Anthea Rowan

2 days ago | scmp.com | Anthea Rowan

Have you ever had a cold sore? They are common, uncomfortable and can be hard to get rid of. But there is new hope on the horizon. Research has discovered that a protein in the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) – a virus that causes both cold sores and a small proportion of genital herpes, and which can lie dormant for extended periods – is required to activate the immune system and reawaken the virus when it is dormant.

4 days ago | scmp.com | Anthea Rowan

This is the 62nd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. What you eat affects your brain. Food affects cardiovascular health, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. All of these can influence brain health since the gut is connected to the brain via the gut-brain axis.

2 weeks ago | scmp.com | Anthea Rowan

Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke was only 24 when she suffered a stroke following a workout. Known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series, Clarke felt a severe headache, began vomiting and then collapsed in the bathroom of her gym. At the time, she was the definition of youthful fitness and certainly not the sort of person you would expect to have a stroke.

2 weeks ago | scmp.com | Anthea Rowan

This is the 61st instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. You are never too old to start exercising: science says that even in your mid-sixties – and beyond – exercise will make a big difference to your brain.

2 weeks ago | scmp.com | Anthea Rowan

You might assume that people who seek a sex therapist’s support are in relationships that are on the rocks. It is usually the opposite, says Mary Foxworth in Hong Kong, who describes herself as an “inclusive intimacy educator”.