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Medicine and health stories that got people talking in 2022

13 December 2022

A look back on the year in medicine and health

These stories have shaped the year. They challenged us, entertained us, educated us, and even changed people's thinking. Discover the vast array of research that dominated the news in 2022.

From diets to music, COVID-19 to cancer; here are just a few of the research projects, commentary and stories that captured public attention during the year.

One-minute bursts of activity during daily tasks could prolong your life, finds study

In good news for those who don't like playing sport or going to the gym, new research led by researchers at the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre finds just three to four one-minute bursts of huffing and puffing during daily tasks is associated with large reductions in the risk of premature death, particularly from cardiovascular disease.

How COVID-19 created dramatic changes in a 'winter virus'

A study led by the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic changed the genetic landscape of virus strains in Australia, especially the normal patterns of winter viruses, with new strains emerging and leaving most others 'extinct'.

Can you outrun a poor diet?

Can high levels of exercise make up for a a poor diet? Sadly the answer is no - University of Sydney researchers found that high levels of physical activity do not counteract the detrimental effects of a poor diet on mortality risk.

Aggressive prostate cancer linked to ancestral heritage

Two pioneering studies provided a turning point in our understanding of genetics. An international team of researchers were able to pinpoint genetic signatures explaining ethnic differences in the severity of prostate cancer, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Led by Professor Vanessa Hayes, the work could help predict which cancers are likely to become life-threatening.

Want to be sustainable and cool? Choose fans more and aircon less

We often turn to air conditioners during hot weather to cope with the heat, but a study has found using indoor fans more often allows people to reduce their air conditioner use without changing how hot they feel. The research by the Heat and Health Research Incubator is paving the way for reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Prioritising protein during perimenopause may ward off weight gain

A clue to the biological mechanism behind weight gain in menopause could lie with protein. Researchers at the Charles Perkins Center found minor adjustments to the balance of macronutrients in a woman's daily diet during the transition to menopause could lessen or even prevent weight gain and lean tissue loss.

No clear medical definition of 'growing pains'

We often hear the phrase ‘growing pains’ used by the general public to describe muscle or joint pain in young people and the term is also used by health professionals. However, researchers at the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health have found there is no consistent medical definition of the condition behind a diagnosis.

Youth outline top health concerns on scientific stage

A group of Australian high school students published an essay in one of the world's leading medical journals, speaking up on what they believe are the most serious health challenges affecting the well-being of their generation. The group, called HAPYUS, was part of a University of Sydney leadership program created to involve young people directly with the research process.

Many Australian medical researchers not declaring conflicts of interest

A University of Sydney study revealed many Australian medical researchers are not accurately disclosing payments from pharmaceutical companies and the results are likely to underestimate the issue on a national and global scale.

Screen time, alcohol & poor sleep for girls: how the pandemic impacts teens

The first study to examine in detail how young people's health behaviours changed over a two-year period encompassing the pandemic found both pros and cons. The data from the study, led by The Matilda Centre, adds to concerns about the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on Australia's youth.

Can music slow the onset of neurodegenerative disease?

Researchers are designing ways to see if music can help slow down neurodegenerative disease such as dementia. Launched this year, the innovative study is a collaboration between the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

1.4 million Australians will die of cancer in the next 25 years unless governments act

Research led by The Daffodil Centre, a joint venture of Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, shows that 1.45 million Australians will die of cancer over the 25-year period from 2020-2044 unless there are major investments in prevention, early detection and patient care.

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Media contact

Ivy Shih

Media Adviser (Medicine and Health)

Mobile

+61 439 160 475

Email

ivy.shih@sydney.edu.au

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