Health

Scientists believe they have found a drug that could treat a rare disease that is often referred to as childhood Alzheimer's.  Results of a small clinical trial have shown promise to treat the neurogenerative condition that typically kills those afflicted before they turn 20.  The disease is called Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) and causes cholesterol build up in the neurons. That buildup causes enlarged organs, lung damage, muscle stiffness, seizures, dementia and difficulty speaking. In the trial, researchers have shown that a sugar molecule called cyclodextrin slows the diseases progression. Three young girls, Brynne (far left), Kendall (center left), and Marian (far right), all have the disease and are participating in other clinical trials for the drug.

As children, sisters Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyopova from Russia were burnt, starved, electrocuted and injected with radioactive substances. Yet despite sharing the same genetics and childhood, their personalities were very different. Masha was 'emotionally abusive' to her sister and forced her to get drunk, denied her a chance of love and refused to allow them to be separated. Yet when Masha died, Dasha wouldn't have the surgery and did not survive long.

Steven Wenger was left disabled after a car accident 26 years ago. His breathing tube while at a New York state group home was invaded twice by maggots. A state investigation found that neglect of care was the reason why the maggots invested his tube. No employee was fired for the infestation.

Lisa Vallo, 49, from Bradford, would fall asleep anywhere and moving left her gasping for breath. She first became 'fluey' after a bite from deer tick brought home by her cat in 2002 and begged nine doctors in total for help. She was told she had depression then ME - it took whole 14 years for a correct diagnosis after she persuading her GP to send a blood sample off to a private clinic in Germany. She has recovered after trying a holistic treatment from America,

Audra Tatum, her husband and her 10-year-old daughter were driving down a back road in Chickamauga, Georgia at 45 miles an hour in August 2015. The then-31-year-old was sitting in the passenger seat with her right leg crossed over her left, which she had a habit of doing despite her husband's protestations. Suddenly, a car pulled out in front of them. Audra's husband, Nick, smashed head-on into the driver's side of the other car. The impact of the crash was on Nick's side. But while he and their daughter survived with scratches and bruises, the air bag threw Audra's foot into her face, breaking her nose, ankle, and four parts of her femur. Today, she lives with two screws in her ankle, two in her hip, and two in her knee, and she cannot stand for more than four hours a day. Pictured: Audra in the car crash (left), in hospital (right), and more recently (inset).

British chef Anthony Warner has criticised clean eating gurus such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Ella Woodward and the Hemsley sisters. He questions the belief all processed foods are bad. He also hits out at trendy detoxes as unnecessary.

Whiter-looking teeth without resorting to expensive dental procedures? Sign us up. There's a catch though. Some toothpaste 'alternatives', touted on the Internet as effective stain removers, might not be quite as great as their sometimes famous fans would have us to believe. Charcoal toothpaste, oil-pulling and fruit peel rubs (stock images) are all doing the rounds right now as simpler ways to a whiter, brighter, bacteria free smile, but are they actually effective?

Mandy Ingber has been Jennifer Aniston's yoga teacher in LA for 15 years (pictured together, left, in 2013). Her style of yoga, Yogalosophy, aims to give clientele a more vigorous workout. But Mandy, the survivor of attempted rape and anorexia, explains self-love is the most important thing. Here she explains diet and health tips to feel your best all the time...

Health bosses had earlier refused to fund the operation for Oliver Cameron’s extremely rare heart condition as it is not available in the UK. But they have now changed their mind and agreed to meet the £150,000 cost. Six-month-old Oliver has cardiac fibroma, a large tumour in the heart. His is one of only three known cases in the UK and 200 around the world. His parents Lydia and Tim were told it was ‘near impossible’ that the NHS would pay for surgery abroad. Last night the couple, from Wantage, Oxfordshire, told of their relief at the U-turn. They wrote on social media: ‘It appears due to generous public support... and the persistent support of Oliver’s consultant that this change of decision has been confirmed.’

EXCLUSIVE: In recent years, evidence suggests side effects from the scandal-hit vaginal mesh surgery (inset) strikes up to 40 per cent of women. But currently, the NHS state only 1 to 3 per cent report side effects. Outraged women have consistently argued for UK health bodies to adopt a similar stance as thousands of British women have been left suicidal and unable to have sex as a result of the controversial procedure. These include a 41-year-old mother-of-five who had a vaginal mesh implant fitted for mild stress incontinence who now has to rush to the toilet because the procedure didn't work. Julie Gilsenan (left and right), from Liverpool, has been left with an overactive bladder that makes her desperate for the toilet.

Myra Ali (left), 29, from Solihull, West Midland, suffers from a genetic complaint known as epidermolysis bullosa – also called the 'butterfly condition' – where skin is so delicate it tears constantly. Although she has had surgery to correct her 'mittens', her constantly blistering skin means scar tissue continues to form, fusing her fingers (right). Determined to lead a normal life, Ms Ali makes an effort to look feminine every day (inset).

Josh Butler (left), of Nashville, Tennessee, competed in the Daytona Beach finals on Monday. While the dad, who works as a bus driver for a non-profit, stopped short of completing the obstacle race, his participation came as an emotional moment for his family. His wife Katie and their two-year-old son Braxtel (right) watched and encouraged him from the side, with little Braxtel communicating with his father in sign language from a distance. Katie and Josh fostered and adopted Braxtel, who is now two years old, after losing their firstborn Dewey (inset) to a rare genetic disorder in 2015.

Lucy Mountain, aka The Fitness Fashion Foodie, has a 'no BS' approach to life. The 25-year-old, from London, educates 65,000 followers about portion sizes and how to eat what you want in a healthy way. Her motto is 'everything in moderation' and she shows how to live a balanced life. Her photos reveal that many 'healthy' treats are as calorific as 'naughty' ones, including (clockwise from top left) crisps and vegetable crisps; almonds and Fruit Pastilles; Belvita breakfast biscuits and McVitie's Digestives; and Green&Black;'s chocolate and Free-From chocolate.

Grabbing a snack from the corner shop is never going to be the healthiest option, but it’s still possible to hunt down something that will provide a decent amount of nutrients. ‘Some of the better options you’ll find include a bag of (preferably unsalted) peanuts, or an egg, chicken or tuna sandwich,’ says registered dietitian Helen Bond. But there are some surprising saviours to be found too — from milkshakes to instant noodles. Here ANGELA DOWDEN provides a guide to picking the best of a bad bunch . . .

Researchers from the University of Illinois found 46 percent of women feel self-conscious and depressed when seeing celebrities recover their pre-baby physique. The researchers believe high-profile mothers including Halle Berry, Abbey Clancy, Alex Gerrard and Kate Middleton (pictured) set unrealistic expectations for 'real women' and do not account for the stress of caring for a baby.

Samantha Brand, 40, from Sydney, was left infertile after battling late stage three ovarian cancer in her twenties. But with the help of her younger sisters, Rachel, 36, and Nikkita, 24, she and her husband Ben were able to start the family they'd always wanted. The couple welcomed baby girl Starla in October after Rachel offered to be a surrogate and Nikkita donated an egg. 'They are her special aunties. They are great role models... Starla is lucky to have them and so am I,' Sam said.

Making sure children eat their recommended intake of fresh vegetables is a battle most families face every day. But now, thanks to science, there a proven way to get kids to eat their greens - and it couldn't be simpler. Findings from a new Australian study showed children will eat vegetables without too much fuss, but it all comes down to the way they're served (stock images)

Favoured by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow for its rapid results, the Ketogenic Diet has been making headlines non-stop over the past 12 months. The low carbohydrate, high fat program sees participants eat moderate protein and receive the majority of their energy intake from fat. But does it really work? The Dietitians Association of Australia recently weighed in on the controversial diet and revealed the three things people need to consider before jumping on board the Keto bandwagon.

Natasha Bevilacqua, 24, from Victoria, had always hated vegetables until she found a programme which helped her to overhaul her attitude (pictured left, before and right, after). One year down the track, Ms Bevilacqua is just over ten kilos lighter (right). Not only this, but she has completely shifted her attitude and taken control of her cravings. The 24-year-old shared her story with FEMAIL.

May 17, 2011, should have been the happiest day of Michelle Hemmington’s life. Nine days after the due date, her baby had decided to make an appearance. When Michelle then 33, was admitted to Northampton General Hospital shortly after 9am, accompanied by her partner Paul Buckley, a teacher, and her twin sister Donna, mother and child seemed set for a normal labour. But by 11.46 that evening, 33 desperate minutes after he was born, Louie Hemmington Buckley (inset) had been declared dead, the 7lb 7oz victim of a shocking catalogue of incompetence and technical failures that starved him of oxygen. (pictured left and right: Michelle with her partner Paul and children Kitty, one and five-year-old Lulah),

Sheriff Robert Leahy (pictured left) filed for divorce from his wife in 2005 after she relapsed on heroin, At the time, the opioid epidemic was in its early stages, with addiction having yet to truly ravage rural America. When Leahy's wife, Gretchen (pictured center with her arms around Leahy and their son) walked through their front door around 10pm that day, clearly high on the drug, he said that was the breaking point.

The Mail On Sunday speaks to four experts who discuss the new developments every patient should be aware of and the treatments that really do make a difference. They include more accurate screening, less invasive diagnosis techniques, robotic surgery and targeted drugs. Pictured is a graphic explaining how the da Vinci Xi surgical robot, which is used to perform robotic prostatectomies at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, works.