In an attempt to better understand this demographic's resistance to bird and swine flu, Zheng Li and colleagues analysed 180 saliva samples from men and women of various ages.

The scientists hypothesised that the body's first line of defence when it comes to infection may have been involved in patients' ability to fight the virus.

Analysts looked at the presence of glyoproteins, which lock onto pathogens to destroy them, in each age group's saliva and compared their proficiency in fighting influenza.

Findings revealed that over-65s have saliva containing germ-fighting proteins that are more adept at tackling the infectious agents.

Authors of the study, which was published in the journal of Proteome Research, believe that salivary analysis could prove useful in understanding other age or gender-related infections.

UK para-cycling champion Tom Staniford has so far been unable to receive a definitive diagnosis for his disorder, as doctors have not been able to make a proper classification due to the rarity of the condition and the difficulty in attributing its causes.

However, a new study looking into the genetic factors behind the disorder, which has been enabled through the development of genome sequencing technology, could give scientists, Mr Staniford and his fellow sufferers some answers.

The athlete is affected by type 2 diabetes, a condition for which obesity is a significant risk factor, despite the fact that he cannot store fat beneath his skin. This is because the body mistakenly believes he is overweight due to higher lipid levels in the blood.

His condition means that he has no natural cushioning on his body – his feet therefore become extremely sore and he is more likely to suffer bone breakages if he falls off his bike. Mr Staniford also wears hearing aids as he was affected by hearing loss as a child.

It is thought that just eight people worldwide are affected by a similar group of symptoms, which is currently classified as MDP Syndrome, and researchers are now looking into the DNA of those with the condition, hoping that it will unveil genetic mutations behind development.

Professor Andrew Hattersley, a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator at the University of Exeter Medical School, has been working alongside the aspiring Paralympic champion and four other patients in order to better understand the disorder.

Genetic analysis which "would not have been feasible even a couple of years ago", according to the researcher, revealed an abnormality in the POLD 1 gene on chromosome ten, which is involved in DNA replication.

Gaining a more thorough understanding of the condition and its causes could help to provide Mr Staniford and other patients with a better diagnosis and prognosis, and the impact of this on the athlete's life and career could be substantial.

He said: "[Findings could enable] me to be properly classified in competitions so that I am not competing at an unfair disadvantage against others. I hope to be able to compete for Great Britain in the 2016 Paralympics and this finding could make a real difference to my chances."

Researchers interested in the impact of ads on teens' likelihood of adopting the unhealthy habit recruited 1,300 ten to 15-year-old non-smokers from German public schools in 2008. They then monitored their exposure to marketing materials and their smoking habits across 30 months.

Analysis of the results painted a worrying picture of youngsters' smoking habits, showing that, despite the fact that it is illegal for under-18s to purchase tobacco products in Germany, approximately 19 subjects aged 14 or younger were daily smokers.

Although exposure to tobacco ads was relatively low when compared to the likes of cars and mobile phones, one particular cigarette brand promotion was viewed by nearly half of the teens at least once, and was seen over ten times by 13 per cent of the participants.

Teens who had seen the most tobacco marketing (11 to 55 ads) were twice as likely to take up smoking as counterparts who had seen the least (0 to 2.5 promotions). Every ten additional ad sightings increased the chance of adopting a daily habit by 30 per cent.

Exposure to tobacco ads increased the risk of a teen becoming an established smoker – someone who had 100 cigarettes across the 30-month period – by three to 7.3 per cent, and elevated the chance of them being a daily smoker by three to 6.4 per cent.

Researchers emphasise that another factor could be at work, but believe that the findings support the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control proposal for a complete ban on tobacco advertising.

Tobacco ads had a significant influence on smoking uptake, but researchers found, after taking confounding factors into consideration, that peers were the biggest influence on habits. Those with friends and family who smoke are far more likely to do so themselves.

Attribution: Ragesoss

The problem can have a detrimental impact on people's ability to engage in physically-demanding tasks, but new research suggests that increasing consumption of vitamin C could help to tackle the issue.

In order to determine the impact of increased intake, which can be achieved through higher consumption of oranges, red peppers or potatoes, Dr Harri Hemila and colleagues performed a meta-analysis of existing studies.

Three randomised trials were selected for their relevance to the research question at hand, and each involved the monitoring of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) rates in participants following exercise.

A systematic review published in BMJ Open revealed that increased consumption of vitamin C was linked to lower FEV1 in participants following a workout, indicating that people who suffer symptoms like coughing or wheezing after exercise could benefit by increasing intake through diet or supplementation.

According to the NHS, the disorder affects more than 2.5 million people in the UK, and a number of lifestyle choices have been implicated in its development. Obesity is recognised as a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

However, findings from the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) indicate that a simple lifestyle change could allow people to significantly reduce their chance of being affected.

The study, which was published in the journal Diabetes Care, showed that people over 60 who take a short walk after breakfast, lunch and dinner could drastically improve their blood sugar levels and hence reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Scientists recruited volunteers aged 60 and over who were at a high risk of developing the condition, whether due to a sedentary lifestyle or high blood glucose readings, into an experiment to monitor the effects of post-meal walks.

Each participant on day one acted as their own control, consuming set meals without engaging in exercise. On day two, the participants ate the same diet and completed a 45-minute walking session from 10:30 or 16:30, or conducted a 15-minute walk after each of their three meals.

Analysts compared blood sugar readings that were taken throughout both days, and found that the short post-meal walks were most effective in lowering potentially-damaging levels, particularly after the evening meal.

Lead author Dr Loretta DiPietro said: "These findings are good news for people in their 70s and 80s who may feel more capable of engaging in intermittent physical activity on a daily basis, especially if the short walks can be combined with running errands or walking the dog."

Although the findings could help to guide healthier lifestyle practices that are protective against type 2 diabetes, the researchers warn that the results must be replicated and verified in further investigation before guidance can be taken from them.

An aging population is a contributor to the higher incidence rate, which will put a considerable strain on the already-stretched NHS and cancer charities.

Macmillan chief medical officer Jane Maher said: "The more successful we are with treatment and cure, the more people we have living with the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment."

However, it is likely that advancements in medical science and healthcare practices will mean a smaller proportion of people die from the disease.

In 1992, 21 per cent of cancer patients lost their life from other causes – this increased to 35 per cent in 2010, and is expected to rise further to 44 per cent by 2020.

Initiatives which support early detection of tumours, such as screening programmes, as well as improved chemotherapy drugs will facilitate the advancement.

HM Treasury has implemented the change in an effort to cut production costs by £10 million per year, but has failed to consider health implications.

A paper written by Swedish researchers and published in Contact Dermatitis investigated what the government failed to – the impact of the metal change on public allergies.

Researchers found that handling of the new coins will result in deposits of nickel on the skin increasing fourfold.

As a results, people with skin sensitivities who previously experienced no issues with the currency could find themselves suffering adverse reactions.

Karolinska Institutet researcher Dr Anneli Julander said: "This is of public health concern and the fears raised by British dermatologists are now confirmed.

"Nickel in coins needs to be included in the EU restriction of nickel (Reach) to protect the citizen."

Although hunger might seem like the obvious answer, many people turn to foods in-between meals regardless of satiety, potentially increasing their risk of health problems.

People's inability to give up snacks during the day is a driving force behind the obesity epidemic – the Department for Health claims that 61 per cent of adults have a high body-mass index (BMI).

In order to determine the biological forces behind the trend, researchers are planning to look at heart rates, activity levels and snacking habits of over 100 Scottish volunteers.

Lead investigator Dr David McMinn told the BBC: "The aim is to try to understand why people snack, because we all know that sticking to a healthy diet is easier said than done."

Researchers hypothesise that sedentary behaviour and stress could be triggers for unhealthy snacking habits.

Analysis of questionnaires relating to more than 1,700 two to nine-year-olds in Sweden showed that higher television advert exposure is linked to increased imbibition of unhealthy drinks.

Sons and daughters with parents who were less strict about time watching commercials were twice as likely to have sweetened beverages on a weekly basis.

Researcher Stina Olafsdottir said: "Each additional hour in front of the television increased the likelihood of regular consumption by 50 per cent. A similar link was found for total screen time."

Follow-up research indicated that food adverts are particularly likely to promote unhealthy beverage cravings.

Elevated consumption of sugary drinks has been linked to a number of health problems in youngsters, including type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Parents may therefore be able to protect their children's health by being more wary of their exposure to television commercials.

Umea University's Professor Peter Nordstrom led a team of researchers which followed more than 7,000 Alzheimer's patients in order to determine how their treatment courses had an impact on their chance of being affected by other conditions.

Their investigation was inspired by a hypothesis that cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) could benefit cardiovascular health by influencing the vagus nerve, which controls heart rate. There are also suggestions that the drug has anti-inflammatory properties.

The medicines are used in Alzheimer's since they prevent the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is associated with memory. These patients often experience symptoms including memory loss, difficulties communicating and disorientation.

Analysts cross-referenced cardiovascular event incidence from patients who did take ChEIs with prevalence in those who did not, taking confounding factors such as age and medical history into consideration. Their results were published in the European Heart Journal.

Experimenters found that ChEI patients had a 36 per cent lower risk of death throughout the trial period than their counterparts. Mortality rates involving cardiovascular problems like stroke were 26 per cent less common in the cohort taking these medicines.

Those with a prescription also had a 38 per cent reduced chance of being affected by myocardial infarction. Those who took the highest dosages were at a 65 per cent lower risk of heart attack than those who had never been administered ChEIs.

Professor Nordstrom said: "If you translate these reductions in risk into absolute figures, it means that for every 100,000 people with Alzheimer's disease, there would be 180 fewer heart attacks among those taking ChEIs compared to those not using them."

Healthcare professionals may therefore, in instances where it is appropriate, choose to prescribe these drugs rather than alternatives to patients. Researchers tested Alzheimer's treatment memantine and found it offered no benefit to cardiovascular health.