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How long will you live? New evidence says it’s much more about your choices than your genes

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>One of the most enduring questions humans have is how long we’re going to live. With this comes the question of how much of our lifespan is shaped by our environment and choices, and how much is predetermined by our genes.</p> <p>A study recently published in the prestigious journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03483-9">Nature Medicine</a> has attempted for the first time to quantify the relative contributions of our environment and lifestyle versus our genetics in how we age and how long we live.</p> <p>The findings were striking, suggesting our environment and lifestyle play a much greater role than our genes in determining our longevity.</p> <h2>What the researchers did</h2> <p>This study used data from the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/">UK Biobank</a>, a large database in the United Kingdom that contains in-depth health and lifestyle data from roughly 500,000 people. The data available include genetic information, medical records, imaging and information about lifestyle.</p> <p>A separate part of the study used data from a subset of more than 45,000 participants whose blood samples underwent something called “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41576-022-00511-7">proteomic profiling</a>”.</p> <p>Proteomic profiling is a relatively new technique that looks at how proteins in the body change over time to identify a person’s age at a molecular level. By using this method researchers were able to estimate how quickly an individual’s body was actually ageing. This is called their biological age, as opposed to their chronological age (or years lived).</p> <p>The researchers assessed 164 environmental exposures as well as participants’ genetic markers for disease. Environmental exposures included lifestyle choices (for example, smoking, physical activity), social factors (for example, living conditions, household income, employment status) and early life factors, such as body weight in childhood.</p> <p>They then looked for associations between genetics and environment and 22 major age-related diseases (such as coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes), mortality and biological ageing (as determined by the proteomic profiling).</p> <p>These analyses allowed the researchers to estimate the relative contributions of environmental factors and genetics to ageing and dying prematurely.</p> <h2>What did they find?</h2> <p>When it came to disease-related mortality, as we would expect, age and sex explained a significant amount (about half) of the variation in how long people lived. The key finding, however, was environmental factors collectively accounted for around 17% of the variation in lifespan, while genetic factors contributed less than 2%.</p> <p>This finding comes down very clearly on the nurture side in the “nature versus nurture” debate. It suggests environmental factors influence health and longevity to a far greater extent than genetics.</p> <p>Not unexpectedly, the study showed a different mix of environmental and genetic influences for different diseases. Environmental factors had the greatest impact on lung, heart and liver disease, while genetics played the biggest role in determining a person’s risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers, and dementia.</p> <p>The environmental factors that had the most influence on earlier death and biological ageing included smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity levels and living conditions.</p> <p>Interestingly, being taller at age ten was found to be associated with a shorter lifespan. Although this may seem surprising, and the reasons are not entirely clear, this aligns with <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140509110756.htm">previous research</a> finding taller people are more likely to die earlier.</p> <p>Carrying more weight at age ten and maternal smoking (if your mother smoked in late pregnancy or when you were a newborn) were also found to shorten lifespan.</p> <p>Probably the most surprising finding in this study was a lack of association between diet and markers of biological ageing, as determined by the proteomic profiling. This flies in the face of the extensive body of evidence showing the crucial role of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00868-w">dietary patterns</a> in chronic disease risk and longevity.</p> <p>But there are a number of plausible explanations for this. The first could be a lack of statistical power in the part of the study looking at biological ageing. That is, the number of people studied may have been too small to allow the researchers to see the true impact of diet on ageing.</p> <p>Second, the dietary data in this study, which was self-reported and only measured at one time point, is likely to have been of relatively poor quality, limiting the researchers’ ability to see associations. And third, as the relationship between diet and longevity is likely to be complex, disentangling dietary effects from other lifestyle factors may be difficult.</p> <p>So despite this finding, it’s still safe to say the food we eat is one of the most important pillars of health and longevity.</p> <h2>What other limitations do we need to consider?</h2> <p>Key exposures (such as diet) in this study were only measured at a single point in time, and not tracked over time, introducing potential errors into the results.</p> <p>Also, as this was an observational study, we can’t assume associations found represent causal relationships. For example, just because living with a partner correlated with a longer lifespan, it doesn’t mean this caused a person to live longer. There may be other factors which explain this association.</p> <p>Finally, it’s possible this study may have underestimated the role of genetics in longevity. It’s important to recognise genetics and environment don’t operate in isolation. Rather, health outcomes are shaped by their interplay, and this study may not have fully captured the complexity of these interactions.</p> <h2>The future is (largely) in your hands</h2> <p>It’s worth noting there were a number of factors such as household income, home ownership and employment status associated with diseases of ageing in this study that are not necessarily within a person’s control. This highlights the crucial role of addressing the social determinants of health to ensure everyone has the best possible chance of living a long and healthy life.</p> <p>At the same time, the results offer an empowering message that longevity is largely shaped by the choices we make. This is great news, unless you have good genes and were hoping they would do the heavy lifting.</p> <p>Ultimately, the results of this study reinforce the notion that while we may inherit certain genetic risks, how we eat, move and engage with the world seems to be more important in determining how healthy we are and how long we live.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/251054/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hassan-vally-202904"><em>Hassan Vally</em></a><em>, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-long-will-you-live-new-evidence-says-its-much-more-about-your-choices-than-your-genes-251054">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Caring

Bruce Willis' wife issues amazing reflection on Gene Hackman's passing

<p>As Bruce Willis continues to live with frontotemporal dementia, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, has emerged as a vocal advocate for those who support loved ones with long-term care needs.</p> <p>This week, she reflected on the tragic <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/gene-hackman-s-cause-of-death-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife</a> and caregiver, Betsy Arakawa, in a heartfelt video shared on Instagram.</p> <p>"So this is not something I would normally comment on, but I do really believe that there is some learning in this story," Heming Willis said of Hackman and Arakawa.</p> <p>The couple was found dead in their New Mexico home in late February. According to the New Mexico medical investigator’s office, Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus, a rare and often fatal disease, while Hackman, 95, passed away days later due to heart disease. Authorities revealed that Hackman had been living with Alzheimer’s disease and may not have realised he was alone after his wife's passing.</p> <p>Heming Willis used the heartbreaking story to highlight a crucial issue: the well-being of caregivers themselves. "It's just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care too and that they are vital, and that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person," she stated.</p> <p>She further addressed a common misconception about caregivers, saying that many assume they "have it all figured out".</p> <p>"They've got it covered, they're good," she said before clarifying, "I don't subscribe to that. We need to be showing up for them so they can continue to show up for their person."</p> <p>In the caption of her video, Heming Willis reinforced her message: "Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop. #supportcaregivers."</p> <p>The flood of responses to her post was immediate and heartfelt, as fans and followers shared their experiences for caring for loved ones. "I had the same terrified reaction to Gene Hackman," wrote one reader. "What must he have suffered those last days? And his wife? It’s unfathomable. My father was a dedicated caregiver to my mom. Realising that dementia takes every ounce of patience and energy, my two sisters and I were honoured to take one full day each per week (in addition to afternoon nurses two alternate days) to support my dad’s decision to keep mama at home. She’s been gone three years now and I have never once regretted those special Fridays with her. Your message is so very important."</p> <p>"I’m so glad you said this," wrote another reader. "Because that’s exactly what I was thinking when this happened that his wife was so devoted to him that she didn’t take care of herself and this happens a lot with women a lot! She didn’t have any children, but I’m amazed that no friends checked in on her."</p> <p>Heming Willis speaks from personal experience, having taken on the role of primary caregiver for her husband since his diagnosis. It was announced in 2022 that Bruce Willis would step away from his acting career due to cognitive issues, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/cruel-disease-bruce-willis-given-heartbreaking-new-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which were later identified as frontotemporal dementia</a> (FTD), a progressive brain disorder. The couple, who married in 2009, share two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.</p> <p>Through her platform, Heming Willis remains committed to raising awareness and fostering support for those navigating the complexities of long-term care.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Gene Hackman's cause of death revealed

<p>The cause of death of legendary actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, has finally been confirmed, more than a week after they were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/sad-new-details-emerge-in-gene-hackman-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discovered in their Santa Fe home</a>.</p> <p>The couple was found deceased in their residence on February 26, prompting an investigation by authorities. </p> <p>Dr Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Examiner for New Mexico, disclosed at a press conference that Hackman succumbed to cardiovascular disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease being a significant contributing factor. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, died around seven days earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease contracted through exposure to rodents and their excrement. Authorities found evidence of rodent intrusion in the couple’s home, believed to be the source of Arakawa’s infection.</p> <p>Based on her movements and email communications, Dr Jarrell determined that Arakawa likely passed away on February 11, while Hackman is believed to have died on February 18. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that Hackman was likely at home with his deceased wife for seven days before his own death.</p> <p>Dr Jarrell noted that Hackman was in "very poor health", and it was unclear how he managed in his final days without his wife's assistance. Given his advanced Alzheimer’s, Jarrell suggested that it was possible he was unaware that his wife had passed away.</p> <p>“There was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had no evidence of dehydration,” she stated.</p> <p>Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a severe and often fatal respiratory disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, it begins with flu-like symptoms and rapidly progresses to serious lung and heart complications. The best prevention is avoiding contact with rodents and properly managing rodent-prone areas.</p> <p>Dr Jarrell’s findings confirmed that Hackman had severe heart disease, with evidence of multiple prior heart attacks and chronic high blood pressure. A full-body post-mortem examination showed no signs of trauma. He tested negative for COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory illnesses, as well as hantavirus and carbon monoxide poisoning.</p> <p>Similarly, Arakawa’s autopsy revealed no external or internal trauma. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of hantavirus, ruling it as the cause of her death. Other tests for respiratory viruses and toxins returned negative results.</p> <p>Dr Jarrell said that there were “no other significant natural disease findings” in either case, and that all medications found in the home were taken as prescribed and did not contribute to their deaths.</p> <p>The tragic passing of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa marks the end of an era for Hollywood, with fans mourning the loss of the two-time Academy Award-winning actor. Hackman, known for his roles in <em>The French Connection</em>, <em>Unforgiven </em>and <em>The Royal Tenenbaums</em>, retired from acting in 2004. The couple had been residing in Santa Fe for many years, enjoying a quiet life away from the public eye.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Experts debunk dominant theory in Hackman deaths

<p>It's been a week since acting legend Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy were both <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/sad-new-details-emerge-in-gene-hackman-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found dead</a> in their Santa Fe home. </p> <p>Gene, 95, was found dead in the home's mudroom, with his cane nearby, while his 65-year-old wife was found in the bathroom, near an open bottle of prescription pills.</p> <p>Preliminary autopsies have ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause of death, and Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the actor had likely died about nine days before the bodies were discovered.</p> <p>While there's been speculation that the death could have been a "companion suicide", experts have casted their doubts on this theory. </p> <p>James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner with the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">told </span><a href="https://people.com/gene-hackman-wife-betsy-suicide-less-likely-says-expert-exclusive-11690593" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">People </em></a><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">that it is unlikely the couple decided to end their lives together, as their bodies were found in different locations. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">While he is not working on the case, he offered his expert opinion, saying: </span>“I’ve seen cases like that — usually they’re together in bed,”</p> <p>“The fact that they’re in two separate locations tells me that I think that’s less likely.”</p> <p>One of the couple's three dogs was also found dead inside the home, adding to the mystery. </p> <p>“From the initial kind of circumstances, it seems like he may have collapsed — he’s got a history of heart disease. He’s got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual,” Gill told <em>People</em>.</p> <p>He also ruled out the theory that he had died after Betty because she was not around to take care of him. </p> <p>“Sometimes we’ll see instances where someone is bedridden and maybe they have dementia and then their caregiver dies from a natural event, and then there’s no one there to take care of them, and then they can die from dehydration or what have you. I don’t think that’s the case in this,” he said.</p> <p>Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden believes that the couple's death could be the result of a tragic accident, suggesting that Hackman's pacemaker could provide clues as to what happened. </p> <p>“That event would have been a cardiac arrest caused by an abnormal pulse rate,” he said.</p> <p>“The pacemaker keeps track of the pulse, and when it gets down too low, it discharges. And that’s all in the record.”</p> <p>“So the autopsy showed he didn’t have any injury,” Baden continued. “There was no carbon monoxide. And he had — the most common cause of death in this country — severe heart disease, coronary artery disease and high blood pressure perhaps, from what’s been released. So that would cause him, having cardiac arrest in the mudroom, to collapse right there.”</p> <p>Dr. Baden suggested that Hackman's wife Betsy could have died while trying to help him. </p> <p>“She may have struck her head on the way down and had some internal injury to the brain that doesn’t show up on the outside or bleeding in the inside of the brain,” he said.</p> <p>“Or that she may also, at 65, had severe heart disease and excitement can cause a trigger to the cardiac rhythm causing death under those circumstances. I think the first, that striking her head would be more common.” </p> <p>A criminal investigation was launched this week after New Mexico authorities deemed the circumstances around the couple’s deaths “suspicious.”</p> <p><em>Image: Dave Lewis/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. </em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au</em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636</em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">SANE: 1800 187 263; saneforums.org</em></span></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Sad new details emerge in Gene Hackman case

<p>Authorities in New Mexico have shared a grim new update on the shocking deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife. </p> <p>New information has suggested that the Hollywood actor, 95, and his wife, 63, had passed away in their home nine days before their bodies were found. </p> <p>The bodies of the deceased couple, who were married for 24 years, were found by a maintenance worker who spotted their bodies through a window. </p> <p>Authorities are yet to determine a cause of death for both Hackman and Arakawa but have repeatedly ruled out foul play.</p> <p>In an investigation update on Friday, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said a pathologist had advised that tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.</p> <p>Mendoza also said the pathologist was given an insight into Hackman's last moments due to the activity in his pacemaker. </p> <p>"An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr Hackman's pacemaker. This revealed that his last event was recorded on February 17th, 2025," he told reporters.</p> <p>"It is a good assumption that was his last day of life."</p> <p>However it remains unclear whether Hackman, who was found in the kitchen of the home, or Arakawa, who was located in a bathroom, died first.</p> <p>One of the couple's dogs was also located deceased in the bathroom, while two other dogs were found alive at the property.</p> <p>Alongside Arakawa's body, police found an orange prescription pill bottle in the bathroom and pills scattered across the floor. </p> <p>While a toxicology report has been requested on the pills, as well as other medications found inside the house, the report could take months to be completed. </p> <p>The discovery of the pills was described as "something of concern", with Mendoza telling <em>NBC News</em>: "That's obviously very important evidence at the scene". </p> <p>Hackman appeared in more than 80 films throughout his career, as well as on television and the stage after his breakout role as the brother of bank robber Clyde Barrow in 1967's <em>Bonnie and Clyde</em>, earning him his first Oscar nomination. </p> <p>He won an Oscar for best actor in 1972 for his portrayal of detective Popeye Doyle in <em>The French Connection</em>, and in 1993 won an Oscar for best supporting actor for <em>Unforgiven</em>.</p> <p><em>Image credits: MediaPunch/Shutterstock </em><em>Editorial</em></p>

Caring

"It makes my blood boil": Today reporter fires up over athletes' pay

<p>Sports reporter and <em>Today</em> presenter Roz Kelly has fired up over a list revealing the highest paid athletes in 2024 for one major reason. </p> <p><a href="https://www.sportico.com/feature/highest-paid-athletes-in-the-world-1234765608/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sportico</a> revealed the list on Friday, which features one concerning theme that caught Kelly's attention: not a single female athlete features in the top 100 list.</p> <p>The salary figures for each athlete combine their reported annual salary as well as endorsement deals that are often worth millions. </p> <p>The lucrative list is topped by football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, who reportedly pocketed $411 million in 2024.</p> <p>"It makes my blood boil, it makes me so, so angry," Kelly said. "It's just proof of the gender pay gap in sport."</p> <p>"Some of these women are some of the most marketable in the world right now, they are on billboards everywhere."</p> <p>"I know like tennis players and surfers, they have equal prize money. There's still a long way to go in cricket, and soccer... I'm on a rant now."</p> <p>"When it comes to endorsement deals they are severely underpaid compared to their male counterparts."</p> <p>Five of the top 10 paid athletes in 2024 were football players, while basketball, golf, and American football also feature heavily in the top 20.</p> <p>Ben Simmons is the lone Aussie athlete in the top 100 after he earned $65m last year, coming in at 85th on the list.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Today / Shutterstock </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 24px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.333; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"> </p>

Money & Banking

Cleo Smith’s abductor learns fate

<p>Terence Kelly has learned his fate after his lawyers attempted to have his sentence reduced. </p> <p>Kelly abducted Cleo Smith from her parents' tent at a remote West Australian campsite north of Carnarvon in late 2021, sparking a massive manhunt before she was found at his home by police 18 days later.</p> <p>The 37-year-old appealed to have his 13 year and six months sentence shortened, with the decision handed down in court on Monday that the sentence would stand. </p> <p>After being jailed in April 2023 following his admission that he kidnapped Cleo, his lawyers argued his mental impairments, including severe personality dysfunction, contributed to his decision to snatch the young girl. </p> <p>His lawyers also maintained the sentencing judge erred in finding Kelly's use of methamphetamine had a "significant and causal role in the offending".</p> <p>They also say the judge didn't give enough consideration to Kelly's childhood disadvantage and trauma.</p> <p>In sentencing, WA District Court Chief Judge Julie Wager said Kelly's actions were at the "highest level of seriousness" and that Cleo and her family would be "permanently impacted".</p> <p>In the court's ruling on Monday, the court accepted the sentence was "severe" but found it reflected the seriousness of the crime.</p> <p>"On any view, the appellant's abduction of such a young and highly vulnerable child from her parents, at night, and then holding her captive in his house for 18 days was extraordinarily serious," Justices Robert Mazza and Stephen Hall found.</p> <p>"As tragic as the appellant's background is, the sad fact remains that his risk of reoffending required that the sentence imposed upon him have regard to the sentencing objective of public protection."</p> <p>Kelly had faced a maximum of 20 years in jail but he got a 25 per cent discount of five years for his early guilty plea.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

Legal

Kelly's Clarkson's life-changing diagnosis

<p>Kelly Clarkson has opened up about the life-changing diagnosis that kicked started her massive weight loss. </p> <p>The American Idol winner spoke candidly on her own chat show about her drastic weight transformation, as she was joined by guest actor Kevin James, who commented on how good she looked. </p> <p>Clarkson has long been swamped with rumours that she used Ozempic to slim down, but has now confirmed that the reality of her weight loss is very different. </p> <p>“Well, I was told I was pre-diabetic,” she said.</p> <p>“That’s literally what happened, and, well, I wasn’t shocked. I was a tiny bit overweight.”</p> <p>The 41-year-old said the health news gave her the push she needed to make some lifestyle changes to turn around her diagnosis. </p> <p>“(The doctors) were like, ‘You’re pre-diabetic. You’re right on the borderline’,” she explained.</p> <p>“And I was like, ‘But I’m not there yet’. And then I waited two years, and then I was like OK, I’ll do something about it.”</p> <p>Rumours first began to fly of Clarkson using Ozempic to lose weight after her divorce, to which she hit back saying keeping up with her two young children was helping her get in shape.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

Loch Ness monster back in headlines after "most exciting" photo in decades

<p>A recent potential Loch Ness monster sighting has generated immense excitement among monster enthusiasts, who claim these photographs are the most captivating seen in decades.</p> <p>The incident unfolded when Chie Kelly, 51, inadvertently captured images of an unidentified, sizeable creature gliding across the surface of Loch Ness five years ago in August.</p> <p>At the time, she hesitated to release the images, fearing public ridicule. However, her decision changed after the largest 'Nessie' search in over half a century took place last month – called The Quest Weekend.</p> <p>Kelly, accompanied by her family, was enjoying a meal at an inn nestled on the shores of the Scottish loch when she began snapping photos.</p> <p>According to the <a href="https://lochness.com/findings-revealed-from-the-quest-weekend/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lochness.com website</a>, Chie Kelly "had lunch in the Dores Inn and then started walking around. I was just taking pictures with my Canon camera of Scott and our daughter Alisa, who was then five, when about 200 metres from the shore, moving right to left at a steady speed was this creature.</p> <p>"It was spinning and rolling at times. We never saw a head or neck. After a couple of minutes, it just disappeared and we never saw it again.</p> <p>"At first I wondered if it was an otter or a pair of otters or a seal, but we never saw a head and it never came up again for air.</p> <p>"It was making this strange movement on the surface. We did not hear any sound. There were these strange shapes below the surface. I could not make out any colours – the water was dark. I could not accurately assess its length, but the two parts that were visible were less than two metres long together.</p> <p>"I don’t know what it was, but it was definitely a creature – an animal. At the time I did not want to face public ridicule by making the photographs public. But I met Steve Feltham at the weekend and showed him the images, and he said immediately that they were ‘very interesting’.”</p> <p>Feltham has dedicated more than 30 years to the search for Nessie since abandoning his job and selling his house in 1991. After looking at the images, he said, “These are the most exciting surface pictures I have seen. They are exactly the type of pictures I have been wanting to take for three decades.</p> <p>"It is rare to see something so clear on the surface. They are vindication for all the people who believe there is something unexplained in Loch Ness. They are remarkable. I have studied them and still do not know what it is. I persuaded them that these pictures were so important they should make them public. They warrant further investigation. It is not driftwood – it is a moving creature and totally unexplained.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CrRewR8txip/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CrRewR8txip/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chie Tchié Kelly-Kano (@kelly.chie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Reports of the Loch Ness monster have spanned ancient history, with stories dating back to an Irish missionary allegedly rescuing a swimmer from a creature in the loch during the 7th century.</p> <p>The completion of a road adjacent to the loch in 1933 led to a surge in monster sightings. Despite numerous searches over the years, a DNA survey conducted in 2018 failed to provide any evidence of a plesiosaur or other large animals residing in the lake.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram / Chie Kelly</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

House of Hope: Fresh start for Kelly's kids

<p>Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson, who tragically passed away two years ago, has left behind three young children between the ages of two and nine.</p> <p>Her life was cut short in April 2021, allegedly at the hands of her estranged husband, Brian Earl Johnston. The horrific incident resulted in Kelly's body being found badly burned in her Arundel home's backyard, while Mr Johnston was discovered nearby with severe burns to his hands and airway.</p> <p>Since then, Kelly's children have been under the care of her sister, Danielle Carroll, and her husband Rhys. The Carroll family, along with their five children and Kelly's three kids, have been living together in a cramped four-bedroom house, where living spaces were converted into sleeping quarters. The challenges of accommodating such a large family in limited space have been immense, and at times, they find themselves with five people sharing a single bed.</p> <p>However, their situation took a positive turn when businesswoman Tamika Smith, a relative of Mr Carroll, heard about the tragedy and decided to lend her support.</p> <p>The founder of My Bella Casa and Top 100 Women launched a campaign called "I Stand With Kelly" shortly after Ms Wilkinson's passing. The campaign aimed to build a new home for the 10-person family.</p> <p>With the help of an anonymous contributor, Ms Smith secured a plot of land, and the renowned homebuilder, Metricon, generously donated an entire house for the cause.</p> <p>After two years of hard work and dedication, the family's fully furnished new home was finally revealed to them.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvGO3pfBjbH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvGO3pfBjbH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tamika Smith (@tamika_stephanie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Mr Carroll expressed his excitement about the new house, especially for Kelly's three children, as it will provide them with a fresh start and a place they can call their own. While the loss of their mother is deeply felt, the children are constantly surrounded by love and care from their extended family.</p> <p>Kelly's kids have not forgotten their mother, and though they miss her dearly, they understand that she is no longer with them.</p> <p>“They know she’s gone," Mrs Carroll told A Current Affair. "They constantly say that they miss her. The two year old does ask for mum but they know she’s not coming back.” </p> <p>The Carroll family, along with their own children, have written heartfelt letters to thank the builders for their incredible efforts in creating this new home.</p> <p>The house not only represents a new beginning for Ms Wilkinson's children and the Carroll family but also serves as a reminder of the love she brought to her family before her untimely passing.</p> <p>Though the pain of her loss remains, the community's support in building this new home has been a heartwarming gesture, one that Kelly's family deeply appreciates and will surely treasure forever.</p> <p><em>Images: Today Show / Instagram / GoFundMe</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

Got no COVID-19 symptoms? A gene mutation might be the reason

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>A global study has unearthed a possible genetic reason why some people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 show no symptoms.</p> <p>Human leukocyte antigens – or HLAs – are important genes that support immune function in the human body, particularly in identifying viral pathogens.</p> <p>And a particular variation in the HLA-B complex has been found to at least double the likelihood that a person infected with SARS-CoV-2 will be asymptomatic.</p> <p>For people who inherit a copy of the HLA-B15 variant from one parent, there was a 2.4 times greater chance of avoiding symptoms. Homozygous carriers — born with copies of the variant from each parent — were 8.5 times more likely to avoid symptoms.</p> <p>It’s a somewhat common variant among certain ethnicities – about 1 in 10 people with European ancestry are potential carriers – but having the gene is not a guaranteed protector against coronavirus symptoms.</p> <p>The findings, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06331-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06331-x">published</a> in <em>Nature</em>, have emerged from a joint study between researchers at the University of California San Fransisco and Australian institutions including Latrobe University, Monash University and the QIMR Berghofer Centre.</p> <p>The research came about almost by accident.</p> <div class="in-content-area content-third content-right"><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/covid/link-between-blood-type-and-risk-of-covid-19-infection/"> </a></div> <p>Co-lead authors Professor Stephanie Gras from Latrobe and Jill Hollenbach from UCSF first met at a research conference in May 2022 and pooled their resources to track the association of possible gene variations with COVID-19 symptoms.</p> <p>Their teams narrowed a group of 30,000 people with high-quality HLA data to a cohort of about 1,500 unvaccinated people who tested positive for the virus. They then focussed on five locations of interest in the HLA genes while monitoring the emergence of symptoms to determine which variants, if any, might have a greater linkage to being COVID asymptomatic.</p> <p>“The [SARS-CoV-2] virus gets inside cells and ‘presents’ some small part of the virus on the surface via the HLA molecule,” Gras explains.</p> <p>“Those act as a red flag for T cells. The cell sends the signal to the T cell that it has been infected with the virus, and the T cells get activated and kill that [infected] cell.</p> <p>“HLA-B15 can actually present a small part of the spike protein that is very similar between SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal coronaviruses… [that] circulate every year in the population and give us the common cold during winter most of the time. They share some similarities.”</p> <p>The understanding provides a possible application for future treatments. Now an association between the variant and asymptomatic cases has been identified, the Gras and Hollenbach teams have begun to study the interaction between HLA-B15 and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at the atomic level.</p> <p>That research is already underway, including at the Australian Synchrotron at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.</p> <p>“We’re doing atomic-level models of proteins to understand the interaction,” Gras says.</p> <p>“We want to compare the T cells within people who are asymptomatic with HLA-B15 and people who are not asymptomatic with HLA-B15. Actually, HLA-B15 is not a magic bullet, you can have it and still have severe COVID.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> </div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/covid/got-no-covid-19-symptoms-a-gene-mutation-might-be-the-reason/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/matthew-agius">Matthew Ward Agius</a>. </em></p> </div> </div>

Body

“Irwin genes are strong”: Bindi shares adorable candid snap

<p>Bindi Irwin has delighted fans after sharing a sweet snap of her two-year-old daughter, Grace Warrior cuddling a giant tortoise.</p> <p>The wildlife warrior took to Instagram to share the sweet snap with a comparison photo of herself hugging a giant tortoise when she was around Grace’s age.</p> <p>“Holding my newborn daughter wondering if she’ll love wildlife like I did” she captioned one of the photos in the Reel.</p> <p>The next two photos showed comparison photos of the mother-daughter duo which showed that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.</p> <p>“Our Grace Warrior, the Wildlife Warrior," she captioned the post.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs4wPGzBjZZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs4wPGzBjZZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The adorable photo has been praised by fans who commented how proud Steve Irwin would be of his daughter and granddaughter.</p> <p>"It’s in the Irwin blood! You guys have the most beautiful connection with wildlife and each other! Steve Irwin genes are strong!” wrote one fan.</p> <p>"Your dad is probably so so proud looking down,” commented a second person.</p> <p>"This gives me happy goosebumps babe,” wrote a third.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Aussie patient given new drug worth $5 million per dose

<p>A potential cure for a rare genetic disease is being trialled, and it comes with a hefty price tag.</p> <p>Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is part of a groundbreaking new trial aimed at potentially curing haemophilia B – a hereditary bleeding disorder.</p> <p>Patients with haemophilia B have a mutation on the F9 gene, which causes excessive bleeding and damage to joins as they lack the protein that helps blood to clot.</p> <p>A mere 40 patients worldwide will be infused with the gene therapy, with each dose the equivalent of $5 million, or over $1,000 a drop.</p> <p>A safe virus carrying the F9 gene is infused into the body, sending it to the liver cells, where doctors hope the protein is made for the rest of the patient’s life.</p> <p>Professor John Rasko, Head of Cell and Molecular Therapies at RPA, said the process is a “thrilling moment in the history of gene therapy”</p> <p>"We are pushing the boundaries of medical technology hoping to bring cures to individuals," he said. "It's a massive international effort that takes time and money and ultimately the manufacturing alone costs millions and millions of dollars."</p> <p>Haemophilia B patients currently require three injections a week. This revolutionary treatment could mean just one infusion in a lifetime.</p> <p>The infusion on May 22 was the culmination of more than two decades of work.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Caring

KISS concert halted as Gene Simmons falls ill on stage

<p>KISS singer Gene Simmons gave fans - and bandmates - a fright when dehydration got the better of him live on stage, and the group were forced to bring their entire concert to a halt. </p> <p>In a video from the event, KISS’ Paul Stanley can be seen addressing the crowd, telling them that “we’re gonna have to stop to take care of him. Because we love him, right?”</p> <p>He goes on to call for a cheer for Simmons, with the 73-year-old catching his breath on a chair on stage - the same chair that he remained in for the rest of the show, after a five minute break to assure he was well enough to continue.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="pt">Gene Simmons, baixista e vocalista do Kiss, passa mal e show é brevemente interrompido na Arena da Amazônia. <a href="https://t.co/nphJEj1PQo">pic.twitter.com/nphJEj1PQo</a></p> <p>— A Crítica (@ACritica) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACritica/status/1646372105523478529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>And while fans were concerned for the singer, he later took to social media to assure them that he was “fine” and looking forward to the band’s next stadium performance. </p> <p>“I’m fine. Yesterday at Manaus Stadium in Brazil, [I] experienced weakness because of dehydration,” he explained. “We stopped for about five minutes, I drank some water, and then all was well. Nothing serious.”</p> <p>“Brazil is hotter than hell!!” one fan responded, “so glad you're okay and I can't wait to see you in São Paulo! Take care, god of thunder!!”</p> <p>“Even the God of Thunder needs hydration,” another agreed. “Good to hear you're doing well.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hey everybody, thanks for the good wishes. I’m fine. Yesterday at Manaus Stadium in Brazil, experienced weakness because of dehydration. We stopped for about five minutes, I drank some water, and then all was well. Nothing serious. Tomorrow, Bogota Stadium. See you there!</p> <p>— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/genesimmons/status/1646530305791266818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>And as news broke around the world of what had gone down in Brazil, Simmons returned with another round of assurances, writing that it was “not a big deal” while again thanking everyone for their well wishes. </p> <p>“Last night we played Amazon jungle Stadium/Brazil. Humidity and temperature were sky high. I was dehydrated and was forced to sit for a song,” he said. “We got back on stage in 5 minutes & finished the show.”</p> <p>It was enough for his fans, who were quick to share their delight that their star was okay, as well as voicing their excitement for upcoming shows - with a good portion of requests for the singer to take care of himself, and avoid a repeat performance. </p> <p>“Happy to hear you're doing better,” one wrote. “Even more happy it wasn’t anything serious.Ya'll take care.”</p> <p>“Frankly, I don’t know [how] you do it every night. You’re amazing!” another declared. </p> <p>Meanwhile, some could see the humour in it all now that their fears had been put to rest, with one joking “and who says playing music couldn't be dangerous”.</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Caring

Cleo Smith's mother speaks out after abductor's sentencing

<p>Cleo Smith's mother has shared her thoughts on the jail sentence handed down to the man who abducted her four-year-old daughter. </p> <p>Ellie Smith was in Western Australia's District Court on Wednesday when Terence Kelly was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/sentence-handed-down-for-cleo-smith-abductor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to 13 years and six months behind bars for abducting Cleo in October 2021. </p> <p>Shortly after the sentence was handed down, Ellie and her partner Jake Gliddon shared they will always feel "angry" towards Terence. </p> <p>"I think the anger always will be there," Ellie Smith told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/terence-kelly-sentence-update-cleo-smith/6306636b-7c6d-4f6b-9b92-48dd3296dace" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Nine News</em></a>. </p> <p>However, she added she "also feels contentment he is behind bars".</p> <p>"And we do have a number to hold with us of how long he is away."</p> <p>"But there is always going to be anger, always - how could there not be?" she added.</p> <p>While Ellie and Jake largely avoided the media outside the courtroom on Wednesday, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch was quick to condemn the kidnapper and suggested the 13-year-sentence was not long enough. </p> <p>"Early on in my career I spoke to a father of a victim of a serious crime. And he said to me, as a dad, a million years isn't enough and that's driven by emotion - and as a father I understand that," he said.</p> <p>"And I would expect that the community would never think that 13-and-a-half years is enough."</p> <p>Terence Kelly snatched Cleo from the Quobba Blowholes campsite, a remote coastal area in WA, as she slept beside her parents and baby sister on the night of October 16th, 2021.</p> <p>He then held her captive in his home in the rural town of Carnavon for 18 days before she was found by police. </p> <p>During the course of the sentencing hearing, new details came to light on <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/frightening-new-details-emerge-on-cleo-smith-kidnapping" target="_blank" rel="noopener">just what went on</a> during those 18 days of Cleo's captivity.</p> <p>Commissioner Blanch added that the investigation to track down and rescue Cleo was the "gold standard" for an operation of this type.</p> <p>"This is an evil crime. He committed a heinous crime. A parent's worse nightmare. As I said before, I'm Police Commissioner and I respect the rule of law, but as a father, that's something I could never forgive."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News</em></p>

Legal

Frightening new details emerge on Cleo Smith kidnapping

<p>New details have come to light regarding four-year-old Cleo Smith’s 2021 abduction, one day after the man responsible was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/sentence-handed-down-for-cleo-smith-abductor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced to at least 11 years and six months in prison</a>.</p> <p>Cleo was taken from her family’s Western Australia campsite and was missing for a total of 18 days. After an intense police investigation, and a $1 million reward offered by the Western Australia government, detectives found Cleo at a property 75 km south of where she’d been kidnapped by the 37-year-old Terence Kelly.</p> <p>While appearing before Judge Julie Wager in court, Kelly had nothing to say, offering only a nod to acknowledge both his own name and his guilty plea. Cleo’s parents - mother Ellie and stepfather Jake - also did not share any words outside of the courthouse in the wake of Kelly’s sentencing. </p> <p>But what was said inside has revealed frightening new insight into what young Cleo went through during her days of captivity, with Commissioner Blanch - who was Assistant Commissioner at the time - noting that he did not believe the community would ever think Kelly’s time behind bars would be enough. </p> <p>“Judge Wager had to weigh up many things,” he said, “and there were many mitigating circumstances, and I respect the court’s decision.”</p> <p>For the entire 18 days of her nightmare situation, Cleo was kept in Kelly’s Carnarvon property, often locked alone in a bedroom while Kelly was out - the door had been modified, and Cleo was unable to open it from her side. He reportedly attended a number of employment meetings in person, and even visited his relatives.</p> <p>It was also revealed that Cleo would plead with him to be allowed to see her parents, leading Kelly to play the radio at a loud volume to mask her noise. </p> <p>“When the young victim heard her name on the radio, she said ‘they’re saying my name’,” Judge Wagner told the court. </p> <p>As the University of Newcastle’s criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett told <em>Sunrise</em>, “eighteen days is a really long time in a four-year-old’s life, and to hear her name on the radio and not understand why he wouldn’t return her to her mother must have been incredibly traumatic for her.”</p> <p>Additionally, in a police interview, Kelly admitted that he grew frustrated and was rough with a number of times, but that she was “a bit of a fighter” when he attempted to restrain her. </p> <p>He even added Cleo’s mum as a Facebook friend while he had Cleo, although as he told police, he was never “planning to keep her forever.” </p> <p>Following Kelly’s arrest, social media played a role again, with pictures of his home emerging, showcasing his collection of Bratz dolls, one Judge Wager described as being “consistent with your anxiety.” </p> <p>Those in the courtroom were informed that Kelly had a “significant interest” in dolls, and that it was possible he had imagined his very own family with them. </p> <p>“You’d opened Facebook pages,” Judge Wager stated, “for your fantasy children and communicated with them.”</p> <p>She also shared her understanding that Cleo played into Kelly’s “fantasy of having a little girl he could dress up and play with”, although she still considered his actions to be “at the highest level of seriousness”.</p> <p>“This isn’t a case of luring a child away, that would be serious enough, but the taking of a little four-year-old girl from the zipped-up family tent in the middle of the night when her parents assumed she was safe is even more concerning,” Wager continued. </p> <p>“Her parents woke to find her missing, not knowing if she was alive or dead for the next 18 days. They didn’t know what had happened to her, or whether she’d ever be returned. This shattered her family, and has been damaging and traumatising for the child.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Caring

Sentence handed down for Cleo Smith abductor

<p>In the dramatic conclusion of the Cleo Smith abduction case that gripped Australia, her abductor has been handed his jail sentence. </p> <p>Terence Kelly, who took the then-four-year-old from a campsite in Western Australia, has been sentenced to 13 years and six months in jail. </p> <p>He will have to serve over 11 years before he is eligible for early release on parole.</p> <p>The sentence was handed down on Wednesday by Perth District Court Chief Judge Julie Wager, with Cleo's parents, Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon, in court to hear the outcome.</p> <p>The Chief Judge of WA's District Court Julie Wager gave Kelly the full 25 per cent discount, or five years, off his sentence for his early guilty plea when he first plead guilty upon his arrest for the crime in January 2022. </p> <p>The 37-year-old snatched Cleo from the Quobba Blowholes campsite, a remote coastal area in WA, as she slept beside her parents and baby sister on the night of October 16, 2021.</p> <p>He then held her captive in his home in the rural town of Carnavon for 18 days before she was found by police. </p> <p>Her disappearance sparked one of the biggest searches in Western Australian history, and had the country gripped and hoping for her safe return.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / WA Police</em></p>

News

Super rare pic of unrecognisable Gene Hackman

<p>For the first time in a long time, legendary actor Gene Hackman has been spotted out and about at the age of 93.</p> <p>The icon had been reclusive in recent years, and these are the first photos of him snapped in a very long time. </p> <p>The <em>Superman</em> star still seemed fit and looked quite healthy in the snaps taken in Santa Fe, New Mexico. </p> <p>The retired actor was spotted enjoying a fast food lunch at a parking lot after going through the Wendy’s drive-thru. </p> <p>He is still sporting his signature moustache in the rare sighting. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">New photos of Hollywood Legend Gene Hackman have been released. He is currently 93-years-old. These are the first photos of him in years. <a href="https://t.co/5pn1wXN81w">pic.twitter.com/5pn1wXN81w</a></p> <p>— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyLoud/status/1633270131324223489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Hackman’s last movie role was with Ray Romano and Christine Baranski in the 2004 comedy <em>Welcome To Mooseport</em>. </p> <p>In July 2004, Hackman was interviewed by Larry King, where he announced there were no new film projects lined-up and believed his acting career was over.</p> <p>Years later, the star confirmed his retirement while promoting his third novel <em>Escape From Andersonville</em>, back in 2008.</p> <p>In an interview with CQ in 2011, he was asked if he would ever come out of retirement to do another film, and he responded, “If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people.”</p> <p>CQ also asked him, “how do you want to be remembered?"</p> <p>“As someone who tried to portray what was given to them in an honest fashion. I don't know, beyond that. I don't think about that often, to be honest. I'm at an age where I should think about it.” He said with a laugh.</p> <p>Hackman has long been one of the most highly regarded film actors of all time, leading his Mississippi Burning director Alan Parker to state that “he is incapable of bad work. Every director has a shortlist of actors he’d die to work with, and I’ll bet Gene’s on every one.”</p> <p>The thespian really made waves when he was nominated for an Oscar for the Best Supporting Actor category for the 1970s film<em> I Never Sang For My Father</em>.</p> <p>A year later, he became a leading man in incredible fashion, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in his New York City Detective Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in <em>The French Connection</em> (1971). </p> <p>Hackman’s career only went up from there, with countless awards under his belt, including two Oscars, two BAFTA awards and two Golden Globes.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Movies

"I loved him very much": Pink reveals heartbreaking inspiration behind hit track

<p>Multi award winning singer-songwriter Pink has opened up about the heartache that inspired her 2006 hit song ‘Who Knew’. </p> <p>The 43-year-old was chatting to fellow singer Kelly Clarkson on Kelly’s talk show when she made the tragic admission that ‘Who Knew’ is about the loss of two of her friends to drug overdose. </p> <p>“I lost several friends, unfortunately, to overdose,” she told Kelly, “and the second one was very, very, very close to me, and I loved him very much.” </p> <p>The singer was referring to her dear friend Sekou Harris, who died of a heroin overdose at just 14 years old.</p> <p>In a 2012 interview with <em>Entertainment Weekly</em>, Pink said of the song and its inspiration, “I always wanted to write a song for a friend of mine, Sekou Harris, who overdosed on heroin and died. And I never knew how because I didn’t want to force it and write some cheesy overdose song.”</p> <p>When Kelly mentioned that experiencing so much loss “sucks”, Pink countered that loss is unavoidable and that people “need music for that”. </p> <p>“I need music to help me through my feelings,” she said, “and I can numb down really easy.” </p> <p>She opened up about how the song has evolved over the years, and provided her comfort when faced with the deaths of those close to her heart. </p> <p>"But the thing that I love about the song now, after all these years, is that I never get tired of performing it, and it's taken on so many different meanings over the years,” she admitted, “it was about my grandmother at one point. It was about my dog.</p> <p>"I've lost people, so it's always sort of fresh in my heart." </p> <p>This isn’t the first time that Pink has been honest about her history with drugs. In her 2012 <em>EW </em>interview, the singer confessed that she understood addiction, as she “was a hardcore partier from 12 to 15. I was like a candy raver and I was on all the club drugs. Selling Ecstasy and crystal meth and Special K. I overdosed on Thanksgiving of ’95. And then I never took drugs again, ever.”</p> <p>In the same year, Pink told <em>Shape Magazine </em>that although she wasn’t hospitalised, she got the wake-up call she needed, and turned her attention to her wildly successful music career. </p> <p>Viewers of <em>The Kelly Clarkson Show</em> got a bonus look at that very career after the interview, with Pink and Kelly taking to the stage to perform a stunning duet of Pink’s ‘Who Knew’. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Severe COVID-19 linked to signs of ageing in the brain

<p dir="ltr">COVID-19 infection has been associated with the same molecular changes seen in ageing brains, including higher levels of activity from genes associated with the ageing process.</p> <p dir="ltr">As we age, our brains shrink - with a five percent decline in weight per decade after the age of 40 - while our memory and levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine decline.</p> <p dir="ltr">With previous research finding that people who are infected with Covid can experience neurological conditions after they recover, as well as declines in cognitive performance that mimic accelerated ageing, a team of researchers from Harvard Medical School examined the brain tissue of 54 deceased people, including 21 who had severe Covid infections.</p> <p dir="ltr">They found that changes in how genes were expressed in the brains of Covid-infected people were similar to what is seen in older brains.</p> <p dir="ltr">Using a particular kind of analysis called whole-transcriptome sequencing, the team were able to investigate which genes were being switched on and off in a person at the time of their death, comparing brain samples from people infected with Covid and those who hadn’t been infected (from before the pandemic).</p> <p dir="ltr">In comparison to the uninfected group, the Covid group showed higher levels of activity for genes associated with immunity. Meanwhile, genes linked to cognition, memory and the activity of synapses, which are essential for helping impulses travel through the nervous system, had lower levels of expression.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We also observed significant associations of cellular response to DNA damage, mitochondrial function, regulation of response to stress and oxidative stress, vesicular transport, calcium homeostasis, and insulin signalling/secretion pathways previously associated with ageing processes and brain ageing," they wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Altogether, our analyses suggest that many biological pathways that change with natural ageing in the brain also change in severe COVID-19."</p> <p dir="ltr">Also investigating the trigger of these changes, they found increased levels of activity in several inflammatory pathways associated with ageing in the brain, and that specific immune cells influence the expression of several of these genes.</p> <p dir="ltr">This supports the hypothesis that the neurological symptoms that can accompany Covid are caused by inflammation triggered by the virus.</p> <p dir="ltr">But they also explored the other hypothesis, that the neurological symptoms are caused by the virus infiltrating and infecting the brain - specifically the frontal cortex - by looking to see whether there was evidence of Covid RNA (which contains the virus’ genetic material it needs to replicate).</p> <p dir="ltr">“In agreement with previous studies, SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was not detected in samples from individuals with COVID-19, suggesting that the observed gene expression changes are unlikely due to the effects of the viral RNA in the frontal cortex,” they wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">With these findings, the researchers concluded that managing Covid-induced inflammation could protect against the development of the neurological symptoms associated with Covid.</p> <p dir="ltr">They also argue that following up with patients recovering from Covid could be beneficial in reducing the risk or delaying the neurological symptoms and cognitive decline.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to <em>Nature</em>, neuropathologist Marianna Bugiani, who wasn’t involved in the study, said that it’s still difficult to know whether these changes to gene expression are permanent or whether they are also seen in people experiencing mild bouts of Covid.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It opens a plethora of questions that are important, not only for understanding the disease, but to prepare society for what the consequences of the pandemic might be,” she said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-df4fb67d-7fff-854d-6942-559608bd9c1f">“And these consequences might not be clear for years.”<br /></span></p> <p>The researchers published their findings in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-022-00321-w" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Nature Aging</em></a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Super rare pic of unrecognisable Gene Hackman

"I loved him very much": Pink reveals heartbreaking inspiration behind hit track

Severe COVID-19 linked to signs of ageing in the brain

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