Memory loss is a natural (albeit unwelcome) part of ageing that most of us dread.

Although Alzheimer's disease is more prevalent amongst women, new research suggests that it is men who are more likely to lose their memory in later life.

Scientists from the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, one of the premier research institutes in America, tested the memory and thinking skills of more than 2,000 people aged 70 to 89.

They found that men were more likely to suffer with mild cognitive impairment - which is associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease in later life - compared to their female counterparts.

Lead researcher Dr Ronald Petersen said: "This is the first study conducted among community-dwelling persons to find a higher prevalence of MCI in men.

"The finding that the frequency of mild cognitive impairment is greater in men was unexpected, since the frequency of Alzheimer's disease is actually greater in women. It warrants further study.

"If these results are confirmed in other studies, it may suggest that factors related to gender play a role in the disease.

"For example, men may experience cognitive decline earlier in life but more gradually whereas women may transition from normal memory directly to dementia at a later age but more quickly."

Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, described the research as an 'exciting' development in the hunt for a cure for Alzheimer's disease.

She said: "Increasing our understanding of mild cognitive impairment could help us unravel the many mysteries still surrounding Alzheimer's disease and move us closer to treatments and a cure.

"This exciting new research is a real development in this field and provides the first evidence that men could be more susceptible to MCI than women.

"However, it also poses many new questions about why.

"One in three people over 65 will die with dementia, yet dementia research remains drastically underfunded."

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Men who never make it to the gym because they're always too busy in the office are being warned to slow down, or risk a heart attack.

Working longer than a 45-hour week combined with a lack of exercise doubles a man's risk of developing heart disease, say researchers.

The advice? If you must work long hours, make some time for fitness.

A study of 5,000 Danish men aged between 40 and 59 found that those who were fit and active were better able to cope with working long hours compared to their couch potato counterparts.

Men who worked between 41 and 45 hours were almost 60 per cent more likely to die of heart disease than those working fewer hours. And unfit men were twice as likely to die as men working less than 40 hours.

Writing in the journal Heart, lead researcher Dr Andreas Holtermann said: "These findings suggest that men working long hours should be physically fit."

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Women's breasts can lose their shape after weight loss, pregnancy or as part of the natural ageing process. We look at the options for improving your breasts, from exercise to surgery, whether you want to increase or decrease your cup size...

If you can't be bothered to go to the gym blame your family, say researchers. The desire to exercise (or conversely to put your feet up) is inherited from your parents.

Scientists from the University of California say they have found a 'lazy gene' which explains why some people are naturally more active than others.

The researchers studied mice in the laboratory and found that those who had been bred to enjoy running produced offspring who were also more active.

Professor Theodore Garland Jr, a biologist and lead author, suggested that one day scientists may develop medication for the lazy, which would target the genes that specifically promote activity.

"We have a huge epidemic of obesity in Western society, and yet we have little understanding of what determines variation among individuals for voluntary exercise levels," he said.

"Down the road people could be treated pharmacologically for low activity levels through drugs that targeted specific genes that promote activity.

"Pharmacological interventions in the future could make it more pleasurable for people to engage in voluntary exercise.

"Such interventions could also make it less comfortable for people to sit still for long periods of time."

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People who don't brush their teeth aren't just risking their love life - they're also putting their heart at risk.

Doctors have known about the link between poor oral hygiene and the increased risk of heart disease for some time - and now scientists say they know exactly why not brushing can cause heart attacks.

Scientists from Bristol University and experts from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland say that a common bacteria responsible for causing tooth plaque and gum disease can entire the body via bleeding gums. Once in the bloodstream Streptococcus bacteria deposits a clot-forming protein, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

"When the platelets clump together they completely encase the bacteria. This provides a protective cover not only from the immune system, but also from antibiotics that might be used to treat infection," said lead researcher Professor Howard Jenkinson.

"Unfortunately, as well as helping out the bacteria, platelet clumping can cause small blood clots, growths on the heart valves, or inflammation of blood vessels that can block the blood supply to the heart and brain."

Professor Damian Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association welcomed the research, saying it made a valuable contribution to further understanding the link between gum disease and heart disease.

"It also underlines the high importance of brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, restricting your intake of sugary foods and drinks and visiting the dentist regularly in order to maintain good oral health," he said.

The British Heart Foundation warned that other lifestyle factors were more important to reducing the risk of heart disease, such as having a healthy diet, not smoking and taking plenty of exercise.

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You spend so long slimming into your bikini, that it's hard not to go wild when you're on holiday.

But if you're looking to avoid bringing back any extra luggage around your waist, health and fitness trainer Paddy Hawksworth has five tips to keep you in shape.

Stay hydrated
Hot, sunny, humid holidays are what we're all looking forward to when the plane takes off, but with heat and sunbathing comes dehydration! Stay hydrated while you're away by drinking plenty of water. For the perfect amount times your body weight in kilos by 0.033 to see how many litres you should be having. It keeps you looking healthy, and makes sure the digestive system is working at its best.

Beware the buffet
All the food you can eat... But make sure your eyes aren't bigger than your belly by using a smaller sized plate. It will stop you from pilling the food as high as you can, and make sure you feel full without being stuffed!

Pack some good intentions
If there is any room left in your bag next to the sun cream and toiletries, and you've got the energy after the night before, pack your running shoes. Make sure you go early in the day to avoid the heat. Or if running isn't your thing, put your swimming costume to good use and do a couple of lengths of the pool.

Chill out
Holidays are a time for relaxation and re-charging the batteries. Apart from the fact it makes the holiday no fun for anyone, any arguments make us stressed which causes the body to release stress hormone cortisol. And that can make the body retain weight.

Breakfast as you mean to go on
Start your day right with a bowl of fruit. Choices like melon, pineapple and mango not only have a low glycaemic index but they also stimulate certain digestive enzymes into working better. Try them with a little Greek yoghurt if you fancy. And eggs have been shown to help with hunger pangs and keep you feeling fuller for longer, so try a couple of poached eggs too.

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By the age of 35, almost 40% of men show some degree of hair loss. While many men are happy to go for a shaven-headed look, there are a number of treatments available which can prevent further loss and promote re-growth.

Have you ever suffered from headaches, coughs, colds or a lack of energy at the office? If so, your work environment could be to blame - it's what some experts call sick building syndrome (that's indoor air pollution caused by emissions from computers, photocopiers and other office equipment).

According to a report by the Plants4Life campaign 40% of the 180 million sick days taken by UK employees last year may be linked to air pollution at work. Scattering plants around the office could, however, reduce the symptoms of sick building syndrome-related illnesses by a quarter.

Just one plant for every two or three people is all you need to help keep workers healthier, say Plants4Life campaigners, who explain indoor plants may help reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses, as well as reduce stress, improve concentration, productivity and creativity, and generally make people happier.

But they're not just good for the office. Having a few plants at home may reduce dust by a fifth as well as cut down on airborne moulds and bacteria by up to 60%. Most importantly plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen (just a few plants in a room may reduce carbon dioxide levels by as much as 50%).

So which houseplants are best? According to Plants4Life all plants help reduce air pollution to some extent, with the bigger the leaf (or the more smaller leaves) a plant has, the more carbon dioxide it can absorb.

Certain plants, however, are thought to be particularly effective in removing chemicals such as tobacco smoke and paint fumes, including ivy, ficus, spider plant, palm, dragon tree and fern. If you prefer flowering plants a peace lily, potted chrysanthemum or an orchid will also do the trick.

Osteoporosis sufferers are being warned that long-term use of a drug used to treat fractures could double their risk of developing cancer of the oesophagus.

More than a million people with osteoporosis take oral bisphosphonates. Those who have taken the drug for five years or more are twice as likely to develop the cancer than those who have not, according to a study by Oxford University.

Nearly 8,000 people in Britain are diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus each year. Survival rates are low compared to other cancers, (about 7,500 people die from it each year) and only three in 10 survive more than 12 months after diagnosis.

The study of 3,000 people found that the incidence of oesophageal cancer is about one in 1,000 for people aged 60 to 79. However, that figure was double for people who have taken oral bisphosphonates for five years or more.

Although the risk is small, the researchers also found that people who had one or more previous prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates were 30% more likely to be diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, compared to those who had never taken the drugs.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Government's medicine's regulator, suggested there was "no need" for patients to stop taking the medication on the basis of the study alone.

However, experts believe that the findings, published in the British Medical Journal, may persuade many to stop taking the drugs.

Dr Jane Green, lead author of the study, said their results were "part of a wider picture" because bisphosphonates were "increasingly prescribed to prevent fractures".

She said: "what is lacking is reliable information on the benefits and risks of their use in the long-term."

But she added: "Oesophageal cancer is uncommon. The increased risks we found were in people who used oral bisphosphonates for about five years, and even if our results are confirmed, few people taking bisphosphonates are likely to develop oesophageal cancer as a result of taking these drugs."

Dr Laura Bell, from Cancer Research UK, also emphasised the risks were "still small".

"Anyone who is taking these drugs and is worried about their risk of cancer should talk to their doctor."

The National Osteoporosis Society said: "It is a case of balancing the reduced risk of fractures against the side effects of treatment.

"When you consider the fact that there are 230,000 osteoporotic fractures every year in the UK and 1,150 hip-fracture-related deaths every month, the case for treatment is strong."

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Gardeners are being warned about the risk of Legionnaire's disease after a pensioner was diagnosed as carrying Legionella longbeachae, a rare form of the bacteria, after being infected by compost through a cut to his hand.

The "previously fit and healthy" 67-year-old was admitted to intensive care following a serious eight-day fever, according to a report in The Lancet.

He has now fully recovered but doctors are warning gardeners of the risks and making medics aware of the signs so that cases can be quickly diagnosed.

Simon Patten, an intensive care consultant at the hospital, wrote in the medical journal: "When we questioned the patient to find out the source of this infection, we discovered that he was a keen gardener and had lacerated his left index finger two days before the onset of his symptoms, while planting with compost; we presumed that this cut was the site of entry of the organism."

The UK Royal Horticultural Society has issued warnings about the risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease from handling compost and has announced that bags of potting compost will carry cautionary statements.

Paul Alexander, principal horticultural scientist at the RHS, said: "Elderly gardeners and those with a suppressed immune system are most vulnerable."

Although the risk remains very low - in the UK, just nine cases have been reported since 1984 - there are things you can do.

Gardeners are advised to wear gloves when handling compost and to avoid opening a compost bag with their head right over it. They are also advised not to store compost in greenhouses, as the higher temperatures might encourage Legionella bacteria, and to wear dust masks when turning compost heaps.

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