Category: 8. Health

There’s growing evidence that the mix of bacteria in the gut affects obesity risk, and new research backs up the thinking that ‘good’ bacteria transferred via fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) could help boost metabolic health across several years.

In simple terms, metabolic health is how well our bodies are running, and turning food into energy. In this study, it was measured through what’s known as metabolic syndrome: a cluster of health issues including high blood pressure, high levels of sugar and fat in the blood, waist circumference, and cholesterol.

Led by a team from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, the new research follows up on a study published five years ago, for which 87 obese young adults were given fecal transplant capsules containing gut bacteria mixed to promote a healthy metabolism.

Related: Study of Over 400,000 People Links Gut Bacteria With Insomnia Risk

“Metabolic syndrome has severe consequences, including a doubling in risk of death from heart disease or stroke and a five-fold increased risk of type 2 diabetes,” says pediatric endocrinologist Wayne Cutfield, from the University of Auckland.

The transplant didn’t have a noticeable effect on weight loss, but it did seem to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, thus limiting the likelihood of related diseases. Now, it’s been shown that these health improvements can last for years.

“What is impressive is that just a single [FMT] treatment produced a dramatic reduction in metabolic syndrome that lasted at least four years,” says Cutfield.

“This means participants are at much lower risk of developing diabetes and heart disease over the long term.”

For the new research, follow-up tests were carried out on 55 of the original 87 study participants, 27 of whom had received the FMT treatment, with the remaining 28 given a placebo.

Again, there was no notable difference in body mass index (BMI) between the groups, but volunteers who had been given the FMT still had significantly better metabolic syndrome scores, with improved results across several health markers, including reduced body fat percentage.

In addition, the researchers found that the healthy mix of bacteria that had been transplanted four years prior were still in place to some extent. It means ongoing treatment might not always be needed.

Based on the extensive amount of research that’s been done, it seems there’s a two-way relationship between obesity and gut bacteria: what we eat of course affects the gut, but it seems the gut microbiome also influences weight and metabolism to some extent.

Taking a processed poop tablet may sound a little icky, and there are studies that suggest FMT has its own risks. However, other studies indicate various benefits, with these types of treatments used to tackle cancers, brain diseases, and aging in general.

Now we’ve seen what the long-term benefits might be, the researchers want to see tests on larger groups of people, and further work done to identify the particular mix of gut microbes that can promote metabolic health.

“Imagine being able to program your microbiome to reduce the risk of conditions before they occur,” says geneticist Justin O’Sullivan, from the University of Auckland.

“This work is paving the way for next-generation probiotics that target specific conditions through sustained changes to the microbiome.”

The research has been published in Nature Communications.

Hydrogels-materials like gelatin that can absorb and hold water-can aid wound healing and enable slow-release drug delivery, but they usually break down in acidic environments like the stomach. Inspired by the properties of gastric mucus, a team of researchers and clinicians led by Zuankai Wang of Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed an acid-resistant hydrogel called “ultrastable mucus-inspired hydrogel” (UMIH). Publishing September 4 in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports Physical Science, they showed that UMIH improved gastrointestinal wound healing in animals and outperformed a clinically approved mucosal protectant (a material used to protect the stomach lining). 

UMIH has potential for treating gastroesophageal reflux, gastric ulcers, and post-surgical wound protection and can be combined with endoscopic delivery for minimally invasive therapy. In both rat and pig models, it not only sticks firmly but also helps wounds heal faster and better.” 

Bei Li, coauthor of Sichuan University

Like other hydrogels, UMIH consists of a meshwork of polymers that absorb water to create a strong but jelly-like consistency. To make it acid resistant, the researchers incorporated three key molecular components into UMIH’s structure: a protein called ELR-IK24 that binds to hydrogen ions under acidic conditions to reduce local acidity; tannic acid, which enhances the hydrogel’s ability to stick to surfaces; and a molecule called HDI that stabilizes the hydrogel’s structure under acidic conditions. 

“UMIH represents a major step forward in biomaterials for gastrointestinal repair,” says Dr. Wang. “Its strong adhesion, durability, and scalable manufacturing process position it as a promising platform for clinical translation.” 

In lab tests under acidic conditions (pH2), UMIH showed 15× stronger adhesive abilities compared to aluminum phosphate gel (APG), a clinically approved mucosal protectant and antacid that is used to manage gastric ulcers and acid reflux. And whereas APG degraded completely after 3 days, UMIH still maintained 50% of its structural integrity after 7 days in acidic conditions. UMIH was not associated with any toxicity issues in lab-grown gastrointestinal cells. It also inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria, indicating that it has antimicrobial potential.

“UMIH achieves an adhesion strength 15 times higher than that of clinically approved materials in acidic conditions,” says coauthor Xiao Yang of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “It remains stable for 7 days and shows excellent biocompatibility and significant tissue repair capability.” 

In pig and rat models of esophageal injury, UMIH adhered tightly to wounds and improved healing compared to control animals and animals treated with APG. UMIH was associated with less tissue damage, reduced inflammation, and it promoted the growth of new blood vessels, which is essential for healing. 

Clinical trials will be needed to validate UMIH’s safety and efficacy in humans, but the researchers say that it has good potential for commercialization. 

“This is a material that’s ready for both the operating room and the production line,” says coauthor Feng Lou of Sichuan University. “UMIH is low-cost, easy –to –mass produce, and built from components with established safety profiles. In [the] future, we plan to integrate UMIH with drug release systems and implantable flexible electronics to create smart gastrointestinal devices that can treat and monitor in real-time.” 

First-year undergraduates who grew up with overly cautious or controlling parents tend to experience increased anxiety when faced with stresses associated with the transition to university, researchers from McGill University and the University of California (Los Angeles) have found.

The researchers asked 240 first-year McGill students to fill out several questionnaires in the first six weeks of the fall semester. The questionnaires used well-established scales to measure the parenting style they were raised with, current anxiety symptoms and different types of stressors they encountered during the transition to university, including housing difficulties, personal loss or even life-threatening situations.

The team then looked at associations among those variables, focusing on how the relationship between exposure to stressors and current experiences of anxiety correlated with different parental behaviours.

“We found that students whose parents are very protective experience a stronger link between exposure to stressful events and feelings of anxiety,” explained Lidia Panier, the study’s lead author. Panier, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology, is a member of the Translational Research in Affect and Cognition (TRAC) Lab led by Professor Anna Weinberg, the study’s senior author and principal investigator.

While cautioning that their study model does not allow them to conclude that overprotective parenting causes anxiety in children, the researchers note that such a conclusion would be consistent with the existing body of research.

Previous findings show that overprotective parenting leads to insecure attachment and poorer emotion regulation, both of which are linked to greater vulnerability to anxiety.”

Lidia Panier, study’s lead author

She said she believes overprotective parenting in childhood and adolescence may not be helpful in teaching kids how to adapt to stressful situations in the long term. At the same time, she noted that the overprotective parenting might in some cases be a response to a child’s anxious behaviours: parents might develop watchful attitudes or controlling habits to protect a child who often appears fearful.

“These interpretations are not mutually exclusive,” explained Panier. “A bi-directional dynamic where child behaviours influence parenting, which then affects child development, is also well-supported in the literature.”

The researcher said she hopes that future studies can clarify these links, as well as explore ways to better support young adults experiencing anxiety, especially during key transitional periods.

“It would be interesting to see if these patterns can change over time, such as whether supportive peer relationships in university can help young adults become more resilient, even if they experienced overprotective parenting,” she said.

ISLAMABAD: Global and local health experts on Thursday warned that chronic obesity is quietly crippling thousands of young Pakistanis every year, with new data revealing that more than three-quarters of the country’s adult population are now overweight or obese.

Speaking at an event to mark the launch of Pakistan’s first generic tirzepatide, organised by Getz Pharma, health professionals described the drug as one of the most promising breakthroughs in obesity and diabetes care worldwide, demonstrating remarkable results in both clinical trials and real-world use.

Experts cautioned that obesity is driving a sharp rise in diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, cancers, infertility, and obstructive sleep apnea, warning that without urgent action Pakistan faces an unprecedented public health crisis.

Prof Waseem Hanif, Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham, described obesity as “a normal response to an abnormal environment.”

He said nearly 2.5 billion adults worldwide are overweight, with one billion classified as obese, adding that South Asians face heightened risks even at lower body weights.

“The ideal BMI is 18 to 25, but for South Asians it should be around 23. Obesity is a chronic disease that kills young, causes sleep apnea and severely diminishes quality of life. In Pakistan, over 100 million people are obese.

A revolutionary new treatment like tirzepatide offers a fresh breath of hope, capable of reducing weight by up to 25 percent, but it must be combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise. Obesity is a disease, and its main symptom is hunger,” he emphasised.

Prof Saleem Qureshi, Head of Medicine at KRL Hospital Islamabad, welcomed the local availability of the drug as a major relief for patients.

“Until now, patients have had to spend hundreds of thousands of rupees on smuggled, unregistered products. With tirzepatide now available in Pakistan, diabetes remission is becoming a reality.

However, a greater concern is that if current trends continue, over 57 percent of Pakistani children will be obese by the time they reach 35. Obesity must be treated as a chronic disease with medication and lifestyle modification, as most Pakistanis seek medical care far too late,” he warned.

Echoing these concerns, Prof Jamal Zafar acknowledged the effectiveness of tirzepatide but stressed that medication alone is insufficient.

“Doctors must guide patients towards exercise, physical activity and a balanced diet. Exercise does not increase appetite – it reduces it. Lifestyle change is essential alongside treatment,” he added.

Dr Khurram Hussain, Managing Director of Getz Pharma, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to providing affordable, evidence-based solutions for obesity and its complications.

“With GLP-1 and GIP therapy, we aim to support effective weight reduction and reduce the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For over 17 years, the company has led efforts to make life-saving biologics accessible in Pakistan, from insulin to interferons, and we remain dedicated to advancing innovative, affordable treatments for weight management.”

Sharing data from the PAK-SEHAT study, Dr Khurram Nasir, Co-Primary Investigator and Chief of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention & Wellness at Houston Methodist, said the findings were alarming.

“Only one in five adults in Pakistan falls within a normal BMI range. Nearly three out of four are obese, making obesity the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and hypertension. These results were recently presented at the American Society for Preventive Cardiology in Boston,” he added.

The event was attended by numerous endocrinologists, medical specialists, pulmonologists, general practitioners and gastroenterologists, who welcomed the arrival of this new anti-diabetic and anti-obesity therapy in Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

• The study followed 12,772 adults with an average age of 52
• Researchers tracked seven artificial sweeteners typically found in ultra-processed foods like flavored water, soda, energy drinks, yogurt and low-calorie desserts
• People who consumed the highest total amounts of these sweeteners had faster decline in overall thinking and memory skills compared to people who consumed the lowest amounts
• The faster decline equaled about 1.6 years of aging
• Researchers found a link in people under 60 but not older than 60
• While the study found links, it does not prove that sweeteners cause cognitive decline

Some sugar substitutes may come with unexpected consequences for long-term brain health, according to a study published in the September 3, 2025, issueofNeurology^®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study examined seven low- and no-calorie sweeteners and found that people who consumed the highest amounts experienced faster declines in thinking and memory skills compared to those who consumed the lowest amounts. The link was even stronger in people with diabetes. While the study showed a link between the use of some artificial sweeteners and cognitive decline, it did not prove that they were a cause.

The artificial sweeteners examined in the study were aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and tagatose. These are mainly found in ultra-processed foods like flavored water, soda, energy drinks, yogurt and low-calorie desserts. Some are also used as a standalone sweetener.

“Low- and no-calorie sweeteners are often seen as a healthy alternative to sugar, however our findings suggest certain sweeteners may have negative effects on brain health over time,” said study author Claudia Kimie Suemoto, MD, PhD, of the University of São Paulo in Brazil.

The study included 12,772 adults from across Brazil. The average age was 52, and participants were followed for an average of eight years.

Participants completed questionnaires about diet at the start of the study, detailing what they ate and drank over the past year. Researchers divided them into three groups based on the total amount of artificial sweeteners they consumed. The lowest group consumed an average of 20 milligrams per day (mg/day) and the highest group consumed an average of 191 mg/day. For aspartame, this amount is equivalent to one can of diet soda. Sorbitol had the highest consumption, with an average of 64 mg/day.

Participants were given cognitive tests at the start, middle and end of the study to track memory, language and thinking skills over time. The tests assessed areas such as verbal fluency, working memory, word recall and processing speed.

After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, researchers found people who consumed the highest amount of sweeteners showed faster declines in overall thinking and memory skills than those who consumed the lowest amount, with a decline that was 62% faster. This is the equivalent of about 1.6 years of aging. Those in the middle group had a decline that was 35% faster than the lowest group, equivalent to about 1.3 years of aging.

When researchers broke the results down by age, they found that people under the age of 60 who consumed the highest amounts of sweeteners showed faster declines in verbal fluency and overall cognition when compared to those who consumed the lowest amounts. They did not find links in people over 60. They also found that the link to faster cognitive decline was stronger in participants with diabetes than in those without diabetes.

When looking at individual sweeteners, consuming aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-k, erythritol, sorbitol and xylitol was associated with a faster decline in overall cognition, particularly in memory.

They found no link between the consumption of tagatose and cognitive decline.

“While we found links to cognitive decline for middle-aged people both with and without diabetes, people with diabetes are more likely to use artificial sweeteners as sugar substitutes,” Suemoto said. “More research is needed to confirm our findings and to investigate if other refined sugar alternatives, such as applesauce, honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar, may be effective alternatives.”

A limitation of the study was that not all artificial sweeteners were included. Also, diet information was reported by the participants, who may not have remembered accurately everything they ate.

The study was supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.

ADDIS ABABA – The death toll from Africa’s ongoing mpox outbreak is approaching 2,000 since the beginning of 2024, amid recent “encouraging” decline in the number of cases, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

During an online media briefing on Thursday evening, Yap Boum II, deputy incident manager for mpox at the Africa CDC, said that 29 mpox-affected African countries have reported 185,994 cases since the start of last year. Of these, 51,969 were confirmed, and 1,987 related deaths were recorded.

Data from the African Union’s specialized healthcare agency showed that the continent has reported 105,697 mpox cases so far in 2025, surpassing last year’s total of 80,297.

Due to improving continental mpox response efforts, the Africa CDC witnessed a “continuous decline” in both confirmed and suspected cases over the past weeks, especially when compared to this year’s peak season recorded around May.

Data from the Africa CDC showed that the average weekly confirmed cases fell by 52 percent, from a peak of 1,441 weekly average cases in May to 695 cases over the past five weeks.

The Africa CDC further commended the increase in testing coverage as a positive development, with testing coverage moving from 30 percent to 66 percent from all suspected cases over the last six weeks.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958. It is a rare viral disease typically transmitted through body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials. The infection often causes fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes.

The Africa CDC, in August last year, declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a public health emergency of continental security. Shortly afterward, the World Health Organization designated the viral disease as a public health emergency of international concern.

NAWABSHAH  –  A meeting of the District Steering Committee was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shaheed Benazirabad, Abdul Samad Nizamani to discuss the upcoming HPV vaccination campaign.  According to DC office, the campaign aims to vaccinate 136,760 girls aged 9-14 years across 86 union councils in the district from September 15 to 29, 2025. District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Asadullah Dahri informed that teams will visit different villages to vaccinate girls, and mobile teams have been formed for this purpose. Vaccination points will also be set up in all health centers.  The DC directed the officers of all concerned departments to fully cooperate for the campaign’s success.

He instructed the Education Department to ensure girl students in all government and private schools and madrasas are vaccinated.  He also directed the police and Rangers to provide security arrangements. The Information Department has been tasked with providing awareness about HPV vaccination. He emphasized the need for close collaboration among all departments to make the vaccination campaign successful. The meeting decided that all departments will work together to ensure the campaign’s success and protect girls from cervical cancer.

Few people with high blood pressure were using salt substitutes, even though they are a simple and effective way to lower sodium intake and manage blood pressure, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025. The meeting is in Baltimore, September 4-7, 2025, and is the premier scientific exchange focused on recent advances in basic and clinical research on high blood pressure and its relationship to cardiac and kidney disease, stroke, obesity and genetics.

High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood flowing through the blood vessels is consistently too high. High blood pressure can lead to other serious events such as heart attack and stroke. Using data from 2017 to 2020, 122.4 million (46.7%) adults in the U.S. had high blood pressure and it contributed to more than 130,000 deaths. Too much sodium and too little potassium in the diet are risk factors for high blood pressure.

Overall, less than 6% of all U.S. adults use salt substitutes, even though they are inexpensive and can be an effective strategy to help people control blood pressure, especially people with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure. Health care professionals can raise awareness about the safe use of salt substitutes by having conversations with their patients who have persistent or hard-to-manage high blood pressure.”

Yinying Wei, M.C.N., R.D.N., L.D., lead study author and Ph.D. candidate in the departments of applied clinical research and hypertension section, cardiology division, at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas

Salt substitutes are products that replace some or all of the sodium with potassium. Potassium salt tastes similar to regular salt, except when heated it can have a bitter aftertaste. Many foods contain some sodium in their natural state, however, the largest amount of sodium comes from processed and packaged foods and meals prepared at restaurants. The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, with an ideal limit of less than 1,500 mg per day for most adults, especially for those with high blood pressure. For most people, cutting back by 1,000 mg a day can improve blood pressure and heart health.

This study is the first to examine long-term trends in salt substitute use among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2020, researchers analyzed the use of products that replace salt with potassium-enriched or other alternative salts.

The investigation focused on people with high blood pressure, and an additional analysis was conducted among adults eligible to use salt substitutes, including people with normal kidney function and those not taking medications or supplements that affect blood potassium levels. Some salt substitutes contain potassium, and they can raise blood potassium to dangerous levels in people with kidney disease or those taking certain medications or potassium supplements. Excessive potassium can lead to irregular heart rhythms. People with high blood pressure who are thinking about switching from regular salt to a salt substitute should first consult with a health care professional.

The analysis found:

• Overall, salt substitute use among all U.S. adults remained low, peaking at 5.4% in 2013–2014 before falling to 2.5% by 2017–March 2020. Data collection for 2020 stopped before March because of the pandemic.
• Among adults eligible to use salt substitutes, only 2.3% to 5.1% did so.
• Usage was highest in people with high blood pressure whose BP was controlled with medications (3.6%–10.5%), followed by those with high blood pressure whose BP was not controlled despite medications (3.7%–7.4%).
• Salt substitute use remained consistently less than 5.6% among people with untreated high blood pressure and for people with normal blood pressure.
• Adults who ate at restaurants three or more times a week appeared less likely to use salt substitutes compared to those who ate out less often, but this difference was no longer statistically significant after accounting for age, race/ethnicity, education level and insurance status.

“Salt substitute use remained uncommon over the last two decades including among people with high blood pressure,” Wei said. “Even among individuals with treated and poorly managed or untreated high blood pressure, most continued to use regular salt.”

“This study highlights an important and easy missed opportunity to improve blood pressure in the U.S.-the use of salt substitutes,” said Amit Khera, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, an American Heart Association volunteer expert. “The fact that use of salt substitutes remains so low and has not improved in two decades is eye-opening and reminds patients and health care professionals to discuss the use of these substitutes, particularly in visits focused on high blood pressure.” Khera, who was not involved in this study, is a professor of medicine, clinical chief of cardiology and director of preventive cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

The study has several limitations. First, information about salt substitute use was self-reported, so there may have been underreporting or misclassification. In addition, all types of salt substitutes were included in the analysis, therefore, the analysis could not specifically separate potassium-enriched salt from other types of salt substitutes. Finally, the survey data did not capture how much salt substitute the participants used.

“Future research should explore why salt substitute-use remains low by investigating potential barriers, such as taste acceptance, cost and limited awareness among both patients and clinicians,” said Wei. “These insights may help guide more targeted interventions.”

Study details, background and design:  

• The analysis included 37,080 adults, ages 18 and older (37.9% were aged 18–39, 36.9% were aged 40–59 years, and 25.2% were aged 60 and older). 50.6% of participants were women, 10.7% of participants self-reported their race as non-Hispanic Black, and 89.3% self-reported they were from other racial and ethnic groups.
• Participants were categorized into four subgroups based on presence or absence of high blood pressure (≥130/80 mm Hg) and whether they were using blood pressure lowering medication: 1) high blood pressure that was treated and controlled; 2) high blood pressure that was treated and not controlled; 3) untreated high blood pressure; and 4) those with normal blood pressure.
• Salt types were classified as ordinary salt (iodized salt, sea salt, kosher salt), salt substitute (potassium-enriched or other salt substitute) and no salt use.
• An additional analysis was conducted on a subgroup of individuals eligible to use salt substitutes-those with healthy kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 60) and not taking medications or supplements that affect blood potassium levels. 
• The frequency of eating at restaurants to assess its influence on salt substitute use was also evaluated.
• All analyses incorporated NHANES sampling weights and complex survey design.

Health experts say next week’s Africa Climate Summit offers a high-stakes opportunity to prioritise a sector that is on the frontline of the human impacts of global warming.

In Southern Africa, countries such as Botswana, eSwatini, Namibia, and Zimbabwe have experienced a dramatic surge in malaria cases in 2025 after a drought followed by above-average rainfall led to optimum conditions for mosquito breeding. 

These climate change impacts cause life-threatening harm to communities across Africa – particularly for women and children – while further burdening already stressed health systems.  

Mosquitos at large as weather changes

Aggrey Aluso, executive director at Resilience Action Network Africa (RANA), an advocacy organisation, said the continent is among the most vulnerable to climate impacts, including heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and heavy rainfall that create ideal conditions for disease outbreaks.

“Evidence shows a 63% increase in zoonotic outbreaks over the past decade, highlighting how environmental shifts are driving a silent but deadly health emergency,” he told African Business.

Africa is also witnessing the expansion of vectors such as Aedes mosquitoes, which cause yellow fever, due to warmer temperatures. 

Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi, a professor of climate change, food systems and health in the Department of Population Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said temperature and rainfall changes affect mosquito breeding, biting frequency, and the development of parasites within vectors, leading to shifting and often extended transmission seasons. 

“The science tells us that climate change is significantly impacting malaria and other vector-borne diseases in Africa by altering the geographical distribution, seasonality, and intensity of these diseases,” he said.

“Typically, during droughts, people dig a lot of wells and create water storage close to homes as a coping strategy. If, in the subsequent season, we receive heavy rains, all these spots will then create breeding sites for mosquitoes that are close to homes, which may lead to an increase in malaria cases.” 

Though Africa is the world’s most populous continent after Asia, it is responsible for only about 4% of global emissions. But as temperatures rise and extreme weather events occur with greater frequency and intensity, the cost of climate change is growing on the African continent. Most poor African countries are the least able to pay for the damage. Africa warmed faster than the rest of the world, according to a report released by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in 2024. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers climate change a fundamental threat to human health. 

A study on vector‑borne infectious diseases in pregnancy in the era of climate change reveals that the situation is likely to worsen with time. The geographic range of malaria is expected to expand into higher elevations and temperate regions by mid-century, with transmission suitability increasing in East Africa and parts of South Asia.

The expansion is already happening in many high-burden malaria countries across Africa. Sungano Mharakurwa, a professor and director of Africa University’s Malaria Institute, said he has been observing disease epidemiological shifts that are associated with changing climate patterns.

“These include the encroachment of malaria in areas that were previously always non-malarial areas, such as so-called ‘highland malaria’, and concomitant expansion in vector habitat, as well as novel vectors actively transmitting the disease in such non-traditional malaria zones,” he told African Business.

Vector-borne diseases associated with rising temperatures and shifts in rainfall patterns, such as malaria, dengue or Zika and other viral or bacterial infections transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, midges, and flies disproportionately affect pregnant women and children. Infections from these vectors can trigger miscarriage, or cause stillbirths, preterm births, low birth weights and congenital anomalies. 

“Children under five years are a vulnerable group and have the highest burden of malaria deaths,” says Mabhaudhi. “Besides accounting for most malaria deaths, it can also cause anaemia and stunted growth in children, affecting their overall growth and development, with lasting impacts into their adult life,” he said.

In 2023, Africa accounted for 94% of the 263 million malaria cases recorded globally, according to the WHO. The continent also accounted for 95% of the 597,000 malaria deaths in 83 countries. Children under five accounted for about 76% of deaths in the region. 

Summit offers opportunity

As African leaders, policymakers, private sector, climate and adaptation finance partners gather in Addis Ababa from 8 to 10 September for the second Africa Climate Summit, there is an opportunity to mobilise resources to fund effective mitigation and adaptation initiatives that can avoid unbreakable health risks brought by climate change across the continent. 

In 2001, African Union governments adopted the Abuja Declaration, in which they set a target of allocating at least 15% of their national budgets to improve health care. But decades later, the majority of the African countries are spending far less of the targeted percentage. 

Aluso said the summit is a critical opportunity for African leaders to mobilise and demand resources the health impacts of climate change.

“Strengthening climate-resilient health systems and centering health in climate action are therefore urgent priorities,” he says. “Integrating health into climate policies and adaptation financing frameworks is no longer optional – it is urgent.”

He said he wants to see dedicated adaptation financing for climate-resilient health systems – which is grant-based, predictable, and accessible – aligned with the Africa Centre for Disease Control’s Climate and Health Strategy, as well as the integration of health into countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans (NAPs).

Mabhaudhi hopes that Africa Climate Week’s discussions around health and climate change could trigger long overdue political action.

“What is critical will be to turn this growing interest and political will into climate action on the ground, tangible adaptation financial commitments through increased budget allocations to climate and health, and greater coordination across science, policy, and practitioners to avoid fragmentation of efforts,” he said. 

Parkinson’s disease often begins subtly. A slight tremor in the hand. A bit of stiffness. But over time, brain cells begin to die, and the symptoms worsen. The cause has long remained a mystery – but scientists may now be a step closer to an explanation.

At the center of attention is the protein α-synuclein, which plays a role in cell-to-cell communication in the healthy brain. In Parkinson’s, however, it starts to behave abnormally and clumps into toxic structures.

Until now, most research has focused on the large aggregates known as fibrils, which are visible in brain tissue from patients with Parkinson’s. But a new study focuses on smaller, less understood, and more toxic structures: α-synuclein oligomers. According to the researchers, these are the ones that drill microscopic holes in the membranes of nerve cells.

The study was recently published in the prestigious journal ACS Nano, published by the American Chemical Society.

Tiny revolving doors in the cells

“We are the first to directly observe how these oligomers form pores – and how the pores behave,” says Mette Galsgaard Malle, postdoctoral researcher at both Aarhus University and Harvard University.

The process unfolds in three steps. First, the oligomers attach to the membrane, especially at curved regions. Then they partially insert themselves into the membrane. Finally, they form a pore that allows molecules to pass through and potentially disrupt the cell’s internal balance.

But these are not static holes. The pores constantly open and close like tiny revolving doors.

“This dynamic behavior may help explain why the cells don’t die immediately,” says Bo Volf Brøchner, PhD student and first author of the study. “If the pores remained open, the cells would likely collapse very quickly. But because they open and close, the cell’s own pumps might be able to temporarily compensate.”

Molecular movie in slow motion

This is the first time such pore dynamics have been observed in real time. It was made possible by a newly developed single-vesicle analysis platform that allows researchers to follow interactions between individual proteins and individual vesicles.

Vesicles are small artificial bubbles that mimic cell membranes and serve as simplified models of real cells.

“It’s like watching a molecular movie in slow motion,” explains Mette Galsgaard Malle. “Not only can we see what happens – we can also test how different molecules affect the process. That makes the platform a valuable tool for drug screening.”

Long road to treatment

In fact, the team has already tested nanobodies – small antibody fragments – developed to specifically bind these oligomers. They show promise as highly selective diagnostic tools. However, as a treatment, there is still some way to go.

“The nanobodies did not block the pore formation,” says Bo Volf Brøchner. “But they may still help detect oligomers at very early stages of the disease. That’s crucial, since Parkinson’s is typically diagnosed only after significant neuronal damage has occurred.”

The study also shows that the pores are not formed randomly. They tend to emerge in specific membrane types – especially those resembling the membranes of mitochondria, the cell’s energy factories. This could indicate that the damage begins there.

One step at a time

However, the researchers emphasise that the study was conducted in model systems – not in living cells. The next step will be to replicate the findings in biological tissue, where more complex factors come into play.

“We created a clean experimental setup where we can measure one thing at a time. That’s the strength of this platform,” says Mette Galsgaard Malle. “But now we need to take the next step and investigate what happens in more complex biological systems.”