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 Five trends for healthcare in 2022 As the bell struck 12 midnight on 1 Jan 2022, we rang in a brand new year with hopes for new beginnings and possibilities. 2021 turned out to be yet another pandemic year. COVID-19 dominated news headlines as the world struggled through waves of COVID infections, vaccination drives, and finding treatments to end the pandemic. What lies ahead in 2022? How will we emerge on the other side? Aggregating the views of several opinion leaders, here are five healthcare trends to watch out for in the coming year: Democratising longevity – Longevity does not necessarily mean extending lifespans. Innovators are making strides in discovering practices and therapies that can improve healthspans, allowing regular people to live happier and healthier lives for as long as possible; Age of post-traumatic living – The pandemic has traumatised people to varying extents, causing many to experience anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. 2022 will see more work done to understand and address trauma. mRNA goes beyond COVID – With mRNA vaccines proven to be efficacious towards COVID-19, the technology is set to change medicine, leading to new treatments against infectious diseases, cancer and auto-immune conditions; Artificial Intelligence and digital care become mainstream – From drug discovery to data analytics and telemedicine, AI’s role and digital care solutions will continue to grow exponentially. Sustainability in the life sciences supply chain – A key source of the science industry’s carbon footprint comes from the pharmaceutical supply chain. More affirmative and collaboration-led sustainability actions are expected across the industry. With this, The HEAD Foundation would like to wish all our readers success, good health and a better 2022 ahead. Stay safe! Healthcare in the Spotlight BBC News: Israel plans to give fourth dose of vaccine to over-60s Israel’s Pandemic Expert Committee has recommended a fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for over-60s, medics and those with compromised immunity, at least four months after their third jab. The Atlantic: Fully vaccinated is about to mean something else The US CDC is about to change its definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ very soon. The New York Times: Omicron variant might help defend against Delta, lab study suggests In the lab, antibodies produced during an Omicron infection protected against Delta. If Omicron dominates in the real world, that could lead to a less dire future. The Straits Times: Traditional Chinese medicine has role to play in managing chronic conditions in Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung acknowledged the need to recognise that TCM is a complete set of medical knowledge and practice, and more will be done to support the sector. Nikkei Asia: China’s 10-year campaign to nourish rural school kids That one meal a day is often the reason hungry children go to school in the first place. Psychology Today: Trouble with behaviour in dementia? Try the ABCs In order to manage problem behaviours in dementia patients, you first need to understand the purpose behind them. Medical News Today: Climate change: Impact of rising temperatures on neurological disorders The study found that a rise in ambient temperature due to global warming may lead to worsened symptoms of neurological disorders and result in higher hospitalisation and mortality rates. ChannelNews Asia: ‘They are my friends’: In Malaysia, Wolbachia mosquitoes fight their dengue-carrying counterparts The Malaysian Health Ministry reported a 67% to 100% fall in dengue cases in 15 out of 17 localities where the Wolbachia method was implemented. Healthbytes 10 pieces of expert advice on aging well in 2022 Source: Forbes No matter what phase of life we are in, aging is something we all experience daily. Hear from Forbes Health Advisory Board members – what can you do to make your year ahead a happy, healthy and vibrant one?