monash university

A groundbreaking study highlights that short-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution causes over one million deaths globally each year, with the highest impact in Eastern Asia. It calls for urgent targeted interventions to reduce the health risks associated with air pollution spikes. Credit: SciTechDaily.comAnnually, over a million deaths worldwide are associated with short-term exposure (ranging from hours to days) to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air.Every year, over one million people worldwide lose their lives…

Researchers at Monash University have discovered the critical role of the protein IKAROS in immune cell development, offering new insights into cancer therapy and the potential for reevaluating existing drugs targeting this protein for improved treatment options.IKAROS code cracked: insight into an essential protein for immune cell development and protection against pathogens and cancer.In a scientific breakthrough that aids our understanding of the internal wiring of immune cells, researchers at Monash University in…

A study led by Monash University and Alfred Health, found that methotrexate, a low-cost drug used since the 1980s, could effectively treat hand osteoarthritis. The research showed that a 20mg weekly dose of methotrexate over six months significantly reduced pain and stiffness in patients, offering a promising treatment option for a condition that severely impacts quality of life and lacks effective medication. Future trials are planned to explore long-term effects and specific benefits for postmenopausal women.An…

A major study involving 87,000 participants has found that excessive night light exposure increases the risk of psychiatric disorders, while increased daytime light can reduce these risks. This groundbreaking research underscores the importance of balancing light exposure for mental health and suggests simple lifestyle adjustments for better wellbeing.Exposure to artificial light during nighttime is linked to a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress…

A study reveals that a 1% annual reduction in deep sleep among those over 60 increases dementia risk by 27%, suggesting the importance of maintaining deep sleep to potentially prevent dementia. A decrease of 1% in deep sleep each year for individuals aged 60 and older corresponds to a 27% higher risk of developing dementia. A study has found that every 1% decrease in deep sleep annually in individuals over 60 years old is associated with a 27% higher risk of dementia. This research indicates that improving or preserving…

A Monash University-led study discovered a link between high levels of HDL-C (‘good cholesterol’) and increased dementia risk in older adults, particularly those over 75. This significant finding calls for further research to explore the impact of high HDL-C on brain health. Research from Monash University indicates that high levels of ‘good cholesterol’ (HDL-C) are associated with an increased risk of dementia in the elderly, highlighting a need for more in-depth study in this area. Abnormally high levels of HDL-C,…

“From that moment I was alert," says Dr Mol. And his alertness was not merely as a reader of published papers. He was also, at the time, an editor of the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and frequently also a peer reviewer for papers submitted to other journals. Sure enough, two papers containing apparently fabricated data soon landed on his desk. He rejected them. But, a year later, he came across them again, except with the fishy data changed, published in another journal.…

A Monash University study asked a different question: could the massive data we all generate when connecting to and disconnecting from the internet help researchers understand sleep?Everyone sleeps, but we have few tools for measuring the sleep the world is getting at scale. AI and sleep could help us study global shocks in near-real time. It's not unusual to hear people complaining about tiredness multiple times a day, but why? Sleep is fundamental to human health, but because it's so private, there are few tools for…