Researchers conclude that smokers make less money, and a study shows that Parkinson’s disease is linked to hearing loss. Some of the latest medical research.
In “Al Jazeera Health” we present a tour of medical research for today, Wednesday, January 15, 2025:
Smokers make less money
A new study finds that smoking has a negative impact on earning money among younger workers. This is especially true for the less educated group.
The study was conducted by researchers from the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, and its results were published in the Journal of Nicotine and Tobacco Research on January 14, and the Eurick Alert website wrote about it.
In the study, the researchers used data from a previous study conducted among Finnish youth, an analysis of 3,596 participants from urban and rural areas, born between 1962 and 1977. They linked this data to labor market results from Statistics Finland and other sources. The observation period, which began in 2001, covered people aged 24 to 39 years.
The research revealed significant differences in earnings between smokers and non-smokers in the younger worker group, especially among less educated people. There were no such differences among older workers. This suggests that smoking may negatively impact labor market prospects more seriously for younger generations.
Hearing loss is linked to Parkinson’s disease
A new study has revealed a link between hearing loss and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
The analysis revealed a 57% increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease for every 10 decibel (a unit used to measure the amount of hearing loss) increase in hearing loss. Hearing loss and Parkinson’s disease may be linked through a common neurological cause.
The study was conducted by researchers in the Department of Science at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, and its results were published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, and the Eurek Alert website wrote about it.
A method to detect people at risk of depression
A new study has found a way to predict who is at risk of depression, and experts have discovered nearly 300 genetic variants linked to this condition that were not previously known to scientists.
The global study was led by researchers from the University of Edinburgh and King’s College London in the United Kingdom, and its results were published in Cell magazine on January 14, and the British newspaper Daily Mail wrote about it.
The results of the study – in which scientists followed more than 5 million adults in 29 countries – open horizons for translating these results into better care for people suffering from depression. It offers greater hope than ever that the disease can be treated through new drugs or drugs already available, such as those used to treat chronic pain.