Colin Firth and Hugh Grant’s characters have it out in Bridget Jones’s Diary

“We both realised that the last time we fought was when we were 10. A playground fight,” Colin quipped. “So, we made a decision largely based on logic and common sense to make it more playful.”

He pointed out the characters are “two very ineffectual, frightened, angry yuppies going at each other – pulling hair and wanting to run away at the same time”, which needed to come across on screen.

During a video interview with Vanity Fair, Hugh later claimed: “The big fight was to stop stuntmen getting involved. They always want to come in and choreograph the whole thing and say, ‘mate, it’d be great if you swing a right hook and his head’ll go back’.

“I just thought, ‘yeah, in action films, cowboy films, whatever, that’s great, but these are two middle-class Englishmen, and they don’t fight like that’. I’ve seen them fight, and it’s shit.

“So, we managed to ban the stuntman. I think the last thing he contributed was probably the dustbin lid, and after that, it’s just me and Colin messing about.”

Stuntmen were used for one crucial part of the fight, though

That’d be the bit where Mark and Daniel fly through the front window of a Greek restaurant, which they thought they’d better leave to the pros.

By contrast, Bridget Jones’ infamous fireman’s pole scene was meticulously planned to ensure Renée Zellweger’s safety

Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones throwing herself into her new job at Sit Up Britain

“Renée did it on wires – it was her backside that came down,” stunt performer Dani Biernet told Time Out in 2017. “But I did all the lining up and the wide shots without a wire.”

Another of Bridget Jones’ more surprising physical moments required a stunt double, too

Dani also had to step in to play Bridget during the moment when she drunkenly tumbles out of a black cab.

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“When I first did it they were all like, ‘Bloody hell, did that hurt?’. But as a stunt person, you learn how to fall,” she said.

“I remember doing it about six times and, to be fair, by take five you’re a bit bruised. But that’s part of the job.”

No, Renée Zellweger didn’t really have to smoke all those cigarettes on the set of Bridget Jones’s Diary

While it was once commented that Bridget “smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish and dresses like her mother”, fortunately Renée didn’t quite need to copy her character’s habits.

Instead, the cigarettes she was supplied to play Bridget were herbal, rather than tobacco-based.

You might not realise it but Bridget Jones’s Diary has a different ending depending on where in the world you’re watching

Renée Zellweger's Bridget Jones and Colin Firth's Mark Darcy get their happy ending in the first movie — Renée Zellweger’s Bridget Jones and Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy get their happy ending in the first movie

Here in the UK, after Bridget and Mark’s big kiss, the credits roll and we’re treated to scenes of different characters being interviewed about their love story, while Robbie Williams’ rendition of Have You Met Miss Jones? plays.

Across the pond, though, the credits are interspersed with “home video footage” of Bridget and Mark as kids, recreating the paddling pool scene we hear so much about over the course of the film.

As for the fate of Bridget Jones’ iconic ‘big pants’…

“I heard some rumour that Hugh Grant kept the pants – the big pants,” Renée Zellweger told British Vogue while promoting the fourth Bridget Jones movie in 2024.

“But I don’t know if that’s true,” she quickly clarified. “We’ll have to ask him.”

Bridget Jones’s Diary is currently available to stream on Now.

From Avoidance To Big Emotions: 5 Signs A Child’s Struggling With ADHD At School

Posted on 11/04/2026 by Boris Clair

A child psychiatrist has opened up about a pattern she sees routinely where a neurodivergent child will struggle at school, and the adults around them mistake their symptoms for poor behaviour or a bad attitude.

Dr Anya Ciobanca, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at The ADHD Centre, says children who appear disengaged, inconsistent or emotionally volatile at school may be experiencing something far more complex than just a bad attitude.

“Behaviour is never the whole story,” she says. “When we approach a child with curiosity rather than judgement, everything changes.”

Conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can go undiagnosed for years because there are often misunderstandings over symptoms. For example, people might think kids who have it are just hyperactive, but there are also more subtle signs that can show up, like day-dreaming or emotional dysregulation.

Girls in particular are likely to remain undiagnosed until later life. Reviews suggest ADHD is identified more often in boys in childhood at a ratio of 3:1 (males to females), while the ratio appears to even out in adulthood at 1:1.

Experts previously told HuffPost UK this happens largely because there’s a gender divide in how ADHD symptoms are expressed (girls tend to demonstrate more inattentive symptoms), and social expectations on girls can lead to them keeping quiet, carrying on, and developing sophisticated masking strategies (sometimes at detriment to their mental health).

“There is a version of ADHD that looks, from the outside, like daydreaming or simply not caring,” says Dr Ciobanca. “But internally, that child may be working extraordinarily hard just to keep up. The effort of masking is immense, and it has a cost.”

In classrooms, children are often doing the best they can with a nervous system that’s working against them, but there are certain signs they might be fighting a hidden battle and need more support.

5 signs a child may be struggling with ADHD at school

Avoidance of school or specific lessons – this might look like persistent reluctance or distress around certain subjects or transitions.
Difficulty starting or completing work – this is often mistaken for laziness, says Dr Ciobanca, but rooted in overwhelm or difficulties with executive function.
Emotional outbursts or withdrawal – this can look like frustration, tears or shutting down, particularly after school (also known as after-school restraint collapse).
Chronic tiredness or physical complaints of headaches, which can be linked to anxiety or sensory overload.
Low self-esteem, negative self-talk, and appearing to cope at school (masking) while falling apart at home.

One child Dr Chiobanca worked with had been labelled by her school as inconsistent and difficult to motivate. But in reality, she was overwhelmed and had developed a profound sense of shame around her difficulties.

Girls with undiagnosed ADHD are “more likely to blame themselves, turning their anger and pain inward”, according to the Child Mind Institute, which noted they’re also more likely to experience depression, anxiety and eating disorders than those without ADHD.

“Once we understood the underlying picture – the interaction between her ADHD, her anxiety and her environment – we could make meaningful changes,” says the psychiatrist. “She no longer had to spend every day just fighting to survive it. That freed up an enormous amount of energy for actually learning.”

With one in 20 children thought to have ADHD, Dr Ciobanca wants to see earlier intervention, more flexible teaching, and emotional wellbeing placed at the centre of education rather than its margins.

“Too much support comes too late. We cannot expect children to learn well when they do not feel safe,” she adds.

Advice for parents

If you think your child might be neurodivergent (research suggests around 15-20% of people are), it’s worth exploring this subtly with your child. Dr Chiobanca advises parents to ask their children: “What’s the hardest part of your day?” as this can reveal more than questions about effort or behaviour.

It’s also worth speaking to your child’s school – specifically their class teacher or SENCO (a special educational needs coordinator) – if you notice a pattern of distress or avoidance. Months of avoidance or emotional dysregulation are a signal worth acting on, she notes.

The psychiatrist also urges parents to separate the behaviour from the child, as “struggling children often already feel like failures; they need to know you’re on their side”.

While NHS waiting times for diagnosis can stretch for months, it might also be worth considering a professional assessment. “ADHD and anxiety remain significantly underdiagnosed, particularly in girls,” says Dr Ciobanca.

Yet when children feel safe and understood, “they are far more able to learn and grow,” she adds. “That is the kind of education system worth working towards.”

Hundreds contact BBC about mystery skin condition ‘hell’ – but doctors can’t agree it exists

Posted on 11/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Some think it’s a severe case of eczema. Others say it’s a condition called TSW. But doctors are stuck in a dilemma.

Why weight-loss jabs work better for some people than others

Posted on 10/04/2026 by Boris Clair

People who carry variations in two genes linked to appetite and digestion can lose more weight when taking drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro to treat obesity, research suggests.

Scientists say we’ve been treating Alzheimer’s all wrong

Posted on 10/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains one of the most pressing global health challenges, especially as aging populations continue to grow. The condition steadily erodes memory and thinking abilities, deeply affecting daily life. New treatments, including monoclonal antibodies such as lecanemab and donanemab, have offered some optimism by slowing cognitive decline. However, these therapies still fall short of reversing the disease or restoring normal brain function.

A recent review published in Science China Life Sciences by Professor Yan-Jiang Wang and colleagues explores why progress has been limited. The researchers argue that focusing on a single cause has not worked because Alzheimer’s is far more complex. It arises from the combined effects of amyloid-beta (Aβ) buildup, Tau protein tangles, genetic risk factors, aging-related changes, and broader health conditions. Because of this complexity, they suggest that future treatments must take a more comprehensive and coordinated approach.

Alzheimer’s Disease Involves Multiple Interconnected Factors

The review highlights several key areas that are reshaping how scientists understand Alzheimer’s.

Beyond Amyloid-Beta (Aβ)

Amyloid-beta has long been a central target in Alzheimer’s research, but treatments aimed only at this protein have produced limited results. Scientists are now paying closer attention to Tau hyperphosphorylation, a process that leads to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and the loss of brain cells. Addressing both Aβ and Tau may be necessary to slow disease progression more effectively.

Genetic Risk and Emerging Gene Therapies

Genetics play a major role in determining Alzheimer’s risk. While APOE ε4 remains the most widely recognized genetic factor, researchers are identifying additional variants linked to specific populations. Advances in genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9) are also being explored as potential one-time treatments that could modify disease risk at its source.

Aging and Whole-Body Health Shape Alzheimer’s Progression

Aging as a Central Driver

Aging is the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer’s and involves a range of biological changes. These include declining mitochondrial function, the buildup of damaged cells, and increased DNA damage. The review points to “senolytic” therapies, which aim to remove aging glial cells, as a possible way to improve brain health and slow decline.

Systemic Health and the Gut-Brain Connection

Alzheimer’s is also influenced by conditions that affect the entire body. Issues such as insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and imbalances in gut bacteria can worsen disease processes. Researchers are investigating whether existing diabetes medications and therapies targeting the gut-brain axis could help reduce these effects.

Toward Integrated and Multi-Target Alzheimer’s Therapies

The authors emphasize the need to move away from “reductionist” thinking and toward “integrated strategies.” This shift involves developing treatments that target multiple aspects of the disease at once. It also includes using advanced laboratory models, such as human iPSC-derived organoids, to test new therapies more effectively. In addition, precision medicine approaches based on early biomarkers like plasma pTau217 could allow doctors to identify and treat Alzheimer’s earlier and more accurately.

“Success in defeating Alzheimer’s hinges on interdisciplinary collaboration and holistic innovation,” the authors conclude. Their findings outline a path forward, suggesting that with the right combination of strategies, Alzheimer’s could eventually become a manageable or even preventable condition rather than an inevitable decline.

A common nutrient could supercharge cancer treatment

Posted on 10/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Researchers at the University of Chicago have uncovered a surprising new role for zeaxanthin, a plant-based compound best known for supporting eye health. According to findings published in Cell Reports Medicine, this common carotenoid may also help the immune system fight cancer by enhancing the activity of key immune cells. The discovery points to zeaxanthin as a simple, widely available supplement that could improve how well cancer immunotherapies work.

“We were surprised to find that zeaxanthin, already known for its role in eye health, has a completely new function in boosting anti-tumor immunity,” said Jing Chen, PhD, Janet Davison Rowley Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and senior author of the study. “Our study show that a simple dietary nutrient could complement and strengthen advanced cancer treatments like immunotherapy.”

How Zeaxanthin Activates Cancer-Fighting T Cells

The research builds on years of work from Chen’s lab exploring how nutrients shape immune responses. By analyzing a large library of nutrients found in blood, the team identified zeaxanthin as a compound that directly enhances the performance of CD8+ T cells. These immune cells play a central role in identifying and destroying cancer cells.

CD8+ T cells rely on a structure called the T-cell receptor (TCR) to detect abnormal cells. The researchers found that zeaxanthin helps stabilize the formation of this receptor complex when T cells encounter cancer. This leads to stronger internal signaling, which increases T-cell activation, boosts cytokine production, and improves the cells’ ability to kill tumors.

Boosting the Power of Immunotherapy

In mouse studies, adding zeaxanthin to the diet slowed tumor growth. The effect became even more pronounced when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors – a type of immunotherapy that has transformed cancer treatment in recent years. Together, the combination produced stronger anti-tumor responses than immunotherapy alone.

The team also tested human T cells that had been engineered to target specific cancer markers. In laboratory experiments, zeaxanthin enhanced these cells’ ability to destroy melanoma, multiple myeloma, and glioblastoma cells.

“Our data show that zeaxanthin improves both natural and engineered T-cell responses, which suggests high translational potential for patients undergoing immunotherapies,” Chen said.

A Safe, Accessible Nutrient With Broad Potential

Zeaxanthin is already widely used as an over-the-counter supplement for eye health. It is naturally present in foods such as orange peppers, spinach, and kale. Because it is inexpensive, easy to obtain, and well tolerated, researchers believe it could be quickly tested as a complementary approach to cancer treatment.

The findings also highlight the broader importance of diet in immune health. In earlier work, Chen’s team identified trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), a fatty acid found in dairy and meat, as another compound that enhances T-cell function through a different pathway. Together, these discoveries suggest that nutrients from both plant and animal sources may work in complementary ways to support the immune system.

What Comes Next for Zeaxanthin in Cancer Care

While the results are promising, the researchers stress that the work is still in its early stages. Most of the evidence so far comes from laboratory experiments and animal models. Clinical trials will be needed to determine whether zeaxanthin can improve outcomes for people with cancer.

“Our findings open a new field of nutritional immunology that looks at how specific dietary components interact with the immune system at the molecular level,” Chen said. “With more research, we may discover natural compounds that make today’s cancer therapies more effective and accessible.”

The study, “Zeaxanthin augments CD8+ effector T cell function and immunotherapy efficacy,” was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Ludwig Center at the University of Chicago, and the Harborview Foundation Gift Fund.

Additional authors include Freya Zhang, Jiacheng Li, Rukang Zhang, Jiayi Tu, Zhicheng Xie, Takemasa Tsuji, Hardik Shah, Matthew Ross, Ruitu Lyu, Junko Matsuzaki, Anna Tabor, Kelly Xue, Chunzhao Yin, Hamed R. Youshanlouei, Syed Shah, Michael W. Drazer, Yu-Ying He, Marc Bissonnette, Jun Huang, Chuan He, Kunle Odunsi, and Hao Fan from the University of Chicago; Fatima Choudhry from DePaul University, Chicago; Yuancheng Li and Hui Mao from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; Lei Dong from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; and Rui Su from Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA.

Malcolm In The Middle Star Turned Down ‘Buckets Of Money’ To Appear In Reboot

Posted on 10/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Former Malcolm In The Middle cast member Erik Per Sullivan evidently had no interest in returning for the show’s new revival.

As a child performer, Erik played Malcolm’s younger brother Dewey in all seven seasons of the family sitcom, which is about to be rebooted for a new generation.

However, in the show’s new iteration, the character of Dewey will be played by new addition Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, after the OG actor declined to return.

During a new interview with The Guardian, Malcolm In The Middle star Jane Kaczmarek made it clear that Erik was approached about coming back – and producers were more than willing to make it worth his while.

“They offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said: ‘No thank you’,” Jane said, pointing out that Erik is happier focussing on his studies at Harvard, where he’s pursuing a master’s degree in literature.

Outside of Malcolm In The Middle, Erik went on to appear in Christmas With The Kranks and Finding Nemo during his career as a child actor.

It seems he has now retired from acting altogether, last appearing in the 2010 crime drama Twelve, at the age of 19.

Jane and her on-screen husband Bryan Cranston are both appearing in the revival, as are co-stars Frankie Muniz, Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield.

Among the other new members of the cast are Keeley Karsten, playing Malcolm’s daughter Leah, while Anthony Timpano and Vaughan Murrae will play his younger brothers.

Cast members old and new appear in the Malcolm In The Middle: Life's Still Unfair official poster — Cast members old and new appear in the Malcolm In The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair official poster

A synopsis for the four-part Disney+ series, titled Malcolm In The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, reads: “Malcolm and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.”

Malcolm In The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is now streaming on Disney+. Take a look at the official trailer below:

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