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Science finally proves "Money doesn't buy happiness"

A new study has proven that the old adage "money can't buy you happiness" is true. Historically, economic wealth and higher income households are often seen to have an increased level of wellbeing and happiness, with the extra money making way for less stress and more general comfortability. However, researchers from Canada and Spain have concluded this may not be true, with such surveys often including responses from people in industrialised areas only. People in small-scale societies where money does not play a central role in every day life are often excluded from these studies, as the livelihood of residents in these small communities usually depend more on nature. Now, 2,966 people from Indigenous and local communities in 19 locations across the globe have been included in a study, with researchers now finding that societies of Indigenous people and those in small, local communities report living very satisfying lives despite not having a lot of money. The researchers wrote, "The striking aspect of our findings... is that reported life satisfaction in very low-income communities can meet and even exceed that reported at the highest average levels of material wealth provided by industrial ways of life." Researchers concluded the findings are strong evidence that economic growth is not needed to be happy, with only 64 percent of households included in the survey reported having any cash income. Eric Galbraith, lead author of the study, said, "Surprisingly, many populations with very low monetary incomes report very high average levels of life satisfaction, with scores similar to those in wealthy countries." Researchers added that high life satisfaction is shown in these communities "despite many of these societies having suffered histories of marginalisation and oppression." Galbraith added, "I would hope that, by learning more about what makes life satisfying in these diverse communities, it might help many others to lead more satisfying lives while addressing the sustainability crisis." Image credits: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Daily aspirin doesn’t prevent strokes in older, healthy people after all

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nial-wheate-96839">Nial Wheate</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tina-hinton-329706">Tina Hinton</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> The daily use of <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/drugs-in-secondary-stroke-prevention">low dose aspirin</a> has been a mainstay of preventing strokes for decades. While there has always been a risk of bleeding associated with aspirin use, the benefits were thought to outweigh the risk. Now <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25803">new research</a> led by Monash University has shown daily, low-dose aspirin doesn’t prevent strokes in relatively healthy people aged over 70. And it increases their risk of bleeding on the brain after falls or other injuries. But if you’re taking aspirin, it doesn’t mean you should abruptly stop. It may still have a role to play in treating people at high risk of stroke. Or, after talking to your doctor, there might be better options available. <h2>Why has aspirin been used to prevent strokes?</h2> Aspirin is an anti-platelet medicine, which is commonly known as a blood-thinner. <a href="https://www.lifeblood.com.au/blood/learn-about-blood/platelets">Platelets</a> are the component of blood primarily responsible for its clotting action. They are what stop you from continuously bleeding any time you have a cut or scrape on your skin. A <a href="https://strokefoundation.org.au/about-stroke/learn/what-is-a-stroke">stroke</a> is when oxygen can’t get into the brain because of a burst or blocked blood vessel. A blockage can occur when platelets in the bloodstream form a clot and it gets stuck in the artery. Because aspirin acts on platelets, it can help prevent the clots that can lead to a stroke. But because aspirin acts on platelets, it can also increase the risk of <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/daily-aspirin-therapy/art-20046797#:%7E:text=While%20daily%20aspirin%20can%20help,of%20developing%20a%20stomach%20ulcer.">unwanted bleeding</a>, usually in the stomach. It can also increase your risk of bleeding more when you have another injury, like hitting your head. Aspirin isn’t just used for the prevention of strokes. It is also the first aid treatment for someone undergoing a <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/acute-myocardial-infarction-early-treatment">heart attack</a>. <h2>Findings of the Monash trial</h2> New <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25803">research from Australia and the United States</a> reports results from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial. The researchers examined the protective use of daily low-dose aspirin (100 mg) in nearly 2,000 people who were aged 70 years and older and had no history of heart disease or stroke and whose blood pressure and cholesterol were well managed. When compared with placebo, aspirin didn’t reduce or increase the risk of stroke. Of the participants who took the aspirin, 195 or 4.6% had a stroke. Of those who took the placebo, 203 people or 4.7% had a stroke. But it did statistically increase the rate of non-stroke bleeding in the participants’ brains, for example when they injured their head. Those on aspirin showed a rate of bleeding in the brain of 1.1% (108 participants) compared with 0.8% (79 people) for those on placebo. This is a relatively, low but serious, risk. These findings are not entirely new. <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1800722?query=featured_home">Research</a> published five years ago based on the same ASPREE trial showed a similar result: a higher rate of bleeding among those taking low-dose aspirin compared with placebo. However as the study authors note, aspirin continues to be widely used for the prevention of stroke. <h2>What are the study’s limitations?</h2> The researchers examined aspirin in mostly people of white European heritage. So we don’t know whether the results are translatable to people with different ethnic backgrounds. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2594139/">Genetics and ethnicity</a> can significantly impact the efficacy and safety of some drugs. The clinical trial only included people who were not significantly at risk of a stroke, and had no history of heart disease. Younger age groups were not studied either, so we cannot make any conclusions about their use of low dose aspirin to prevent stroke. It’s also possible the potential benefits and risks are different for those who have underlying heart problems or who have previously had a stroke and are therefore at higher risk of another stroke. <h2>I’m taking aspirin, what should I do?</h2> If you’re taking daily low-dose aspirin and are concerned by the results of the study, it’s important you don’t just stop taking your medicine. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist. For people who are at high risk of having a stroke, or have previously had one, low-dose aspirin may remain their treatment of choice despite the slight bleeding risk. If you’re at high risk of bleeding, for example because of falls and other accidents due to advanced age, frailty, or another underlying condition, your doctor may be able to reduce the amount of aspirin you take by adding in <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/dipyridamole">dipyridamole</a> or prescribing a different medicine completely, such as <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/clopidogrel">clopidogrel</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210388/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nial-wheate-96839">Nial Wheate</a>, Associate Professor of the Sydney Pharmacy School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tina-hinton-329706">Tina Hinton</a>, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/daily-aspirin-doesnt-prevent-strokes-in-older-healthy-people-after-all-210388">original article</a>.

Body

No, you can’t reverse ageing by injecting ‘young blood’ and fasting. But that doesn’t stop people trying

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-jefferson-buchanan-297850">Rachael Jefferson-Buchanan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a> Like many celebrities and entrepreneurs, 45-year-old US tech billionaire Bryan Johnson is <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/taking-the-blood-of-your-17-year-old-son-anti-ageing-has-gone-too-far-20230530-p5dcd6.html">trying to reverse the ageing process</a>. Spending an average of US$2 million a year on an anti-ageing regimen, Johnson <a href="https://medium.com/future-literacy/at-45-i-now-age-slower-than-the-average-10-year-old-6932448fc608">claims</a> he now ages slower than some children. He explains: “the pace my body accumulates ageing damage is less than the average ten year old”. Many of Johnson’s age-reversal methods are questionable, involve dodgy science, and have known side effects. While you can’t stop the ageing process, and the gradual decline our bodies experience as we advance in years, there are some things we can all do – for free – to maintain our health as we age. <h2>What does Johnson do? And is it scientific?</h2> Fasting Johnson reports fasting for 23 hours a day. He then eats <a href="https://medium.com/future-literacy/one-meal-23-hr-fast-100-nutrition-18187a2f5b">one meal a day</a>: 2,250 calories of nutrient-dense food “customised” to his body’s needs. Eating for time-restricted periods in the day can have a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9650338/">positive effect</a> on how we <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29955217/">metabolise nutrients</a>, inflammation levels, hormonal regulation, and <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-good-is-your-cardiometabolic-health-and-what-is-that-anyway-202208182803">cardiometabolic health</a> (blood sugar, <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/triglycerides/art-20048186">triglycerides</a>, cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI and waist circumference). However, a Spartan-like food intake can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2121099/">impair</a> how our body responds to sugar (known as glucose tolerance). And it’s not necessarily any more effective for weight maintenance than <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29419624/">reducing calorie intake at each meal</a>. Large-scale, long-term human trials are needed to confirm the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34728336/">limited risk-benefit</a> findings of fasting. Acid peels Johnson has weekly <a href="https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/chemical-peels/chemical-peels-for-aging-skin">acid peels</a> (which use a mild acid to exfoliate the skin) to maintain a “youthful glow”. But you cannot smooth sagging facial skin or remove deep scars or wrinkles. Acid peels also <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemical-peel/about/pac-20393473">come with risks</a>, including organ damage, infection, scarring and swelling. Plasma infusions Perhaps the most bizarre youth-inducing procedure Johnson has attempted is receiving blood transfusions from his 17-year-old son. US biotech companies have explored <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/02/could-young-blood-stop-us-getting-old-transfusions-experiments-mice-plasma">plasma infusions</a> to tackle age-related diseases in humans for decades. But there are no proven clinical benefits. <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/what-happens-to-donated-blood/blood-transfusions/risks-complications.html">Side effects from blood transfusions</a> include blood-borne infections, fever and allergic reactions. <h2>Historical attempts to stay youthful</h2> Humans have been experimenting with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/59/6/B515/662071">anti-ageing methods for centuries</a>. These have included all sorts of behavioural and lifestyle practices that are quirky, questionable, and even sadistic. Ancient practices included <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/news/a14382/anti-aging-beauty-through-history/">crocodile dung face masks</a>, which the Greeks and Romans used to brighten their complexions. Romans also used <a href="https://beautytap.com/2019/03/donkey-milk">donkey milk</a> and <a href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/swans-fat-crocodile-dung-and-ashes-snails-achieving-beauty-ancient-rome-003240">swan fat</a> to minimise wrinkles, due to their acclaimed rejuvenating properties. <a href="https://www.livescience.com/44071-cleopatra-biography.html">Cleopatra</a> apparently took daily baths in sour donkey milk. To sustain this lavish habit, she had a <a href="https://www.naturanecosmetics.com/en/content/26-faits-historiques">herd of 700 donkeys</a>. Sour milk contains <a href="https://science.jrank.org/pages/3780/Lactic-Acid-Lactic-acid-in-foods.html">lactic acid</a>, a naturally occurring <a href="https://www.mecca.com.au/edits/ingredients/alpha-hydroxy-acids/">alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA)</a> that exists in many modern-day exfoliants. So this idea was grounded in basic science, at least. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530478/original/file-20230607-27-bv0w1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Milk bath with dried fruits and flowers" /><figcaption>Don’t waste milk on a bath. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/bath-milk-flowers-1051210370">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> During the 16th and 17th century, “Countess Dracula” aka <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory">Elizabeth Bathory</a> allegedly resorted to serial killing to quench her thirst for youthfulness, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/the-bloody-legend-of-hungarys-serial-killer-countess">bathing in the blood of her young victims</a>. <h2>The quest continues with cryotherapy</h2> Fountain of youth fixations have inspired many contemporary anti-ageing trends. Exposure to cold is a firm favourite. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-023-00383-4">Some research</a> suggests this could have <a href="https://neurosciencenews.com/cold-aging-22928/">benefits</a> relating to longevity, by slowing cellular degeneration, <a href="https://www.cryo.com.au/anti-ageing-benefits-of-whole-body-cryotherapy/">stimulating collagen and elastin production</a>, increasing the metabolism, and reducing inflammation. Dutch motivational speaker Wim Hof includes <a href="https://www.wimhofmethod.com/cold-water-immersion">cold water immersion</a> as one of the three pillars of his <a href="https://www.wimhofmethod.com/">Wim Hof Method</a> to “increase mind-body connection”. Athletes such as <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2469985/Cristiano-Ronaldo-buys-Cryotherapy-chamber.html">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> use <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21099-cryotherapy">cryotherapy</a>, exposing their bodies to extremely cold temperatures for two to four minutes to decrease the signs of ageing and enhance their general health. However, the <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_side_effects_of_cryotherapy/article.htm">risks of cryotherapy</a> include bone fractures, frostbite, nerve damage, bleeding, cramping, swelling and skin infections. <h2>So what can we do to age well?</h2> Two of the more mainstream anti-ageing methods that Johnson recommends are the daily self-care habits of sleep and exercise. He has a <a href="https://medium.com/future-literacy/sleep-and-impulse-control-87e844218ff2">strict sleep schedule</a> that involves retiring to bed at 8pm, with a one-hour wind-down in a darkened room. Adults report poorer sleep quality and difficulty being able to sleep for long enough <a href="https://www.news-medical.net/health/How-Does-the-Suprachiasmatic-Nucleus-(SCN)-Control-Circadian-Rhythm.aspx">as they age</a>. Sleeping too much or too little is <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1043347/full">associated with</a> a greater risk of obesity, heart disease and <a href="https://theconversation.com/research-check-can-sleeping-too-much-lead-to-an-early-death-101323">premature death</a>. Developing a regular sleep routine, reducing bedroom distractions such as mobile phones, and exercising regularly can all help to <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/aging-and-sleep">alleviate sleep problems</a>. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530491/original/file-20230607-29-cw0f29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Child and grandfather walk on a beach" /><figcaption>Exercise is also important for healthy ageing. <a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/s-vhziQHngM">Vidar Nordi Mathisen/Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> Exercise, often cited as a <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/exercise-is-the-wonder-drug-for-healthy-aging-11633642719">wonder drug for healthy ageing</a>, is something Johnson takes very seriously. He does a “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNywRJgCRaQ">Blueprint</a>” workout that includes specially designed daily techniques, as well as <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/high-intensity-interval-training/">high-intensity interval training sessions</a>, hiking and playing sport. From middle age onwards, we all need to exercise regularly, to increase our muscle mass, bone density, strength, endurance, coordination and balance. One of the greatest health risks for older people is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560761/">falling</a>, which balance, flexibility, endurance and strength training <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC381224/">can help</a> reduce. Physical activity can bring <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5408452/">social benefits</a> in older adults if undertaken in groups, and there are well-known <a href="https://www.whiddon.com.au/yourlife/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise-for-older-adults/">mental health gains</a>. Small changes in sleep, diet (eating <a href="https://health.gov/news/202107/nutrition-we-age-healthy-eating-dietary-guidelines">plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, healthy fats, and enough protein</a>), and exercise can support <a href="https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-020-01900-5">healthy ageing</a>, reducing the chance of early death, and helping us all to lead an active and independent life in our senior years. Now that is something worth investing in.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207038/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-jefferson-buchanan-297850">Rachael Jefferson-Buchanan</a>, Lecturer in Human Movement Studies (Health and PE) and Creative Arts, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-you-cant-reverse-ageing-by-injecting-young-blood-and-fasting-but-that-doesnt-stop-people-trying-207038">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Body

"This doesn’t feel right, does it?": Photographer admits Sony prize-winning photo was AI generated

A German photographer is refusing an award for his prize-winning shot after admitting to being a “cheeky monkey”, revealing the image was generated using artificial intelligence. The artist, Boris Eldagsen, shared on his website that he would not be accepting the prestigious award for the creative open category, which he won at <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/art/winners-of-sony-world-photography-awards-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023’s Sony world photography awards</a>. The winning photograph showcased a black and white image of two women from different generations. Eldagsen, who studied photography and visual arts at the Art Academy of Mainz, conceptual art and intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, and fine art at the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication in Hyderabad released a statement on his website, admitting he “applied as a cheeky monkey” to find out if competitions would be prepared for AI images to enter. “They are not,” he revealed. “We, the photo world, need an open discussion,” Eldagsen said. “A discussion about what we want to consider photography and what not. Is the umbrella of photography large enough to invite AI images to enter – or would this be a mistake? “With my refusal of the award I hope to speed up this debate.” Eldagsen said this was an “historic moment” as it was the fist AI image to have won a prestigious international photography competition, adding “How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI generated? Something about this doesn’t feel right, does it? “AI images and photography should not compete with each other in an award like this. They are different entities. AI is not photography. Therefore I will not accept the award.” The photographer suggested donating the prize to a photo festival in Odesa, Ukraine. It comes as a heated debate over the use and safety concerns of AI continue, with some going as far as to issue apocalyptic warnings that the technology may be close to causing irreparable damage to the human experience. Google’s chief executive, Sundar Pirchai said, “It can be very harmful if deployed wrongly and we don’t have all the answers there yet – and the technology is moving fast. So, does that keep me up at night? Absolutely.” A spokesperson for the World Photography Organisation admitted that the prize-winning photographer had confirmed the “co-creation” of the image using AI to them prior to winning the award. “The creative category of the open competition welcomes various experimental approaches to image making from cyanotypes and rayographs to cutting-edge digital practices. As such, following our correspondence with Boris and the warranties he provided, we felt that his entry fulfilled the criteria for this category, and we were supportive of his participation. “Additionally, we were looking forward to engaging in a more in-depth discussion on this topic and welcomed Boris’ wish for dialogue by preparing questions for a dedicated Q&A with him for our website. “As he has now decided to decline his award we have suspended our activities with him and in keeping with his wishes have removed him from the competition. Given his actions and subsequent statement noting his deliberate attempts at misleading us, and therefore invalidating the warranties he provided, we no longer feel we are able to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with him. “We recognise the importance of this subject and its impact on image-making today. We look forward to further exploring this topic via our various channels and programmes and welcome the conversation around it. While elements of AI practices are relevant in artistic contexts of image-making, the awards always have been and will continue to be a platform for championing the excellence and skill of photographers and artists working in the medium.” Image credit: Sony World Photography Awards

Technology

Renovating your home could ruin your relationship… but it doesn’t have to

Many <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-home-renovations-1.5856136">Canadians have turned to home renovations</a> to find space — both literally and metaphorically — after a year of working, learning, exercising and doing just about everything else from home. As we head into spring and summer, the most popular seasons for home improvement, it’s important for couples to set ground rules before breaking ground. While more living space, a dedicated home office or upgraded kitchen might ease the strain the pandemic has put on homes and families, the renovation process, which <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/life-after-50/201811/renovation-and-couples-conflict">tests relationships at the best of times</a>, could put more stress on partnerships already cracking under the weight of the past year. Contractors and architects say the recent surge in renovation work has them fielding up to five times as many calls per day than they were pre-pandemic. And according to a recent <a href="https://abacusdata.ca/home-renovations-covid-19/">Abacus Data survey</a>, 44 per cent of Canadian households have done or are planning to do renovations this year. Most say they are doing the work so they can feel more relaxed in their homes. At the same time, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/couples-counselling-covid19-1.5557110">phones are also ringing at couples counselling and family law offices</a> as more seek professional help to either preserve or dissolve their relationships. “Couples are experiencing a whole variety of stresses — childcare, household management, personal challenges, strains in the relationship — and the temperature has gone up during the pandemic,” says <a href="https://tribecatherapy.com/">New York City therapist Matt Lundquist</a>. He believes that while the stresses of the pandemic may not be the cause of marriage problems, they are revealing cracks that were already there. <h2>Relationship cracks on full display</h2> Renovations can widen relationship cracks as couples find themselves navigating financial stresses, extended disruptions and making thousands of decisions — from how much they can afford to spend to lower a basement to selecting drawer pulls for new kitchen cabinets. The process can amplify conflicting approaches to <a href="https://doi.org/10.9790/1684-1305064448">decision-making, unhealthy communication habits and latent tensions in relationships</a>. These strains are on display on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/">Reddit’s r/relationship_advice</a>where desperate users seek advice for resolving renovation conflicts with their partners. From “I’m an <a href="https://www.16personalities.com/intp-personality">INTP</a>, he’s an <a href="https://www.16personalities.com/entj-personality">ENTJ</a>, we’re renovating and fighting so badly I fear our relationship will never recover” to “renovation taking way longer than expected, BF taking it personally when I try to speed the process along. We’re at a breaking point” and “renovation frustration with me (29f) and him (31m) — is this understandable or abuse?” Gloria Apostolu, principal architect at <a href="https://www.postarchitecture.com/">Post Architecture</a> in Toronto, pauses for a moment when asked how couples handle the demands of making so many decisions during a renovation. “Every client has their Achilles heel,” she says. “And it’s never where or what I expected.” <h2>Different breaking points</h2> Some of Apostolu’s clients can’t make sense of tiles. Others balk at the price of a front door or are overwhelmed by having to settle on a faucet type for the main-floor powder room all before the contractor even arrives to tear the place apart. Making high-stakes decisions as a couple, Lundquist explains, requires advanced skills, such as weighing pros and cons, gauging the level of acceptable risk and being decisive under pressure, or “pulling the trigger” in contractor parlance. It also requires what he calls relationality — listening and curiosity, taking turns, empathy and working to understand your partner’s point of view, even if you don’t see its logic or agree with it. “It tremendously taxes our skills not to react when our partner says something we disagree with, or isn’t what we expected,” says Lundquist. What really feeds a relationship, he adds, is trying to be curious about where your partner is coming from and resisting the temptation to shut them down or make a counter-argument before fully understanding their point of view. On the other hand, he often encounters partners who, in trying to keep the peace, are <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/let-go-resentment">not assertive enough about what they want, which can lead to lingering dissatisfaction and resentment</a>. The last thing a relationship needs, Lundquist jokes, is a big, expensive, fixed piece of resentment that a couple is forced to stare at as they sit next to each other on the couch every evening. <h2>Honesty and a smooth renovation</h2> Apostolou echoes the need for openness as a foundation for a smooth renovation. She suggests devising a system at the start for resolving the inevitable conflicts that will arise. This could mean taking turns, or giving veto rights to the person who is most dedicated to that part of the home. For example, the person who does most of the cooking gets the final say on kitchen details. She advises it is most important to work it all out in drawings before you get started. “Don’t rush the design process. You don’t want to be making decisions that are more costly than they would have been if they were planned out in advance.” Apostolu’s no-surprises approach has garnered <a href="https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/post-architecture-inc-pfvwus-pf%7E847407266">effusive five-star reviews</a> from clients on home design and improvement website Houzz. One is from Stephanie Nickson, a financial services consultant, and her partner David Raniga, who now runs his massage therapy practice in the light-filled basement of their recently renovated home in Toronto’s Wychwood neighbourhood. Raniga jokes that the hardest part of the process was dealing with his wife’s inability to make decisions. But because they remained open to each other’s needs throughout the process and stuck with the vision and budget they set at the beginning, they say they actually miss the process now that it is over. And they are almost giddy with the result. “I literally say I love this house every day. We were so lucky,” Nickson says. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/renovating-your-home-could-ruin-your-relationship-but-it-doesnt-have-to-157942" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Home Hints & Tips

Chris Hemsworth’s Alzheimer’s gene doesn’t guarantee he’ll develop dementia

Chris Hemsworth, famous for his role as the god Thor in Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, has announced he will be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/nov/21/chris-hemsworth-to-take-time-off-from-acting-after-discovering-alzheimers-risk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taking a break</a> from acting after being told he has two copies of the <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/study-reveals-how-apoe4-gene-may-increase-risk-dementia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">APOE4 gene</a>, increasing his risk of Alzheimer’s. Having one copy of the <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.8346443" target="_blank" rel="noopener">APOE4 gene</a> increases your risk for Alzheimer’s 2-3 times. Two copies increases your risk 10-15 times. But the key here is “risk”. Having one or more copies of the gene doesn’t guarantee Chris or anyone else in a similar situation will go on to develop Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. Sharing the news Hemsworth’s willingness to share his concerns about developing Alzheimer’s with millions should be applauded. It’s a reminder to all of us to keep an eye on our health and reduce our risk of future illness. Alzheimer’s, and dementia more broadly, is <a href="https://www.dementiastatistics.org/statistics/global-prevalence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set to challenge</a> health-care systems worldwide. In Australia alone there are <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/statistics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">up to</a> 500,000 people with dementia, supported by almost 1.6 million carers. By 2036, about <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/sites/default/files/NATIONAL/documents/The-economic-cost-of-dementia-in-Australia-2016-to-2056.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">450 people</a> are predicted to be diagnosed daily. So understanding how APOE4 alters the risk for the major cause of dementia may be pivotal in preventing cases. But not all people with the APOE4 gene go on to develop Alzheimer’s. This means that there may be a combination of environmental factors interplaying with the gene that lead some people to develop Alzheimer’s, while others do not. What’s APOE4 got to do with Alzheimer’s? Most Australians have APOE3 or APOE2 genes. In Caucasians it’s only <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5531868/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about 15%</a>, like Hemsworth, who have inherited an APOE4 gene. The APOE gene types are best known for their role in modulating the metabolism of lipids (fats), such as cholesterol and triglycerides. They code for synthesis of different versions of the protein APOE, with subtle differences in structure. The APOE proteins become an integral part of lipoproteins in the blood. These are the fat-carrying particles your GP measures to consider your risk of heart disease. APOE proteins have a similar function in the brain, to modulate lipid levels. But in the context of Alzheimer’s, researchers study it for its effect on the integrity of brain cells. Accumulating evidence <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197458022000550" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggests</a> APOE4, is associated with brain inflammation and cellular damage. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. A study in <a href="https://twitter.com/Nature?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nature</a> establishes a functional link between APOE4, cholesterol, myelination and memory, offering therapeutic opportunities for Alzheimer’s disease. <a href="https://t.co/bNsmDVPfFW">https://t.co/bNsmDVPfFW</a> <a href="https://t.co/58odE1JASl">pic.twitter.com/58odE1JASl</a> — Nature Portfolio (@NaturePortfolio) <a href="https://twitter.com/NaturePortfolio/status/1594762841487249410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote> Can we prevent Alzheimer’s? 1. Look after your capillaries Damaged and leaky blood vessels (capillaries) in the brain lead to inflammation, the death of brain cells and cognitive impairment. In fact, in Alzheimer’s, damaged capillaries are the earliest sign of the type of brain damage that causes disease. The protein encoded by the APOE4 gene may be less able to support healthy capillaries in the brain. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0163782709000563" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We suggested</a> APOE4 increases the abundance of specific complexes of lipoproteins and proteins in blood that silently damage brain capillaries, causing them to leak. We also see more brain capillary leakage in mice fed Western-style diets richer in saturated fats. The relationship between how the APOE proteins mediate lipid metabolism and capillary health in humans is poorly understood. But we have 60 years of research knowledge to say with confidence that eating foods good for the heart should also be good for the brain. This is particularly relevant for people with the APOE4 gene. So if you have the APOE4 gene and want to minimise your risk of Alzheimer’s, a healthy diet is a good place to start. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497142/original/file-20221124-24-rlqyk5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497142/original/file-20221124-24-rlqyk5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497142/original/file-20221124-24-rlqyk5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497142/original/file-20221124-24-rlqyk5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497142/original/file-20221124-24-rlqyk5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497142/original/file-20221124-24-rlqyk5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497142/original/file-20221124-24-rlqyk5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497142/original/file-20221124-24-rlqyk5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Capillaries" /></a><figcaption>Looking after your capillaries with a healthy diet is a good place to start. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/system-many-small-capillaries-branch-out-1745173364" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> 2. Give your brain a break Reducing unnecessary stimuli to “give your brain a rest” may have big impact over decades of your life. The latter may be a more important consideration if you have the APOE4 gene. That’s because the APOE gene is also linked to how the brain uses energy, which may lead to more <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00216/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oxidative stress and damage</a>. While we’ve yet to collect robust data in humans, take a digital detox now and again, plan some down time, and avoid unnecessary stress if you can. Should we test for the APOE4 gene? Some people might be tempted to get tested for the APOE4 gene, especially if there’s a family history of Alzheimer’s. But unless genetic testing is going to change your treatment (for instance, by taking certain medications to slow progression of brain damage), or your behaviour to minimise your risk Alzheimer’s, then testing is not justified. We can’t change the genes our parents gifted us, but we can change our environment. Poor diet, every drop of alcohol you drink, obesity and diabetes, high blood pressure and sedentary behaviour <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/risk-reduction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all contribute, over time</a>, to poorer vascular health and increase your risk of dementia. We’re still learning about how these risk factors for Alzheimer’s interact with the APOE4 gene. But there is no reason we shouldn’t all take greater responsibility for minimising our risk of dementia now, whether we have the APOE4 gene or not.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/195094/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Writen by John Mamo. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/chris-hemsworths-alzheimers-gene-doesnt-guarantee-hell-develop-dementia-heres-what-we-can-all-do-to-reduce-our-risk-195094" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Instagram

Mind

“Love doesn’t know math”: Cher defends 40-year age gap

Cher has defended the massive 40-year age gap between her and her new and much younger beau. The 76-year-old singer is currently in a relationship with 36-year-old music producer Alexander Edwards. Despite the 40-year age gap, Cher is not shying away from the “blossoming romance” and answered fans’ questions about the relationship along with a cheeky photo of Alex in his boxers. “He’s 36 and in end he came after me. I’m the skittish one. We love each other …. LADIES NEVER GIVE UP. Must say he was different for me,” she wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A.E.Hanging Ot <a href="https://t.co/TB5XXJqlxk">pic.twitter.com/TB5XXJqlxk</a> — Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1595612020325240832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> On paper This Looks strange (Even 2 ME) A.E Says ♥️Doesn’t Know Math — Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1595690505576161281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> BABE,SOME MARCH 2 A DIFFERENT DRUMMER,I Dance 2 One — Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1595695842584731648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote> “He’s kind, smart, hilarious … and we (kiss emoji) like teenagers,” she responded to a question asking about her favourite quality about Alex. “On paper this looks strange (even to ME) AE says love ️doesn’t know math,” Cher tweeted shortly after. The pair sparked rumours earlier this month when they were seen holding hands outside the West Hollywood restaurant Craig's where they met with rapper Tyga for dinner. During the night, Alex was seen kissing Cher’s hand as they drove off together. It was only days after the dinner that Cher confirmed the relationship on Twitter. Image: Getty

Relationships

Fighting inflation doesn’t directly cause unemployment – but that’s still the most likely outcome

You may have seen the news: in its attempts to tackle inflation, the Reserve Bank is going to increase unemployment. The idea can even seem to come right from the mouths of experts, including the bank’s governor, Adrian Orr. <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/adrian-orr-beating-inflation-will-mean-higher-unemployment/WO3WLQQUGWEC5NVK3AQTR2BN5A/">Speaking recently</a> to an industry conference, he said: <blockquote> Returning to low inflation will, in the near term, constrain employment growth and lead to a rise in unemployment. </blockquote> Similar sentiments have been expressed by <a href="https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/opinion/inflation-taming-the-costs-are-becoming-more-visible">independent economists</a> and <a href="https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/31-10-2022/the-big-banks-just-cant-stop-winning">commentators</a>. But is it as simple as it might appear? What is the relationship between inflation and unemployment, and is it inevitable that reducing one will lead to an increase in the other? <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Unemployment rate holds steady at 3.3%, wages rise strongly - Stats NZ <a href="https://t.co/IQOPBaNYTn">https://t.co/IQOPBaNYTn</a> — RNZ News (@rnz_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/rnz_news/status/1587568087808999424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2022</a></blockquote> Historic highs and lows Like other developed countries, New Zealand has been going through a period of historically high inflation. The latest figures, for the September quarter of 2022, show an annual <a href="https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-7-2-percent/">rise of 7.2%</a>, only slightly lower than the 7.3% recorded for the June quarter. Inflation is the highest it has been since 1990. The story is similar across the OECD, where inflation averages <a href="https://www.oecd.org/economy/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-4-october-2022.htm">10.3%</a>, including <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/september2022">8.8%</a> in the UK and <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm">8.2%</a> in the US. At the same time, New Zealand is experiencing a period of very low unemployment, with a <a href="https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/unemployment-rate-at-3-3-percent">rate of just 3.3%</a> for September 2022, following 3.2% in the June quarter. These are near-record lows, and the rate has not been below 4% since mid-2008. So, right now New Zealand is in a period of historically low unemployment and historically high inflation. At first glance, that might suggest that in order to return to low inflation, we may inevitably experience higher unemployment. The Phillips Curve The idea that inflation and unemployment have a negative relationship (when one increases, the other decreases, and vice versa) dates back to work by New Zealand’s most celebrated economist, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Phillips_(economist)">A.W. (Bill) Phillips</a>. While working at the London School of Economics in the 1950s, Phillips wrote a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1468-0335.1958.tb00003.x">famous paper</a> that used UK data from 1861 to 1957 and showed a negative relationship between unemployment and wage increases. Subsequent work by economics Nobel Prize winners <a href="https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Samuelson.html">Paul Samuelson</a> and <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/1987/solow/facts/">Robert Solow</a> extended Phillips’ work to show a negative relationship between price inflation and unemployment. We now refer to this relationship as the “Phillips Curve”. However, even though this relationship between inflation and unemployment has been demonstrated with various data sources, and for various time periods for different countries, it is not a causal relationship. Lower inflation doesn’t by itself cause higher unemployment, even though they are related. To see why, it’s worth thinking about the mechanism that leads to the observed relationship. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LISTEN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LISTEN</a> 🔊 The Finance Minister says addressing inflation without increasing unemployment is a difficult balancing act. 📎 <a href="https://t.co/CfaopcqjGv">https://t.co/CfaopcqjGv</a> <a href="https://t.co/1gMNat2G99">pic.twitter.com/1gMNat2G99</a> — Morning Report (@NZMorningReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/NZMorningReport/status/1587893034351411200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></blockquote> Collateral damage If the Reserve Bank raises the official cash rate, commercial banks follow by raising their interest rates. That makes borrowing more expensive. Higher interest rates mean banks will lend less money. With less money chasing goods and services in the economy, inflation will start to fall. Of course, this is what the Reserve Bank wants when it raises the cash rate. Its <a href="https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/library-research-papers/research-papers/monetary-policy-and-the-policy-targets-agreement/">Policy Targets Agreement</a> with the government states that inflation must be kept between 1% and 3%. So when inflation is predicted to be higher, the bank acts to lower it. At the same time, higher interest rates increase mortgage payments, leaving households and consumers with less discretionary income, and so consumer spending falls. Along with reduced business spending, this reduces the amount of economic activity. Businesses therefore need fewer workers, and so employment falls. So, while the Reserve Bank raises interest rates to combat inflation, those higher interest rates also slow down the economy and increase unemployment. Higher unemployment is essentially collateral damage arising from reducing inflation. Great expectations That’s not the end of the story, though. After its 1960s heyday, the Phillips Curve was criticised by economists on theoretical grounds, and for its inability to explain the “stagflation” (high unemployment and high inflation) experienced in the 1970s. For example, <a href="https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Friedman.html">Milton Friedman</a> argued there is actually no trade-off between inflation and unemployment, because workers and businesses take inflation into account when negotiating employment contracts. Workers’ and employers’ expectations about future inflation is key. Friedman argued that, because inflation is expected, workers will have already built it into their wage demands, and businesses won’t change the amount of workers they employ. Friedman’s argument would suggest that, aside from some short-term deviations, the economy will typically snap back to a “natural” rate of unemployment, with an inflation rate that only reflects workers’ and businesses’ expectations. Symptom or cause? Can we rely on this mechanism to avoid higher unemployment as the Reserve Bank increases interest rates to combat inflation? It seems unlikely. Workers would first have to expect the Reserve Bank’s actions will lower inflation, and respond by asking for smaller wage increases. Right now, however, consumer inflation expectations <a href="https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/series/households/household-inflation-expectations">remain high</a> and wage growth is at <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/latest-job-numbers-out-unemployment-flatlining-near-record-lows/O4NDE3Y4W5GMHGDRDDS733LX7A/">record levels</a>. So, we can probably expect unemployment to move upwards as the Reserve Bank’s inflation battle continues. Not because lower inflation causes higher unemployment, but because worker and consumer expectations take time to reflect the likelihood of lower future inflation due to the Reserve Bank’s actions. And since workers negotiate only infrequently with employers, there is an inevitable lag between inflation expectations changing and this being reflected in wages. Alas, for ordinary households, there is no quick and easy way out of this situation. Writen by Michael P. Cameron. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/fighting-inflation-doesnt-directly-cause-unemployment-but-thats-still-the-most-likely-outcome-193617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193617/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />

Money & Banking

Losing a loved one can change you forever, but grief doesn’t have to be the end of your relationship with them

When the Queen died, some were struck by feelings so strong they <a href="https://www.stylist.co.uk/news/queen-elizabeth-meghan-markle-kate-middleton-twitter-tribute/705766" target="_blank" rel="noopener">described it as</a> like <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/2022-09-09/tributes-flood-in-across-the-uk-as-public-pays-tribute-to-very-special-queen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">losing a family member</a>. For many it was a chance to reflect on the losses in their own lives. The public mass mourning has reminded all of us of the disruptive and disorientating influence of grief. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/sjp.12462" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> shows that grief is a unique kind of loss that leaves a void in our lives. In many cases, it can also trigger new beginnings, including a different, yet enduring relationship with the person we lost. In many ways, we are never the same after being touched by grief. A <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00302228211053058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent study</a> we conducted, based on 80 in-depth interviews, revealed that losing someone with whom we have been deeply intertwined equates to losing a part of ourselves and forces a change of identity. We also explored the power of grief in <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/gradual-separation-from-the-world-a-qualitative-exploration-of-existential-loneliness-in-old-age/5567288AD35DFB878F3F756FF233FB1C" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another interview-based study</a>. The results showed grief can upend our lives no matter our age. It doesn’t get easier to lose people as we near the end of life and still prompts the kinds of existential crises that make people question their sense of meaning and purpose. Philosopher Thomas Attig argues that grief can be so powerful we have to “<a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/how-we-grieve-9780195397697?cc=gb&lang=en&" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relearn the world</a>”. The impact of grief challenges the meaning of our lives and our sense of who we are. <h2>The right words</h2> People often reach for <a href="https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-metaphors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">metaphors</a> to explain their experience of grief. They say things such as “Grief is like being extremely homesick, knowing your home no longer exists,” or “Grief is a fog that hides the world and makes every sound seem distant.” These analogies point to an experience that disconnects people from and shatters the world as they once knew it. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/105413730601400301" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> has outlined the importance of listening out for these emblems when supporting a bereaved person and reworking them in constructive ways. Not long ago, we both lost loved ones. <a href="https://blogs.bath.ac.uk/casp/2022/08/08/a-long-waited-but-unexpected-loss-my-first-encounter-with-grief-as-a-bereavement-researcher-and-why-its-important-to-talk-about-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chao lost his grandmother in summer</a>, Sam lost his father in spring. He also faced the end of a long-term relationship in the summer, which can also be described as a grief experience as outlined by psychologist, Ginette Paris, in <a href="http://www.ginetteparis.com/books-2/heartbreak/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her work on heartbreak, mourning, and loss</a>). Through his grandmother, Chao lost a safe haven, where he always felt loved, supported, and understood. As Sam waded through his grief, a friend asked him if he knew how a caterpillar transitions into a butterfly. Once cocooned, she told him, it digests itself, breaking down into a sort of soup. Within the “soup”, specialised cells called <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(10)00291-5.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">imaginal discs</a> survive, and find their way to the right places, eventually forming wings and other core structures. Out of the soup, the butterfly emerges. “Right now, you are the soup,” Sam’s friend told him. According to <a href="http://www.ginetteparis.com/books-2/heartbreak/introduction-to-heartbreak/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ginette Paris</a>, grief similarly breaks us down and forces us to take an “evolutionary leap”. Death is not the end of our relationship with the person we lost, and is often the beginning of our grief, but <a href="https://www.sueryder.org/how-we-can-help/bereavement-information/support-for-yourself/how-long-does-grief-last" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how long does grief last?</a> The answer varies considerably from person to person. The fact that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3075805/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">psychological researchers</a> use terms like “complicated grief”, is evidence enough that for some people, acute grief gains a foothold and can be chronically debilitating over long periods of time. A connected issue is the “<a href="https://www.routledge.com/Continuing-Bonds-New-Understandings-of-Grief/Klass-Silverman-Nickman/p/book/9781560323396" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continuing bonds</a>” that we establish with our late loved ones and embed into our everyday lives. For example, for Chao, the frequent reminders of cherished moments with his grandmother – through family chats, while watching TV, or when spotting an older person on the street – highlight that we do not leave our long-standing relationships with loved ones behind. In some circumstances, we may create spaces where they remain part of our lives. When Sam’s father died, he felt compelled to name a star after him, so that he might symbolically always be “up there in the night sky.” <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07481180600848322" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studies show</a> the relationship between continuing bonds and grief is complex. <h2>Grief transforms</h2> Because it pushes us to adapt and change. As captured in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26077627-a-grief-observed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C.S. Lewis’s</a> writing about his daily struggles after losing his wife, grief also has a transformational dimension. Our future selves are inspired and propelled by our loss and grief. In her book “<a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674498587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Cue for Passion</a>”, Professor Gail Holst-Warhaft paints a dynamic picture of the grieving process in different groups of bereaved people. These include <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/28/mothers-plaza-de-mayo-argentina-anniversary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mothers of “disappeared” children</a> in Argentine civil unrests, American families of victims of the Vietnam War, and gay people who lost their partner to AIDS. Palpable in these experiences is not only the adoption of traditional rituals to process sorrow but also the transformation of grief into political reform. The Queen’s death has given us a unique opportunity to reflect on grief. For some, the pain of losing a loved one may remain vivid or acute for longer periods of time. For others, the feeling of being connected to a loved one may be so interwoven into their everyday lives that they grieve at the same time they <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0030222816686609" target="_blank" rel="noopener">engage with and even sense</a> their loved one by their side. Despite how differently we mourn and how uniquely grief can affect us all, at the heart of our grief is a desire to love, to remember, and ultimately, as author Nora McInerny said in her Ted Talk, to “move forward with it”. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/losing-a-loved-one-can-change-you-forever-but-grief-doesnt-have-to-be-the-end-of-your-relationship-with-them-191135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Relationships

Having ‘good’ posture doesn’t prevent back pain, and ‘bad’ posture doesn’t cause it

Back pain is the leading cause of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24665116/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disability</a> worldwide. Most people experience an episode of back pain in their lifetime. It often emerges during <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29112007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adolescence</a> and becomes more common in adults. For <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5771685/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">25%</a> of people who develop back pain, it can become persistent, disabling and distressing. It can affect a person’s ability to participate in activities of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31369481/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">daily living, physical activity and work</a>. Activities such as sitting, standing, bending and lifting frequently aggravate back pain. There is a common belief that “good” posture is important to protect the spine from damage, as well as prevent and treat back pain. Good posture is commonly defined as sitting “upright”, standing “tall and aligned”, and lifting with a squat technique and “straight back”. Conversely, “slump” sitting, “slouch” standing and lifting with a “round back” or stooped posture are frequently warned against. This view is widely held by people <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23806489/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with and without back pain</a>, as well as clinicians in both <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30553985/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">occupational health and primary care</a> settings. Surprisingly, there is a lack of evidence for a strong relationship between “good” posture and back pain. Perceptions of “good” posture originate from a combination of social desirability and unfounded presumptions. Systematic reviews (studies looking at a number of studies in one area) have found <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20360197/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ergonomic interventions</a> for workers, and advice for manual workers on the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19734238/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best posture for lifting</a>, have not reduced work-related back pain. <h2>Sitting and standing posture</h2> Our group has conducted several studies exploring the relationship between spine posture and back pain. We investigated whether “slump” sitting or “non-neutral” standing postures (overarching or slouching the back, for example), in a large population of adolescents, were <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21350031/%20https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18758367/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">associated with</a>, or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28915771/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicted</a> future back pain. We found little support for this view. These findings are consistent with systematic reviews that have found no consistent differences in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31451200/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sitting</a> or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25012528/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">standing</a> posture between adult populations with and without back pain. People adopt a range of different spine postures, and no single posture <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31366294/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protects a person from back pain</a>. People with both slumped and upright postures can experience <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16540876/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">back pain</a>. <h2>Lifting posture</h2> Globally accepted occupational health practices about “good” or safe back postures during lifting also lack evidence. Our systematic review found no evidence lifting with a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31775556/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">round-back posture</a> is associated with or predictive of back pain. Our <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34288926/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent lab study</a> found people without back pain, employed in manual work for more than five years, were more likely to lift with a more stooped, round-back posture. In comparison, manual workers with back pain tended to adopt more of a squat lift with a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34288926/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">straighter back</a>. In other words, people with back pain tend to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31730537/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">follow “good” posture advice</a>, but people who don’t lift in the “good” way don’t have more back pain. In a small study, as people with disabling back pain recovered, they became <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32621351/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less protective</a> and generally moved away from the “good” posture advice. <h2>If not posture – what else?</h2> There is no evidence for a single “good posture” to prevent or reduce back pain. People’s spines come in all shapes and sizes, so posture is highly individual. Movement is important for back health, so learning to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31366294/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vary and adopt different postures</a> that are comfortable is likely to be more helpful than rigidly adhering to a specific “good” posture. While back pain can be intense and distressing, for most people (90%) back pain is not associated with identifiable <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27745712/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tissue damage or pathology</a>. Back pain can be like a sprain related to awkward, sudden, heavy or unaccustomed loads on our <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25665074/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">back</a>, but can also occur like a bad headache where there is no injury. Importantly, people are more vulnerable to back pain when their health is compromised, such as if someone is: <ul> <li> feeling <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20393261/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stressed</a> </li> <li> experiencing low mood </li> <li> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25665074/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tired or fatigued</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16741460/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sleeping poorly</a> </li> <li> being less active. </li> </ul> Back pain is more likely to persist if a person: <ul> <li> becomes overly <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12446259/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worried and fearful</a> about their back pain </li> <li> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5771685/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">overprotects their back</a> and avoids movement, physical activity, work and social engagement. </li> </ul> <h2>What can people do about back pain?</h2> In a small group (1-5%), <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27745712" target="_blank" rel="noopener">back pain</a> can be caused by pathology including a fracture, malignancy, infection or nerve compression (the latter is associated with leg pain, and a loss of muscle power and sensation). In these cases, seek medical care. For most people (90%), back pain is associated with sensitisation of the back structures, but not identifiable tissue damage. In this situation, too much focus on maintaining “good” posture can be a distraction from other factors known to be important for spine health. These include: <ul> <li> moving and relaxing your back </li> <li> engaging in regular physical activity of your preference </li> <li> building confidence and keeping fit and strong for usual daily tasks </li> <li> maintaining healthy sleep habits and body weight </li> <li> caring for your general <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31892534/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physical and mental health</a>. </li> </ul> Sometimes this requires some support and coaching with a skilled clinician. So if you are sitting or standing, find comfortable, relaxed postures and vary them. If you are lifting, the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34288926/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">current evidence</a> suggests it’s OK to lift naturally – even with a round back. But make sure you are fit and strong enough for the task, and care for your overall health. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/having-good-posture-doesnt-prevent-back-pain-and-bad-posture-doesnt-cause-it-183732" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Record coral cover doesn’t necessarily mean the Great Barrier Reef is in good health (despite what you may have heard)

In what seems like excellent news, coral cover in parts of the Great Barrier Reef is at a record high, according to <a href="https://www.aims.gov.au/information-centre/news-and-stories/highest-coral-cover-central-northern-reef-36-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new data</a> from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. But this doesn’t necessarily mean our beloved reef is in good health. In the north of the reef, coral cover usually fluctuates between 20% and 30%. Currently, it’s at 36%, the highest level recorded since monitoring began more than three decades ago. This level of coral cover comes hot off the back of a <a href="https://theconversation.com/another-mass-bleaching-event-is-devastating-the-great-barrier-reef-what-will-it-take-for-coral-to-survive-180180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disturbing decade</a> that saw the reef endure six mass coral bleaching events, four severe tropical cyclones, active outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish, and water quality impacts following floods. So what’s going on? High coral cover findings <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-lot-of-coral-doesnt-always-mean-high-biodiversity-10548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can be deceptive</a> because they can result from only a few dominant species that grow rapidly after disturbance (such as mass bleaching). These same corals, however, are extremely susceptible to disturbance and are likely to die out within a few years. <h2>The data are robust</h2> The <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/4747/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Great Barrier Reef spans</a> 2,300 kilometres, comprising more than 3,000 individual reefs. It is an exceptionally diverse ecosystem that features more than 12,000 animal species, plus many thousand more species of plankton and marine flora. The reef has been teetering on the edge of receiving an “in-danger” <a href="https://theconversation.com/not-declaring-the-great-barrier-reef-as-in-danger-only-postpones-the-inevitable-164867" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listing</a> from the World Heritage Committee. And it was <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-australias-most-important-report-on-the-environments-deteriorating-health-we-present-its-grim-findings-186131" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently described</a> in the State of the Environment Report as being in a poor and deteriorating state. To protect the Great Barrier Reef, we need to routinely monitor and report on its condition. The Australian Institute of Marine Science’s long-term monitoring program has been collating and delivering this information since 1985. Its approach involves surveying a selection of reefs that represent different habitat types (inshore, midshelf, offshore) and management zones. The <a href="https://www.aims.gov.au/monitoring-great-barrier-reef/gbr-condition-summary-2021-22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest report</a> provides a robust and valuable synopsis of how coral cover has changed at 87 reefs across three sectors (north, central and south) over the past 36 years. <h2>The results</h2> Overall, the long-term monitoring team found coral cover has increased on most reefs. The level of coral cover on reefs near Cape Grenville and Princess Charlotte Bay in the northern sector has bounced back from bleaching, with two reefs having <a href="https://www.aims.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-08/AIMS_LTMP_Report_on%20GBR_coral_status_2021_2022_040822F3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 75% cover</a>. In the central sector, where coral cover has historically been lower than in the north and south, coral cover is now at a region-wide high, at 33%. The southern sector has a dynamic coral cover record. In the late 1980s coral cover surpassed 40%, before dropping to a region-wide low of 12% in 2011 after Cyclone Hamish. The region is currently experiencing outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. And yet, coral cover in this area is still relatively high at 34%. Based on this robust data set, which shows increases in coral cover indicative of region-wide recovery, things must be looking up for the Great Barrier Reef – right? <h2>Are we being catfished by coral cover?</h2> In the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s report, reef recovery relates solely to an increase in coral cover, so let’s unpack this term. Coral cover is a broad proxy metric that indicates habitat condition. It’s relatively easy data to collect and report on, and is the most widely used monitoring metric on coral reefs. The finding of high coral cover may signify a reef in good condition, and an increase in coral cover after disturbance may signify a recovering reef. But in this instance, it’s more likely the reef is being dominated by only few species, as the report states that branching and plating Acropora species have driven the recovery of coral cover. Acropora coral are renowned for a “boom and bust” life cycle. After disturbances such as a cyclone, Acropora species function as pioneers. They quickly recruit and colonise bare space, and the laterally growing plate-like species can rapidly cover large areas. Fast-growing Acropora corals tend to dominate during the early phase of recovery after disturbances such as the recent series of mass bleaching events. However, these same corals are often susceptible to wave damage, disease or coral bleaching and tend to go bust within a few years. Inferring that a reef has recovered by a person being towed behind a boat to obtain a rapid visual estimate of coral cover is like flying in a helicopter and saying a bushfire-hit forest has recovered because the canopy has grown back. It provides no information about diversity, or the abundance and health of other animals and plants that live in and among the trees, or coral. <h2>Cautious optimism</h2> My <a href="https://theconversation.com/almost-60-coral-species-around-lizard-island-are-missing-and-a-great-barrier-reef-extinction-crisis-could-be-next-163714" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a>, published last year, examined 44 years of coral distribution records around Jiigurru, Lizard Island, at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef. It suggested that 28 of 368 species of hard coral recorded at that location haven’t been seen for at least a decade, and are at risk of local extinction. Lizard Island is one location where coral cover has rapidly increased since the devastating 2016-17 bleaching event. Yet, there is still a real risk local extinctions of coral species have occurred. While there’s no data to prove or disprove it, it’s also probable that extinctions or local declines of coral-affiliated marine life, such as coral-eating fishes, crustaceans and molluscs have also occurred. Without more information at the level of individual species, it is impossible to understand how much of the Great Barrier Reef has been lost, or recovered, since the last mass bleaching event. Based on the coral cover data, it’s tempting to be optimistic. But given more frequent and severe heatwaves and cyclones are predicted in the future, it’s wise to be cautious about the reef’s perceived recovery or resilience. This article originally appeared on The Conversation. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

"Your weight doesn't define you": Rebel Wilson shares body positivity message

Rebel Wilson has shared a candid post on Instagram about gaining weight while on holiday. The Aussie actress, who is currently on a trip with her girlfriend Ramona Agruma, said she has “lost all self-control” but it “doesn’t help to be hard on yourself”. Wilson, 42, and Agruma have both been sharing snaps from their luxury resort in Cappadocia, Turkey. She posted an uplifting message about balancing a healthy lifestyle, along with a swimsuit picture beside a swimming pool at a resort. “I just noticed I put on three kilos on my holiday I’m at an amazing all-inclusive resort… I’ve lost all self-control,” she said. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfg1vyAL7yR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfg1vyAL7yR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson)</a> </div> </blockquote> She explained the feeling of guilt she has experienced after a big meal but shared her learnings that it “doesn’t help to be hard on yourself”. She continued: “But if you’re like me just know YOU are more than just your weight, your weight doesn’t define you, just try your best to be healthy and don’t be so hard on yourself. Meanwhile, others shared their similar stories to Wilson’s including one who said, “I needed this, thank you so much, you look stunning”. Wilson first shared her commitment to a ‘Year of Health’ publicly in 2020, going on to lose 30kg over 12 months. After reaching her goal weight of 74kg in 2020, Wilson kept up her approach and said she’s never felt better. The actress later revealed that it was a trip to the doctor that “really inspired me to get healthier.” Wilson went on to share she would “love to have a family”, and alluded to the possibility of becoming a mother. Images: Instagram

Body

Why doesn’t the government have a duty of care to children’s futures?

Federal judges <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-60745967" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have deemed</a> that the Australian government doesn’t have a duty of care to protect children from the harms of climate change, overturning last year’s landmark decision. Eight teenagers and an 87-year-old nun convinced Federal Court judges that Susan Ley, the Australian Environment Minister, had a duty of care to protect children from future harm caused by climate change when assessing fossil fuel projects. They <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-australian-government-has-a-duty-of-care-to-protect-children-from-climate-harm-court-rules/grhgp8t8y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">initially</a> sought an injunction to stop the expansion of a coal mine in New South Wales, which is expected to add an extra 170 million tonnes of fossil fuels to the atmosphere. However, the injunction wasn’t issued since the judges believed the minister hadn’t yet violated her duty of care. The government appealed the court ruling and all three judges sided with the minister for various reasons, including that there wasn’t “sufficient closeness” between the minister’s decision to approve the mine and “any reasonably foreseeable harm” that comes from it. Despite the initial decision being successfully challenged, the teens could still take the case to the country’s highest court. “Today’s ruling leaves us devastated, but it will not deter us in our fight for climate justice,” 17-year-old Anjali Sharma said in a statement released by the teenagers’ lawyers in mid-March. 15-year-old Izzy Raj-Seppings, another of the teens involved in the case, said their lawyers would review the judgement, and that “we may have more to say in the coming weeks”. “While today’s judgement did not go our way, there is still much to celebrate. The court accepted that young people will bear the brunt of the impacts of the climate crisis.” Image: BBC News

Legal

Liking death metal doesn’t mean you’re a bad person

<div class="copy"> Listening to the music of a band called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodbath" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloodbath</a> – described as “a Swedish death metal supergroup” – is not, it must be said, an exercise recommended for people of delicate disposition who rather like the songs of Celine Dion. However, 48 men and women with no particular love of razoring guitars, thundering drums and screamed lyrics from albums with titles such as Resurrection Through Carnage and The Arrow of Satan is Drawn did just that recently, in the name of scientific endeavour. Researchers led by Yanan Sun from Australia’s Macquarie University set out to test the hypothesis that exposure to music full of violent themes decreases sensitivity to other types of violent imagery. To do this, the researchers first recruited a cohort of 32 self-declared fans of death metal, having first ascertained that the volunteers were particularly fond of lyrics about murder and mayhem and massacre. A second, slightly larger, cohort of non-metal-heads was then also gathered. Individuals in both groups were asked to listen to two songs – a Bloodbath number called ‘Eaten’ and the relentlessly jolly ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams. While they were doing so, Sun and colleagues presented them with pairs of images – one in front of each eye – comprising something truly nasty and another, neutral image. “Consistent with past research, violent imagery should generally dominate consciousness over neutral imagery,” the researchers hypothesised. “Moreover, for most people, this tendency to perceive violent images should occur earlier and for longer durations while listening to violent music than while listening to non-violent music, reflecting a ‘congruence effect’ in which emotions experienced while listening to music reinforce the emotions expressed in images.” In addition, the researchers expected, not unreasonably, that metal-heads would experience more positive emotions while listening to Bloodbath because, well, they liked that sort of thing. The results, when the experiments were done and the lab fell, at last, blessedly quiet, were quite a surprise. Both cohorts exhibited general negativity towards the violent imagery. For the Pharrell fans, the bias was stronger when they were listening to Bloodbath, and the metal-heads showed an equal bias through both songs. “The results of this investigation confirm that both fans and non-fans of violent music exhibit a reliable bias for processing violent imagery over neutral imagery regardless of what genres of music they were listening to,” the researchers state. “Thus, we observed no evidence that fans of violent music are generally desensitised to violence.” The results may disturb some critics who view heavy metal music as a kind of sonic gateway drug to antisocial behaviour, but probably won’t come as a shock to metal fans themselves. “For listeners who extract a positive experience from violent or aggressively themed music — even when they recognize that the music expresses violence — music will not reinforce a processing bias for violent imagery any more than a positively themed song such as ‘Happy’,” concludes Sun’s team. The research is <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.181580" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published</a> in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Image credits: Getty Images <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p24438-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.56 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/people/society/liking-death-metal-doesnt-mean-youre-a-bad-person/#wpcf7-f6-p24438-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> </form> </div> </div> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=24438&title=Liking+death+metal+doesn%E2%80%99t+mean+you%E2%80%99re+a+bad+person" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/society/liking-death-metal-doesnt-mean-youre-a-bad-person/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Andrew Masterson. </div>

Music

Backlash after bishop tells children Santa doesn't exist

Image: Shutterstock A bishop in Italy has had to apologise after telling children at a religious festival that Santa doesn’t exist. Bishop Antonio Stagliano made the comments at an event in Ragusa, Sicily. He told the children Santa was nothing more than a brand. “No, Santa Claus doesn’t exist,” he reportedly said, according to local media outlet il Quotidiano. “In fact, I would add that the red of the suit he wears was chosen by Coca-Cola exclusively for advertising purposes,” Bishop Stagliano told the children at the event, which was dedicated to celebrate the feast day of Saint Nicholas. Born around 280AD, St Nicholas was known for his piety and kindness, travelling to help the poor and sick. The Bishop went on to discuss Santa Claus, labelling him a "fictional character". He ended his speech by saying: "The children know that Santa Claus is Dad or Uncle. So no broken dreams." There was immediate backlash, with the bishop's comments going viral online. The Diocese of Noto then posted a public apology on its Facebook page. "First of all, on behalf of the Bishop, I express regret for this statement that has disappointed the children, and want to clarify that this was not at all Mr Stagliano's intention," the statement said. It said the bishop's comments instead were meant to encourage children to "reflect on the meaning of Christmas and the beautiful traditions that accompany it with greater awareness [and] regain the beauty of a Christmas now increasingly commercial and de-Christianised". "If we can all draw a lesson, young or old, from the figure of Santa Claus [which originates with Bishop St Nicholas] it is this: Fewer gifts to create and consume and more gifts to share," it said. "Showing up for someone we have been neglecting or ignoring for a long time or mending a damaged relationship" was a more meaningful gift, the statement said. "[At Christmas] we receive the gift par excellence, Jesus Christ." But the parents involved weren't impressed. While some welcomed the attempt to refocus Christmas on its religious origins, others were angry at the bishop for interfering with family traditions and celebrations, as well as upsetting the children – particularly after the difficult couple of years they have faced throughout the Covid pandemic. "You are the demonstration that, when it comes to families, children and family education, you don't understand a thing," one commenter wrote.

Family & Pets

Three girls murdered: "Something doesn't add up"

Locals and loved ones alike say they can’t comprehend what’s happened after Lauren Dickason has allegedly murdered her three daughters in Timaru on New Zealand’s South Island. The three girls were found dead at home - twin sisters Maya and Karla, aged two and Liane, aged six. New Zealand Police did not share the nature of their injuries. Their mother Lauren Dickason, a doctor, briefly fronted court on Saturday morning, charged with murder. Police state no other people are sought in relation to this crime New Zealand Police have made a statement saying: ‘Police would like to reassure the community that this was a tragic isolated incident and we are not seeking anyone else.’ ‘The investigation into this tragedy is still in its very early stages, but we can confirm that nobody else is being sought in relation to the deaths of the three children,’ another statement read. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7cb328e12ef64d0d99d1c40d48a111c8" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.56996587030716px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844205/three-girls-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7cb328e12ef64d0d99d1c40d48a111c8" /> Lauren Dickason’s husband Graham, an orthopaedic surgeon, is reported to have returned home from work late last week to find the girls’ bodies and was said to have been “crying hysterically”. The Dickason family had moved to New Zealand from South Africa to start a new life in August and had exited two weeks of mandatory hotel quarantine only last week. Neighbour’s and friends can’t comprehend the situation Lauren’s former colleague and neighbour, Natasja le Roux, told media she “cannot comprehend what happened”. “(Lauren) is a medical doctor and she wasn’t arrogant or anything like that,” le Roux said. “She was very humble.” Le Roux said the couple had “waited years for those children” after struggling with fertility. When Lauren finally fell pregnant, everyone around the family was supportive and Le Roux said: “The nicest person it could happen to is that woman; she was really just a nice person, she and her husband.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/06aad284e10e4cb0b58311b105bc7dbf" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.0880829015544px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844206/three-girls-2-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/06aad284e10e4cb0b58311b105bc7dbf" /> Another neighbour, who lived in the same area as the couple, said the parents “absolutely adored those children”. “Something just doesn’t seem right to us,” the neighbour, who did not want to be identified. “We don’t know what happened. There is not a lot of information, but they are kind people. “Something just doesn’t add up. “I don’t know if it’s the stress from New Zealand, moving there, being quarantined for so long and everything - just not coping with that going on. “So, I think whatever happened is not normal, it wasn’t normal circumstances.” “Something just doesn’t add up.” Grandparents are in a “state of shock” In a statement, Lauren’s parents and the children’s grandparents Wendy and Malcolm Fawkes, said the extended family were in a “state of shock”. “The extended families are in a state of shock as we try to understand what happened,” their statement read. “We ask for your prayers and support during this very difficult time. We would also request privacy as we battle to come to terms with what has happened.” “I’m torn apart” Mandy Sibanyoni, who worked as a nanny for the Dickasons in South Africa, described them as an “awesome family” with “wonderful kids” and no obvious problems. She said the only sign of “stress” she saw from Lauren was as a result of one of her daughters being born with a lip disfigurement, which needed surgical interventions. But both parents “loved their kids like nobody’s business,” she said. “I’m torn apart - a part of mine is gone,” Sibanyoni said in an interview with media in South Aftrica. “And it’s like those kids, they are my kids too because I raised them.” “I don’t know what to do about this because the only question that I’ve got now is, what happened? What went wrong? Because Lauren cared for her kids,” Sibanyoni added. Images: Facebook

News

One skill that doesn't deteriorate with age

When Toni Morrison <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/aug/06/toni-morrison-author-and-pulitzer-winner-dies-aged-88">died on Aug. 5</a>, the world lost one of its most influential literary voices. But Morrison wasn’t a literary wunderkind. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11337.The_Bluest_Eye?ac=1&from_search=true">The Bluest Eye</a>, Morrison’s first novel, wasn’t published until she was 39. And her last, God Help the Child, appeared when she was 84. Morrison published four novels, four children’s books, many essays and other works of nonfiction after the age of 70. Morrison isn’t unique in this regard. Numerous writers produce significant work well into their 70s, 80s and even their 90s. Herman Wouk, for example, was 97 when he published his final novel, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14546758-the-lawgiver?ac=1&from_search=true">The Lawgiver</a>. Such literary feats underscore an important point: Age doesn’t seem to diminish our capacity to speak, write and learn new vocabulary. Our eyesight may dim and our recall may falter, but, by comparison, our ability to produce and to comprehend language is well preserved into older adulthood. In our forthcoming book, <a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/changing-minds-1">Changing Minds: How Aging Affects Language and How Language Affects Aging</a>, my co-author, Richard M. Roberts, and I highlight some of the latest research that has emerged on language and aging. For those who might fear the loss of their language abilities as they grow older, there’s plenty of good news to report. Language mastery is a lifelong journey Some aspects of our language abilities, such as our knowledge of word meanings, actually improve during middle and late adulthood. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10862969509547878">One study</a>, for example, found that older adults living in a retirement community near Chicago had an average vocabulary size of over 21,000 words. The researchers also studied a sample of college students and found that their average vocabularies included only about 16,000 words. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gitit_Kave/publication/271333928_Doubly_Blessed_Older_Adults_Know_More_Vocabulary_and_Know_Better_What_They_Know/links/5665d0f308ae192bbf92726d/Doubly-Blessed-Older-Adults-Know-More-Vocabulary-and-Know-Better-What-They-Know.pdf">In another study</a>, older adult speakers of Hebrew – with an average age of 75 – performed better than younger and middle-aged participants on discerning the meaning of words. On the other hand, our language abilities sometimes function as a canary in the cognitive coal mine: They can be a sign of future mental impairment decades before such issues manifest themselves. In 1996, epidemiologist David Snowdon and a team of researchers <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Susan_Kemper/publication/14593027_Linguistic_Ability_in_Early_Life_and_Cognitive_Function_and_Alzheimer%27s_Disease_in_Late_Life_Findings_From_the_Nun_Study/links/0046351854821c5a35000000.pdf">studied</a> the writing samples of women who had become nuns. They found that the grammatical complexity of essays written by the nuns when they joined their religious order could predict which sisters would develop dementia several decades later. (Hundreds of nuns <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-aug-22-la-na-nuns-brains-20100822-story.html">have donated their brains to science</a>, and this allows for a conclusive diagnosis of dementia.) While Toni Morrison’s writing remained searingly clear and focused as she aged, other authors have not been as fortunate. The prose in Iris Murdoch’s final novel, “<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56089.Jackson_s_Dilemma">Jackson’s Dilemma</a>,” suggests some degree of cognitive impairment. Indeed, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Iris-Murdoch#ref664797">she died from dementia-related causes</a> four years after its publication. Don’t put down that book Our ability to read and write can be preserved well into older adulthood. Making use of these abilities is important, because reading and writing seem to prevent cognitive decline. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbw076">Keeping a journal</a>, for example, has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of developing various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Reading fiction, meanwhile, has been associated with a longer lifespan. A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014">large-scale study</a> conducted by the Yale University School of Public Health found that people who read books for at least 30 minutes a day lived, on average, nearly two years longer than nonreaders. This effect persisted even after controlling for factors like gender, education and health. The researchers suggest that the imaginative work of constructing a fictional universe in our heads helps grease our cognitive wheels. Language is a constant companion during our life journey, so perhaps it’s no surprise that it’s interwoven into our health and our longevity. And researchers continue to make discoveries about the connections between language and aging. For example, <a href="http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=c96fe951-c06d-48e4-bf96-eb00c2f8f70e%40sdc-v-sessmgr01">a study published in July 2019</a> found that studying a foreign language in older adulthood improves overall cognitive functioning. A thread seems to run through most of the findings: In order to age well, it helps to keep writing, reading and talking. While few of us possess the gifts of a Toni Morrison, all of us stand to gain by continuing to flex our literary muscles. Written by Roger J. Kreuz and Richard M. Roberts. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/one-skill-that-doesnt-deteriorate-with-age-122613" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Mind

Why having thoughts that aren't yours doesn't make you delusional

Any thought that occurs within our minds is undoubtedly our own thought – and when we say, “I think”, there will be absolutely <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/2024121">no mistake about the “I”</a> to which we refer. In fact, only very few of us would even question whether we are thinking our own thoughts, and those who do are most likely pursuing a philosophical enquiry rather than physically questioning the nature of one’s thinking. Isn’t “I think, therefore I am” the most basic of all prerequisites for one’s existence? For a small minority, however, being able to think one’s own thoughts is not always a given condition or even applicable to this “I”. Some report having thoughts being put into their heads by another person, or simply “receiving” external thoughts originating from an outside source – an experience which, unsurprisingly perhaps, can be extremely frightening. How is something like this even remotely possible? The answer is, it isn’t. At least not with our current understanding of the laws of physics. As a result, this experience of severe interference is <a href="http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/182/4/293.short">termed “thought insertion”</a>, and is defined as one of the key delusions – <a href="http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=490920">a “first-rank symptom”</a> – indicative of a schizophrenic illness. Compared with some delusions that might just carry a hint of reality (such as believing neighbours are spreading rumours about you), thought insertion seems to be the most bizarre of them all. Delusions as beliefs Current psychiatric diagnostic systems view delusions as beliefs. For a certain idea to be delusional, someone must first believe in this idea, often with absolute conviction, even when faced with evidence to the contrary. In my view, however, thought insertions don’t always fit in with this definition, and <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/cns/2/3/291/">so don’t qualify as delusions</a>. If one investigates the actual subjective experience of thought insertion – beyond what is written in clinical files and medical textbooks –- the richness and even reality of the experience begins to emerge. Orthodox definitions of delusion are being <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01612840.2016.1180725?journalCode=imhn20#.V1xyXaK1ivc">increasingly challenged</a> by <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17522439.2015.1100670#.V3AefZMrLBJ">philosophically-minded researchers</a>; psychotic or not, individuals experiencing external thoughts often find it extremely difficult to put into words “what it is like” to have such thoughts. Some of them report these thoughts as sensory, even auditory (but still claim they are thoughts and not voices); others can quite literally feel the “point of entry” to a certain locality inside their minds. In fact, the boundary between <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17522439.2016.1162839#.V1xyKaK1ivchttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17522439.2016.1162839">thinking and perception is so blurred</a> that one person used the term <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/szb/26/1/243/">“thought-voices” to describe her experiences</a>. Then what is thought insertion, if it is not always a delusion? I argue that <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13164-015-0232-9">thought insertion is a duplex phenomenon</a> which may or may not be a delusion. The delusion may be created by having thoughts in which someone has lost their sense of agency (the feeling that a given thought is generated by one’s self), and ownership, (the endorsement that this thought belongs to one’s self). But <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810007000268">agency and ownership are not all or nothing concepts</a>, neither do they always come hand-in-hand – you can, for example, feel like you generated a thought but that it isn’t yours, so though you have agency, there is no ownership. Depending on how much of one’s sense of agency and ownership is lost or damaged in relation to a given thought, it may feel unfamiliar or even alien. But it is only when an external attribution to another agent occurs, for example, “this thought is given to me by Chris”, can we call it a delusion. In other words, simply having a foreign thought is not a delusion in itself, even though it may very often lead to a delusional explanation. The experience of thought insertion can be sensory, perceptual or physical. So, to me, it is more appropriate to say “delusions in thought insertion” rather than “delusions of thought insertion”, and I am not just playing a game of lexicon. It is crucial to differentiate the processes that produce these acts of thinking and the thoughts that ensue, no matter how much such notions challenge our common sense. Some of us may argue there is nothing about a delusion that is worth listening to, let alone explain, because the implausibility and apparent meaninglessness is beyond what a “rational” person could ever understand. But by acknowledging the complexity and mystery of thought insertion, clinicians might just be a little more understanding towards their patients’ subjective experiences. By removing the assumption that all thought interference is delusional by nature, we close the gap between “us normal people” and “those mad people”. Even in cases where delusions are present, they still carry <a href="http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/04/19/schbul.sbr075.short">important meanings about the individual</a>. Before we make assumptions and call someone delusional, perhaps we should question our own “reality” as well.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/60864/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Clara Humpston, PhD Researcher, Cardiff University. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/why-having-thoughts-that-arent-yours-doesnt-make-you-delusional-60864" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Mind

Is it adultery if my spouse doesn't know who I am anymore?

In Zoomer magazine’s September 2017 issue, there was an <a href="https://www.pressreader.com/canada/zoomer-magazine/20170904/281552290980041">enlightening article</a> written by <a href="http://siloamunitedchurch.org/meet-our-staff/">Rev. Dr. Sheila Macgregor</a> addressing contemporary issues that have emerged as a result of what’s become known as the longevity revolution. Advancements in health care and technology have resulted in longer lifespans. Milestone events now include encore careers, second and even third marriages, and birthday celebrations for 100-year-olds. In fact, in 2016, <a href="http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/98-200-x/2016004/98-200-x2016004-eng.cfm">there were more than 8,000 100-year-olds alive in Canada,</a> according to the most recent Census data. While there is much to be celebrated, it’s also a good time to pause and re-examine old traditions in light of new realities. That was part of Rev. Macgregor’s powerful message. Macgregor draws upon the work of <a href="http://jewishsacredaging.com/about-us-2/rabbi-richard-f-address-d-min/">Rabbi Richard Address</a>, the director of <a href="http://jewishsacredaging.com/">Jewish Sacred Aging</a>, a forum that enables the Jewish community to discuss modern-day issues relating to the aging Baby Boomer generation. For instance, Address asks, is it still adultery if you enter into a new relationship when your spouse doesn’t know who you are anymore? That’s an important question in an age in which <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs362/en/">47 million people</a> worldwide are living with dementia. But the figures don’t include family members who are directly affected by the disease. Rabbi Address’s question necessitates that we examine the day-to-day realities of those caring for spouses with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Spouses care for most people with dementia Research from the United States indicates that approximately <a href="https://www.alz.org/documents_custom/public-health/2009-2010-combined-caregiving.pdf">70 per cent of people suffering from Alzheimer’s</a> are cared for by their spouses. And while many report <a href="http://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/faq/positive-aspects.aspx">benefits</a> associated with the experience, such as greater meaning and purpose in life, and a closer bond and attachment with the cared for individual, this population also faces negative psycho-social consequences that include loneliness and isolation. And as Dr. <a href="http://www.johncacioppo.com/">John Cacioppo</a>, one of the world’s most eminent authorities on the topic, explains, humans do not fare well when they live solitary lives. In fact, <a href="https://theconversation.com/loneliness-could-kill-you-87217">loneliness can kill you</a>. The demands and responsibilities imposed by the caregiver role leave little time, if any at all, for social interaction. And the constant care and concern for one’s beloved can occupy prime real estate in the mind of the caregiver. The <a href="https://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-006-x/2013001/article/11858-eng.htm">negative cognitive and physical consequences</a> are plentiful and include illness, injury, depression, anxiety, financial difficulties and disruptions in employment. Moreover, as cognitive and physical abilities diminish, the demands on the caregiver increase. Imagine for a moment that while a caregiver is attending to the needs of her loved one during a hospital visit, doctor’s office, or pharmacy run, she meets another person who is experiencing similar challenges. The two start to develop a relationship. When time permits, they share brief phone calls, text messages and an occasional meal. Their friendship provides refuge in a chaotic, isolating and lonely world. Their encounters, no matter how short, are reminiscent of a time when her husband recognized her, conversations were reciprocal and they enjoyed leisurely pursuits and pastimes together. Mitigate loneliness Extramarital affairs that begin during a partner’s debilitating illness or terminal disease are referred to as <a href="https://www.caring.com/blogs/fyi-daily/are-well-spouse-affairs-different-from-others">“well spouse affairs.”</a> Relational expert <a href="http://www.michaelbatshaw.com/index.html">Dr. Michael Batshaw</a> believes that such affairs can mitigate the loneliness and isolation associated with caregiving, and thus prevent caregiver burnout. Batshaw explains that people who normally would not engage in infidelity may do so while a caregiver, because often what prevents us from being unfaithful is the hope that our relationship will change and improve. Under these circumstances, however, the caregivers know their relationships will never get better, and realize that their needs can no longer be fulfilled by their spouse. But such affairs are not without their costs. Infidelity by its very nature is replete with guilt, as is caregiving. Taking time off to exercise or see friends often ignites feelings of guilt for being away from a loved one. Add infidelity to the mix, and you’re likely to spend much of your time engaged in hellish emotional turmoil. Although you want to be the devoted and faithful spouse, motivated by obligation, love or societal norms, you are also physically and emotionally exhausted, feeling lonely and isolated and want out. Would a spouse really want his beloved to live such an existence? And what exactly does “until death do us part” mean? Is it when we physically take our last breath, or when we no longer exist as we have for decades in our marriages, recognize our partners or actively participate in our relationships? These questions are incredibly personal and, for some, deeply religious. However, it’s incumbent upon us to move beyond the ethical considerations of the issue and focus on the human struggles associated with the realities of living longer lives. I suspect that’s why Rabbi Address recommends that couples discuss this issue long before debilitating diseases strike. Such conversations are difficult, but they may in fact be the final act of love and kindness that you can bestow upon your loved one.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87441/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Gillian Leithman, Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Aging, Retirement, and Knowledge Management Researcher, Concordia University. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-it-adultery-if-my-spouse-doesnt-know-who-i-am-anymore-87441">The Conversation</a>.

Relationships

"When is Prince Harry coming?": Harry's sweet moment with boy who doesn't believe he's a royal

<div> <div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> Prince Harry has made a solo appearance at a London primary school, seemingly confirming that wife Duchess Meghan is now on maternity leave. In his visit to St Vincent's Catholic Primary School on Wednesday, the Duke of Sussex got a taste of fatherhood as he engaged with schoolchildren for a tree-planting project in support of The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative with conservation charity Woodland Trust. Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/" target="_blank">HELLO!</a>, a teaching assistant revealed a precious moment one of the children shared with the Prince. “When is Prince Harry coming?” the child asked the Duke. Harry responded, saying: “I’m the real Harry. I’ve just had my hair cut for the occasion.” The prince also hinted at Duchess Meghan’s maternity leave. When a student asked where the Duchess was, Harry reportedly mimed his wife’s baby bump with his hand and told the children that she was having a baby. The former Suits star is expected to give birth to their first child in late April or early May. The couple’s latest joint appearance was on Tuesday, when they made an <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/prince-harry-and-duchess-meghan-pay-tribute-to-christchurch-shootings-victims" target="_blank">unannounced visit to the New Zealand House</a> in London to pay respects for the victims of the Christchurch terror attack. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/" target="_blank">HELLO!</a>, this may have been Meghan’s last public engagement until the baby’s arrival. Click through the gallery above to see pictures from Prince Harry’s solo outing. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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Science finally proves "Money doesn't buy happiness"

Daily aspirin doesn’t prevent strokes in older, healthy people after all

No, you can’t reverse ageing by injecting ‘young blood’ and fasting. But that doesn’t stop people trying

"This doesn’t feel right, does it?": Photographer admits Sony prize-winning photo was AI generated

Renovating your home could ruin your relationship… but it doesn’t have to

Chris Hemsworth’s Alzheimer’s gene doesn’t guarantee he’ll develop dementia

“Love doesn’t know math”: Cher defends 40-year age gap

Fighting inflation doesn’t directly cause unemployment – but that’s still the most likely outcome

Losing a loved one can change you forever, but grief doesn’t have to be the end of your relationship with them

Having ‘good’ posture doesn’t prevent back pain, and ‘bad’ posture doesn’t cause it

Record coral cover doesn’t necessarily mean the Great Barrier Reef is in good health (despite what you may have heard)

"Your weight doesn't define you": Rebel Wilson shares body positivity message

Why doesn’t the government have a duty of care to children’s futures?

Liking death metal doesn’t mean you’re a bad person

Backlash after bishop tells children Santa doesn't exist

Three girls murdered: "Something doesn't add up"

One skill that doesn't deteriorate with age

Why having thoughts that aren't yours doesn't make you delusional

Is it adultery if my spouse doesn't know who I am anymore?

"When is Prince Harry coming?": Harry's sweet moment with boy who doesn't believe he's a royal

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Science finally proves "Money doesn't buy happiness"

Daily aspirin doesn’t prevent strokes in older, healthy people after all

No, you can’t reverse ageing by injecting ‘young blood’ and fasting. But that doesn’t stop people trying

"This doesn’t feel right, does it?": Photographer admits Sony prize-winning photo was AI generated

Renovating your home could ruin your relationship… but it doesn’t have to

Chris Hemsworth’s Alzheimer’s gene doesn’t guarantee he’ll develop dementia

“Love doesn’t know math”: Cher defends 40-year age gap

Fighting inflation doesn’t directly cause unemployment – but that’s still the most likely outcome

Losing a loved one can change you forever, but grief doesn’t have to be the end of your relationship with them

Having ‘good’ posture doesn’t prevent back pain, and ‘bad’ posture doesn’t cause it

Record coral cover doesn’t necessarily mean the Great Barrier Reef is in good health (despite what you may have heard)

"Your weight doesn't define you": Rebel Wilson shares body positivity message

Why doesn’t the government have a duty of care to children’s futures?

Liking death metal doesn’t mean you’re a bad person

Backlash after bishop tells children Santa doesn't exist

Three girls murdered: "Something doesn't add up"

One skill that doesn't deteriorate with age

Why having thoughts that aren't yours doesn't make you delusional

Is it adultery if my spouse doesn't know who I am anymore?

"When is Prince Harry coming?": Harry's sweet moment with boy who doesn't believe he's a royal

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