America’s $88bn anti-ageing industry: dangerous and with no scientific backing

Suzanne Somers says she will still be having sex with husband Alan Hamel when she’s 94 – and he’s 105. Photograph: Jason Merritt/Getty The desire to defy age is as ancient as human history, but in the past 10 years a multibillion-dollar industry has sprung up in America promising decades of extra life and good health beyond your 100th birthday. However, a new book has revealed a disturbing lack of safety regulation, outrageous unproved medical claims, risky products that could cause serious health problems,... [Read More]

MS and arthritis may be linked to lack of sun, say scientists

The Food Standards Agency says a healthy diet plus ‘a little’ exposure to sun should give us all the vitamin D we need. Photograph: Sang Tan/AP Insufficient exposure to sunshine, resulting in low levels of vitamin D, could play a part in a wide-range of diseases, from multiple sclerosis to rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, some cancers and even dementia, scientists say today. A study funded by the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and others, has succeeded in mapping the points at which vitamin D interacts... [Read More]

We must do better against malaria | Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Alma wants universal mosquito net coverage by the end of this year. Photograph: Walter Astrada/AFP During the African Union summit this week, leaders met at a watershed moment in the... [Read More...] Children’s sight at risk as parents and schools shun eye tests Many young children in the UK are not having their eyes tested, above. Photograph: Alamy British parents and teachers are unwittingly putting children’s eyes at risk by not making... [Read More...] Biomarkers: How good a cancer test are they? Herceptin targets breast cancer via the biomarker HER-2, which was discovered in the 80s. Photograph: Time Life Pictures/Getty Images Barely a week goes by without headlines blaring... [Read More...]

Society daily 11.08.2010 Older and young people are both being hit by rising unemployment. Photograph: Alamy Follow SocietyGuardian on Twitter Follow Patrick Butler on Twitter Sign up to Society Daily email... [Read More...] acne diet tips to cure your acne Is there a link between acne and food you eat Earlier it was believed that oily foods cause acne. This is a myth don't blame your pizza it has nothing to do with your acne. [Read More...] Sharp fall in public services productivity The productivity measure sets outputs of public services, such as NHS operations. Photograph: Wally McNamee/Corbis Productivity of public services dipped sharply in 2008 despite a spurt... [Read More...]