Every week, HEADlines brings you the latest news, stories and commentaries in education and healthcare. This week, get insights on the latest developments in healthcare. image The climate crisis is a health crisis At first glance, climate change and health seem to have little to do with each other. This view is fast changing. At the United Nation’s annual conference on climate change – COP26, the healthcare sector’s larger-than-usual presence sent a strong signal on the plenary crisis’ impact on human health. People and nature worldwide are already feeling the effects of rising temperatures. Droughts, fires, flooding and heatwaves are putting humans at greater risk of climate-related deaths. Higher temperatures are also expected to exacerbate the spread and transmission of diseases such as dengue and malaria, as mosquitoes reproduce more frequently in hotter climates. Melting glaciers and deforestation due to climate change could lead to viral spillover, increasing the risk of new disease outbreaks. Furthermore, depressed crop yields lead to food scarcity, malnutrition and famine in the poorest areas. Based on the current climate commitment numbers from different countries, the world is well on its way to 2.7°C of warming by the end of the century – a situation that will undoubtedly bring greater climate extremities and hardships on people. Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It will severely impact people, wildlife and ecosystems if temperatures rises are not kept below the 1.5 °C threshold recommended by climate scientists. To safeguard our future, it is not sufficient for the world to remain status quo. The call to “try harder!” and “act now!” is loud and clear at COP26. Healthcare in the Spotlight The Atlantic: How easily can vaccinated people spread COVID? Vaccination is the best protection against infection. But when breakthrough infections do occur, there are still no clear answers on how contagious they are. BBC: COVID-resistant people inspire new vaccine tactic Understanding how some people naturally resist the COVID-19 infection, despite clearly being exposed to the virus, could lead to better vaccines The Conversation: Nose sprays, needle-free patches, durable immunity: Towards the next generation of COVID vaccines Innovations in vaccine development not only eliminate needles but also improve immune durability. The New Yorker: Medicine’s wellness conundrum Patients want alternative therapies. How can hospitals offer them without putting medical integrity at risk? New Straits Times: Malaysia to continue integrating traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin affirmed T&CM’s role in healthcare and the commitment to integrate T&CM services into Malaysia’s health delivery system. Photo credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash Technology Networks: Cognition of malnourished children benefits from enhanced therapeutic foods Severely malnourished children who ate DHA-fortified food saw improvements in their gross and fine motor abilities, language proficiencies, and social skills – all related to brain health. EurekAlert: Dementia screening tool developed in Singapore goes global The Visual Cognitive Assessment Test (VCAT) developed by the National Neuroscience Institute uses images to overcome language limitations in typical dementia screening tests. Healthbytes 10 research-backed ways to improve gut health Source: Medical News Today Gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract. Find out how you can improve your gut health to enhance your physical and mental health, immunity, and more.