Vitamin pill may slow Alzheimer's Disease

A trial will begin in the new year of high doses of a form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide after trials with genetically modified mice suggested that the vitamin may protect against effects of Alzheimer's.

Patagonian tree fungus produces fuel-like substances

The fungus called Gliocladium roseum grows inside the ulmo tree(Eucryphia cordifolia) tree in Northern Patagonia, Argentina.

The fungus produces hydrocarbon molecules that are almost identifical to fossil fuels.

Further research is needed.

Lithium may slow motor neurone disease

A trial involving giving daily lithium pills to more than 200 motor neurone disease suffers will start in january 2009, lasting 18 months, to see if those taking the pills live longer.

Suffers including Stephen Hawking,the physicist.

Metal contamination in Wine

Tests on white and red wine from 15 countries have revealed potentially hazardous levels of metal ions in such wines, with wines from Hungary and Slovakia being the most contaminated.

Wines from Argentina,Brazil and Italy were the least contaminated.

Such levels could lead to Parkinson's.

Drug gives new hope to multiple sclerosis suffers

Doctors at Cambridge University have done a three-year trial of a drug called alemtuzumab on over 300 MS patients.



Those given the drug,a synthetic antibody developed at Cambridge 30 years ago, were 74% less likely to relapse, were 71% less likely to be disabled in three years time,but also showed fewer signs of disability.

The drug also seemed to promote brain repairs.

Fans may reduce cot deaths

A study suggests that fans reduces the risk of cot deaths/sudden infant death syndrome(Sids) by 72%.

Alternatively, you could open a window.

Beast cancer vaccine a possibility

Professor Valerie Beral who lead the Million Women Study into the causes of breast cancer believes that a breast cancer vaccine is possible.

The study shows that many breast cancer are caused by lack of hormonal changes caused by childbirth and breastfeeding.