Other health stories in brief
Short people more at risk of Alzheimer's
Tall people are less likely to develop Alzheimer's, according to a new study.
Scientists measured the arm and knee heights of 2,798 men and women with an average age of 72. Five years later, 480 of the participants had developed Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.
In women, leg length was found to have an influence on dementia risk. For every extra inch of leg, risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's reduced by 16 per cent.
In men, for every one-inch increase in arm length, the risk reduced by 6 per cent.
Dr Tina Huang, who led the research at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, said that reduced height is thought to be closely tied to environment and quality of diet in early life. "Environment in the first years of life may play an important role in determining future dementia risk."
Meeting by Asthma Society of Ireland
New research conducted by the Asthma Society of Ireland has demonstrated low awareness of the symptoms of asthma. Only 24 per cent of the Irish public are able to identify wheezing, and only 22 per cent able to identify persistent coughing as asthma symptoms.
To mark World Asthma Day today, the society will hold a free public information meeting tonight at 6.30pm at the Davenport Hotel, Dublin.
Protest at removal of hospital services
Hundreds of people are expected to turn out in Monaghan next Saturday to protest at plans to remove further services from Monaghan General Hospital. The protest at 3pm has been sparked by the revelation that plans have been drawn up by the Health Service Executive to transfer all acute inpatient care from Monaghan General Hospital to Cavan General Hospital by November.