WEIRD STUFF

Too much sleep can be bad

Slumber expert Rebecca Swain explained that snoozing for more than seven hours a night can actually make you more tired and increase the risk of ailments such as headaches and brain fog.

Swain, of winstonsbeds.com, said: "Adults should be aiming for at least seven hours of sleep a night in order to re-energise, improve their mood and keep a healthy immune system.

"Too much or too little sleep over a long period of time can lead to an increased risk of anxiety, obesity and diabetes.

"It can also have the reverse effect and make you feel much more tired. To get the most from your sleep, stick to the recommended amount of time of around seven to eight hours."

She added: "If you're struggling with this amount of sleep it may be time to seek advice from a professional."

Higher education linked to longer life

Each year spent in school or university improves a person's life expectancy. A review, using evidence from countries including the UK, US, China and Brazil, found that an adult's risk of mortality was reduced by two per cent for every year spent in full-time education.

The study concluded that completing three stages of education lowers the risk of death by 34 per cent compared to those who do not have a formal education and is akin to a lifetime of eating a healthy diet.

Meanwhile, not attending school at any point was as damaging for adult health as heavy drinking or smoking.

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology say the analysis provides "compelling evidence" in support of more investment in education to reduce global death rates.

Dr Terje Andreas Eikemo, the study's co-author, said: "Education is important in its own right, not just for its benefits to health, but now being able to quantify the magnitude of this benefit is a significant development."

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Musical instrument can fight dementia.

New research has found that musicians have a better memory and sharper brain health as they get older, especially if they can play the piano.

Scientists at the University of Exeter assessed data from 1,108 adults with an average age of 68 and asked them about their musical experience during their lives.

Tests measuring brain function found that playing an instrument or singing in a choir was linked to a significantly better memory.

The team suggest that encouraging people to play music could be a "valuable public health initiative" and implored adults to re-discover the instruments they played in their younger years.

Anne Corbett, a professor in dementia research at the university, said: "Overall, we think that being musical could be a way of harnessing the brain's agility and resilience, known as cognitive research.

"Although more research is needed to investigate this relationship, our findings indicate that promoting musical education would be a valuable part of public health initiatives to promote a protective lifestyle for brain health, as would encouraging older adults to return to music in later life."