A weekly round-up of news affecting your health
OBESITY
Cancers typically seen in people over the age of 50 are now increasingly occurring in young adults.
A research review of more than 100 publications has shown obesity increased the risk of 13 different cancers in young adults.
Published in journal Obesity, the meta-analysis found of the 20 most common cancers in the United States, nine are now reported in young adults.
In 2016, nearly one in 10 new breast cancer cases and one in four new thyroid cancer cases were in people aged 20-44, according to the data.
The authors warn the childhood obesity "pandemic" is promoting cancer, stating young people with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 are more likely to experience aggressive malignancies.
One possible explanation is that obesity causes changes to a person's DNA that can add up over time.
"If you are obese, you are at a higher risk of cancer. If you lose weight, it improves the prognosis and may lower your risk, but it never goes away completely," said author Nathan Berger at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
WOMEN & LIVER DISEASE
A UK study has fund women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at a two-fold increased risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 10 per cent of all women. It is caused by a hormone imbalance in the brain and ovaries.
This imbalance causes the ovaries to make extra amounts of the male hormone testosterone, often resulting in irregular periods, impaired fertility, excess hair growth, acne and weight gain.
A study of more than 180,000 women recently published in journal PLOS Medicine found women with PCOS were two to three times more likely to develop liver diseases not associated with alcohol than those without the condition.
Importantly, the research found women with both PCOS and a high testosterone level were at an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease regardless of their weight, said lead author Dr Krish Nirantharakumar, of the University of Birmingham.
"Looking at the levels of the major male hormone testosterone, we found having a high testosterone level increased the risk of fatty liver disease significantly, even in women who were of a normal healthy weight," said Dr Nirantharakumar.
The researchers say the findings suggest regular screening for fatty liver disease should be considered in these women, to make sure the disease is caught early.
MUSIC & MEMORY
Music lessons can improve children's cognitive skills and academic performance.
A longitudinal study of 147 primary school students in the Netherlands published in journal Frontiers in Neruoscience found structured music lessons significantly enhanced children's cognitive abilities - including language-based reasoning, short-term memory, planning and inhibition.
This in turn lead to improved academic performance, the authors said.
Visual arts lessons were also found to significantly improve children's visual and spatial memory.
The authors say the study highlights the importance of music and art lessons in education.
"Children who received music lessons showed improved language-based reasoning and the ability to plan, organise and complete tasks, as well as improved academic achievement," said lead author Dr Artur Jaschke at VU University of Amsterdam.
"This suggests the cognitive skills developed during music lessons can influence children's cognitive abilities in completely unrelated subjects, leading to overall improved academic performance," Dr Jaschke said.
The study was published in journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.
FOOD POISONING
After recent deaths from Listeria infections linked to rockmelons, the Food Safety Information Council is warning about the risk of food poisoning at Easter.
Listeria infection is a rare but potentially severe illness caused by food contaminated with bacteria.
There were 71 serious cases of Listeria infection in Australia during the whole of 2017 and there have been 40 cases recorded already this year.
"While Listeria infection is rare, it can be a very serious disease in pregnant women, people who have diabetes, cancer or suppressed immune systems, and the elderly over 70, all of whom will need to avoid certain foods,' said Council Chair, Rachelle Williams.
Ms Williams says the best way to avoid Listeria infection is to eat fresh or freshly cooked food.
Hygiene is also very important, she said.
Foods which have a higher risk of contamination include cold meats, pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit or vegetable salads, chilled seafood, semi-soft and surface-ripened cheeses such as brie and camembert.
Symptoms for Listeria infection are usually described as 'flu-like', although vomiting and diarrhoea can occur.
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