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Londra Gazete, 25 August 2022 LondraGazete.com/English 9

Brain stimulation boosts

memory for a month

SCIENTISTS have discovered
they can boost people's memory
for a least a month by harmless-
ly stimulating parts of the brain
with electricity.
Volunteers performed better at
word memorisation games, which
tested both their immediate "wor-
king" memory and their long-
term memory, experts found.
Exactly what the results mean
for day-to-day life is still unclear.
But ideas range from helping
Autism breakthrough as old people cope with memory
decline, to treating disease and
scientists find 70 genes aiding exam preparation.
Dr Robert Reinhart, from Bos-
'strongly linked' to condition ton University, described the ons of the brain. journal Nature Neuroscience,
stimulation technique as "an en-
The volunteers underwent 20 showed those volunteers who
tirely different approach to isola- minutes of stimulation daily for were struggling with the memory
SCIENTISTS have discovered tend multiple hospital appoint- ting and augmenting parts of the four days in a row. Throughout games at the beginning of the ex-
dozens of genes that are strongly ments and have children put th- brain" which offered "an entirely the study they had to memorise periment were those whose me-
linked to autism, in what could be rough several psychological tests. new realm of potential treat- lists of words, which they were mory improved the most.
a breakthrough. While drugs can be given to ment options". People on the trial again asked to recall one month The researchers are investiga-
Researchers hope the more control symptoms such as agg- wore a cap filled with electrodes. later. Dr Reinhart said the treat- ting whether the technology can
than 70 newly-identified genetic ression or hyperactivity, there is A controlled electrical current, ment "could cause selective me- be used in Alzheimer's disease to
variants could pave the way for no cure. In the largest study of its which feels similar to an itch or a mory improvement that lasts for stimulate the surviving brain cel-
new tests and treatments for the kind, U.S. researchers looked at tingle, was then used to precisely at least one month". ls, as well as in schizophrenia and
condition. the DNA of 150,000 participants, alter brainwaves in targeted regi- The results, published in the obsessive compulsive disorder.
Autism and related conditions 20,000 of whom had diagnosed
such as Asperger's affect more autism.
than one in 100 British children They identified 72 genes that
ten times more than 30 years ago. condition and hundreds more Six million disabled people
are 'very strongly' linked to the
Despite the rise, the condition
is still little understood and get- with looser associations.
ting a diagnosis can be lengthy It's hoped the latest study, pub- to receive £150 cost-of-
and stressful for patients and lished in Nature Genetics, will
their families. help future research teams nar-
living payment
Families are often forced to at- row their focus.

Monkeypox: Lack of vaccines A round six million disabled council tax bands A-D in England. “This £150 disability payment

sparks pause in UK rollout people will receive a £150 cost- Overall, the Government has is on top of the £1,200 most
of-living payment from the end announced a £37 billion package low-income benefit claimants
of next month, the Government of support to help people with ri- will also receive and alongside
THE UK's monkeypox vaccina- vaccines" will have been given to has said. sing costs. wider support targeted at disab-
tion rollout is likely to be paused vulnerable groups by the end of The one-off payment, announ- Minister for disabled people, led people, including help with
for several weeks, with stocks of the month, meaning there could ced in May, will be paid automati- health and work Chloe Smith transport and prescription costs.
the jab set to run out in parts of be several weeks without supp- cally to people who receive certain said: “We know disabled people “We know it’s a worrying time
the country. lies across the country. disability benefits from Septem- can face additional costs, which for some people and I’d urge them
An internal memo, seen by Meanwhile an internal letter to ber 20, the Department for Work is why we are acting to help redu- to check they are getting all the
the BBC, the UK Health Security senior staff at the UKHSA, lea- and Pensions (DWP) said. ce the financial pressures on the support on offer by searching
Agency is said to hold back some ked to the BBC, has detailed how The majority of eligible people most vulnerable. Help for Households.”
doses to give to people already some of that stock will be held will receive their payment within
exposed to the virus. back for 'post-exposure' - where a couple of weeks of this date, it
Many clinics, including Lon- people who have been exposed
don's busiest, say stocks have to the virus are given a vaccine added.
already run out and new appoint- in the hope of reducing severe sy- The payment is intended to
ments have ceased. mptoms. help disabled people with the ri-
The UKHSA says it's trying to So far there have been 3,017 sing cost of living and the higher
"expedite delivery" of a further cases in total across the UK, with costs they face, such as for care
100,000 doses. officials noting that the outbreak and mobility needs.
In its latest update on the mon- is beginning to slow. It comes on top of other cost-
keypox outbreak, the UKHSA has The latest data shows 29 cases of-living payments totalling £650
predicted all of the UK's current a day confirmed on average, com- for disabled people on low inco-
supplies of vaccine will have been pared to 52 cases a day during mes.
distributed to providers by the the last week in June. More than All households will receive £400
middle of August. 25,000 people have received a to help towards energy bills, and
It goes on to say "all available dose of the vaccine. an extra £150 for properties in