Asian Scientist Magazine

#DidYouKnow that dengue is now vaccine-preventable? 🦟 Vaccines have long been one of the most powerful tools in public health, helping reduce deaths from diseases like malaria and measles. Enter dengue vaccination which could also benefit communities facing this mosquito-borne illness. For years, dengue control relied on traditional methods like personal protection and fogging to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. But these measures struggle to keep pace with dengue's rapid spread from a tropical disease to a major global burden. So how can dengue vaccination help? It could: 💉 Protect individuals, whether they’ve had dengue before or not 💉 Reduce the overall disease burden across communities 💉 Lower hospitalization rates and prevent severe cases 💉 Ease the economic and healthcare strain caused by outbreaks As the fight against dengue intensifies worldwide, vaccination is a crucial step to reducing its impact and building healthier, more resilient communities. Global leader in pharmaceutical innovation Takeda is proactively integrating the dengue vaccine into a broader strategy aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. According to Takeda, the key is to ensure accessibility for at-risk communities and this could be achieved through multi-stakeholder communication and collaboration. Learn more about Takeda's efforts in the fight against dengue via the link in the comments below. ⬇️ — #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #dengue #denguevaccine #vaccination

💡 How much do you really know about your reproductive health? For years, millions of women have faced silent battles with menstrual pains, often dismissed as “something natural that happens to most women.” But these menstrual symptoms could be signs of underlying conditions like endometriosis that can lead to complications and significantly impact women's mental health. Enter #FemTech — which involves electronic devices, software, or technology designed to support women’s unique health needs. 🌸 Across Asia, FemTech has evolved far beyond simple period trackers. Today, innovative apps help women manage conditions like endometriosis, navigate pregnancy, and access holistic health support. Curious to learn more? Head to the full article in the comments to see how FemTech is transforming women’s health in Asia. — #AsianScientist #scicomm #technology #reproductivehealth #wellness #women

#DidYouKnow: Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a promising new treatment option for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of aggressive blood cancer. Unlike traditional cancer treatments, CAR T-cell therapy is a personalized approach that enlists the body’s own immune cells to target and eliminate cancerous cells. When used early in the treatment journey, CAR T-cell therapy can even potentially change the course of DLBCL patients for the better. “This timing can be critical for many patients whose clinical condition may unfortunately deteriorate or become too frail, making them unable to receive further intensive therapies needed to achieve a cure,” said Professor Mickey Koh, Clinical Director of Oncology and Haematology at St George’s University Hospital in London, United Kingdom. CAR T-cell therapy is a prime example of precision medicine and has been found to improve outcomes in patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Learn more about its transformative potential in the fight against cancer. Hit the link in our comments below for the full article. ⬇️ — #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #cancer #oncology #sponsoredfeature

Dengue survivors have a higher risk of long-term health issues than those who recovered from COVID-19. In a new study led by Nanyang Technological University Singapore, scientists found that people who recover from dengue are significantly more vulnerable to issues affecting the heart, brain, and immune systems. Researchers analyzed the medical records of 11,707 Singapore residents with dengue and 1,248,326 who had COVID-19 between July 2021 to October 2022. Comparing the health problems faced by dengue and COVID-19 survivors from 31 to 300 days after infection, they found that dengue survivors had: 🔴 a 55% increased risk of heart complications 🔴 a 213% higher risk of cognition and memory disorders 🔴 a 198% higher risk of movement disorders The findings of the research could be helpful in public health planning and mitigating the long-term health impacts of dengue, particularly in tropical countries where seasonal outbreaks happen. Head to the link in our comments section for more insights and recommendations from the study. ⬇️ — #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #dengue #publichealth

#DidYouKnow: The great white shark could be the key to designing faster aircrafts and boats. 🦈 In a new study, scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology found that the denticles—or tooth-like structures—on the shark’s skin help reduce friction and allow sharks to swim with great efficiency at different speeds. The researchers developed 3D models of white shark denticles and analyzed the hydrodynamic properties of the high middle ridges and low side ridges in relation to the shark’s swimming speeds. They observed that these structures enable the sharks to have bursts of speed for hunting and to travel long distances by using minimal energy. The findings of the study can inspire new designs in the engineering world. Head to the link in our comments below to learn more. ⬇️ --- #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #greatwhiteshark #engineering

TIL: An apple (or more) a day could keep late-life depression away. 🍎 A new study found that increasing fruit consumption in earlier years could be a preventive measure against age-related depression among Asians. Researchers from the National University of Singapore analyzed the data from 13,738 participants of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, which followed individuals from midlife to later life for nearly two decades. The findings showed that participants who had at least three servings of fruits a day were able to reduce the likelihood of aging-related depression by at least 21%. These findings have significant implications for public education and efforts to improve access to fruits for the general population. Learn more via the link in our comments section. 👇 --- #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #aging #depression #fruitconsumption

Singapore has an increasing incidence of dementia considering its rapidly aging population. To help address this, a study found an innovative strategy that could detect signs of dementia among older people. Researchers from the National University of Singapore and NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine analyzed the natural speech of senior Singaporeans to pinpoint language cues of dementia. “Our study has never been done before as it focused on unstructured and spontaneous speech that is easy to collect and analyze,” said principal investigator Bao Zhiming, a professor in the Department of English, Linguistics, and Theatre Studies (ELTS) at NUS. Based on the findings, the study of natural speech to detect linguistic signs of early cognitive decline is a reliable, non-invasive and cost-effective tool. This breakthrough method could possibly help medical practitioners in the early diagnosis, intervention and management of the progressive disease, as well as reduce the burden on healthcare systems. Head to the link in the comments section for more insights from the study. ⬇️ --- #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #agingpopulation #dementia

#DidYouKnow: Mothers who receive help with childcare from their own parents are more likely to show parental warmth to their children. 🤱 In a study by researchers at Nanyang Technological University Singapore, 615 mother-child pairs were examined and sorted into five groups based on the type of caregivers: no support, domestic helpers, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, and maternal and paternal grandparents. Analyzing the connection between each type of caregiving arrangement and family wellbeing outcomes, the researchers found that maternal grandparents are uniquely positioned to provide support in a manner most aligned with the needs of mothers. “While maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, and domestic helpers all have the potential to provide instrumental assistance and emotional encouragement when it comes to childcare duties, our study found that childcare support from maternal grandparents was the most beneficial,” said Setoh Peipei, lead researcher and associate professor at NTU’s Early Cognition Lab. Mothers who had received support from their own parents reported engaging in more positive parenting, characterized by warmth, responsiveness, and a stimulating home environment. For more insights from the study, head to the link in our comments section. ⬇️ --- #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #childcare

Meat substitute products have received growing popularity around the world, but do we really understand the health impacts of this dietary shift? 🤔 In a recent study, scientists found that when it comes to improving heart and metabolic health, switching to plant-based meat analogues (PBMA) might not be as beneficial. Researchers from A*STAR Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) studied whether adopting PBMAs as the main protein source provides any benefits for the cardiometabolic health of Asian individuals, particularly those at a higher risk of diabetes. Over eight weeks, the research team tracked changes in different heart and metabolic health factors of the 82 volunteers who were split into two groups: one on an animal-based meat diet (ABMD) and the other on a plant-based meat diet (PBMD). The findings showed no significant evidence to favor a PBMD over an ABMD for individuals with diabetes. What may be more beneficial is to strive for balanced and healthy diets rich in whole plant-based foods. For more insights and recommendations from the study, head to the link in the comments section. ⬇️ --- #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #plantbasedmeat #diabetes

Think you can make up for lost sleep on the weekends? Think again! 💤 We've all tried to compensate for those sleep-deprived days with a weekend lie in and the occasional early bedtime. But science says: That doesn’t fully restore our brain’s performance. A new study by researchers at the National University of Singapore found that while catching up for a few nights could blunt the negative effects of sleep-deprivation, it is not a complete solution. As the co-author of the study and Assistant Professor at the NUS Center for Sleep and Cognition, June Lo, said, “There’s no way you can cheat when it’s about sleep.” 😴 For optimal brain performance, the study emphasizes the importance of consistent and sufficient sleep based on age-specific recommendations. Head to the link in the comments section to learn more. 👇 --- #AsianScientist #scicomm #research #sleepdeprivation #brainperformance