What the papers said in the week ending 9 September 2023
After months of hype in the gullible lay press, we have a sober, well-informed, well-balanced editorial in the BMJ which makes clear that claims for the potential of new anti-dementia medication are not well-founded: New treatments for Alzheimer’s disease | The BMJ
Indeed, these are toxic compounds with arguable, if any, benefits
Further, the Journal points to the importance of potentially reversible factors in the genesis of ill-health and early death: Death risk varies with social deprivation, employment, and ethnicity, data show | The BMJ
These are factors which require conjoined and responsible action by communities. They cannot be transcribed into financial profits for companies or individuals
Elsewhere progress in science and healthcare continues: ‘Complete’ models of human embryos created from stem cells in lab | Stem cells | The Guardian
- Depression can play direct role in developing type 2 diabetes, says study | Diabetes | The Guardian
- Excess winter deaths caused by cold homes in Great Britain ‘up by about a half’ | Energy bills | The Guardian
The potential of robot pets is put into perspective: do they devalue the worth of care and those cared for? Robot pets are a symptom of a crisis in care | Social care | The Guardian
And some illnesses are becoming more common: Cancer cases in under-50s worldwide up nearly 80% in three decades, study finds | Cancer | The Guardian
The environment:
The hazards of extremes are ever evident: UK weather: heat health warning upgraded as heatwave forecast | UK weather | The Guardian
- ‘Smashed’: summer of 2023 the hottest ever recorded | Extreme weather | The Guardian
- Deadly humid heatwaves to spread rapidly as climate warms – study | Climate crisis | The Guardian
Conditions:
Poor people are finding life more difficult: Poor people ‘surviving not living’ as UK social contract collapses, says report | Poverty | The Guardian
Lack of investment in maintenance leaves us in danger and in debt: Crumbling concrete is a metaphor for Tory rule | Schools | The Guardian
Councils cannot cope: The Observer view on Birmingham council: it won’t be the last to fail until local government funding is overhauled | Observer editorial | The Guardian
Prisons are not safe: Overcrowded, cramped and insecure: state of UK’s jails made conditions ripe for Khalife’s escape | UK news | The Guardian
Sustaining a decent life for older people is costly: Triple lock could add £45bn a year to state pensions bill by 2050, IFS says | State pensions | The Guardian
Letters will cost more: First-class UK stamp to rise by 15p in October to £1.25 | Royal Mail | The Guardian
- And we may be losing the Saturday post: Let Royal Mail drop letters on Saturdays. Also make it hit weekday targets | Nils Pratley | The Guardian
Sadness extends to other parts of Europe: Almost 1m people across Europe are homeless on any given night | Homelessness | The Guardian
Caring for other creatures:
Buildings can be made friendly: Lords to debate mandating swift bricks in new homes in England | Birds | The Guardian
Messy gardens are recommended: The Guardian view on insects: gardeners can help reverse their alarming decline | Editorial | The Guardian
Other matters:
History is still there to be discovered: Archaeologists uncover complete Neolithic cursus on the Isle of Arran | Archaeology | The Guardian
Gnomes may have stories to tell: Mystery toy gnomes may be burglary ploy, Welsh police warn | Wales | The Guardian
A cathedral may take time to repair! Salisbury Cathedral prepares for final ‘topping out’ after 37 years of repairs | Heritage | The Guardian
Old Rockers can have original thoughts: ‘We were lazy!’ The Rolling Stones unveil new original album Hackney Diamonds after 18-year wait | The Rolling Stones | The Guardian
Sex is a life-time phenomenon: Study provides new insights into British people’s sex lives as they age | Sexual health | The Guardian
We grieve Queen Elizabeth and give thanks for King Charles: What a year of King Charles has shown us about how he wants to reign | King Charles III | The Guardian
We are humbled to remember Arthur Wharton, son of Methodist Missionaries: Rotherham honours Arthur Wharton, England’s first black professional footballer | Rotherham | The Guardian
David Jolley, Chair, Christians on Ageing, in a personal capacity
