A new study from Texas A&M University is investigating the health impacts of living in a neighborhood designed around a working farm, known as an “agrihood.” The research, led by Jay Maddock, a professor in the School of Public Health, aims to assess how residents of the Indigo community in Fort Bend County change their lifestyle, diet, and overall health after moving in.

The study will follow a cohort of residents at Indigo, a master-planned community that spans 235 acres, with 42 acres allocated for agricultural use, including crop fields and livestock pastures. Residents are set to begin moving in by the end of March 2024. The design of the neighborhood emphasizes walkability, featuring over half of its land dedicated to car-free green spaces, promoting outdoor activities.

Maddock, who has researched the benefits of green spaces on mental health and the role of natural elements in hospital recovery, notes that the Indigo development offers a unique opportunity to gather comprehensive data on residents before and after their transition to an agrihood. He stated, “The developers took everything we know about what makes a healthy community and incorporated it into this design. It allows us to see if living in this type of community actually changes behavior.”

Agrihoods typically center around a farm or garden and include shared green spaces, walking trails, and community centers. With around 100 such communities in various stages of planning worldwide, Maddock emphasizes the novelty of this concept and the lack of scientific literature on its health benefits.

The study will recruit a total of 350 participants, with 175 residents from Indigo and an equal number from a comparison community located approximately 20 miles away. While the comparison neighborhood shares similar demographics, it lacks the agricultural features of an agrihood. Participants will undergo a detailed survey about their lifestyle prior to moving in, establishing a baseline for their health metrics.

Maddock elaborated on the primary focus of the study: “We’re particularly interested in changes in physical activity and nutrition. We’re also measuring biomarkers such as blood pressure and cholesterol.” A mobile health assessment clinic will visit both communities to collect data on residents’ height, weight, and other health indicators.

The research team will utilize a “Veggie Meter,” a non-invasive device that scans a person’s finger to estimate their fruit and vegetable consumption based on carotenoid levels in the skin. To monitor physical activity, participants will wear accelerometers.

According to Maddock, many prospective residents of Indigo expressed their desire to live close to a working farm. The study also aims to assess social connectedness among residents. “It appears that people connect more with each other and with the farm, but so far, this is anecdotal evidence,” he commented. “This is a first-of-its-kind exploration.”

Maddock sees agrihoods as a promising model for urban development, especially as many people are increasingly disconnected from their food sources. “Forty percent of Americans have never met a farmer,” he noted. “Agrihoods can help bridge that gap by bringing farming back to urban communities and enhancing health through better food access.”

In addition to health metrics, the study will conduct focus groups to understand community engagement with the agricultural aspects of Indigo. This will inform the design of future agrihoods by identifying which features residents utilize and how to enhance their integration into farming life.

The 13-month study is co-led by Lexi MacMillan Uribe from AgriLife Research and Renee Umstattd Meyer from Baylor University, alongside a multidisciplinary team of co-investigators. Support for the research comes from the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture under agreement number 58-3091-1-018.

A new study from King’s College London reveals that the stigma associated with alopecia causes more distress than the condition itself. Published in the British Journal of Dermatology, the research highlights how negative perceptions significantly affect the quality of life for those living with alopecia areata. This groundbreaking study surveyed 596 adults and discovered that over 80% experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression linked to societal stigma rather than the physical aspects of the disease.

The study, backed by a grant from Pfizer, indicates that more than 50% of participants felt embarrassed about their condition. Furthermore, over one-third reported that alopecia interfered with their daily activities, including work, study, and family relationships. The findings suggest that individuals who hold more positive perceptions of their condition exhibit lower levels of anxiety.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that leads to hair loss in various forms, including patchy baldness and, in severe cases, total hair loss. The condition is estimated to affect over 2% of the UK population at some point in their lives. Despite this prevalence, the authors of the study argue that alopecia is frequently dismissed as a cosmetic issue rather than a serious medical condition.

Dr. Christos Tziotzios, the lead author and consultant dermatologist at St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, emphasized the importance of understanding the mental health challenges faced by individuals with alopecia. “Alopecia can significantly affect an individual’s quality of life, impacting not only their physical appearance but also their self-esteem and overall mental well-being,” he said.

The study aims to encourage healthcare professionals to address the psychological aspects of alopecia during routine check-ups. By recognizing the stigma and its effects, medical practitioners can offer targeted interventions to help patients cope better with their condition.

New Research Initiative: Alopecia+us Study

The research team is now launching the global Alopecia+us study, funded by the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PEDRA) and supported by King’s Health Partners. This new initiative will focus on understanding the impact of alopecia on adolescents and their families. Dr. Tziotzios expressed hope for broad participation, stating, “By identifying the underlying causes of poor mental health in individuals with alopecia, we can provide earlier and more targeted support.”

One participant, Dr. Lorna Pender, a former NHS doctor from York, shared her personal experience with alopecia. Diagnosed at the age of eight, she described feeling “very shy, socially withdrawn,” and developed a strong dislike for her appearance. As her condition progressed through her teenage years, Dr. Pender faced severe mental health challenges, which led to social withdrawal and disorders such as agoraphobia.

Dr. Pender recounted her struggles to find adequate support after losing all her hair in 2019. “I spent four years trying to navigate to an alopecia expert in the NHS who would entertain having a high-level scientific consultation with me,” she explained. Her experience reflects a broader issue within the NHS regarding the lack of psychological support for those affected by alopecia. She pointed out the necessity of incorporating mental health support into standard care practices for individuals with this condition.

Dr. Pender’s story underscores the critical need for awareness and change in the way alopecia is perceived and treated within healthcare systems. “If I, a medical doctor, struggled to access alopecia expertise, how must the entire alopecia community cope without adequate support?” she questioned.

The findings of this study and the ongoing research aim to drive a paradigm shift in dermatological care, focusing on the holistic needs of patients with alopecia. As Dr. Tziotzios noted, “This research is vital for improving the lives of those living with the psychological impacts of alopecia.” The new findings could lead to significant changes in how healthcare providers approach the condition, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for many individuals affected by alopecia areata.

More than 14 million children around the world did not receive a single vaccine in 2024, according to a concerning report from the United Nations. This figure aligns closely with the previous year’s statistics, indicating a troubling stagnation in global vaccination efforts. The report highlights that nine countries are responsible for over half of these unvaccinated children, which raises significant public health concerns.

In their annual evaluation of global vaccine coverage, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF noted that approximately 89 percent of children under one year old received the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (DTP) vaccine in 2024, mirroring the coverage from 2023. While the completion rate for the three-dose series increased slightly to 85 percent, officials warned that a decline in international aid could jeopardize this progress.

Policy shifts in the United States have exacerbated the situation. In January, former President Donald Trump withdrew the country from the WHO and froze nearly all humanitarian aid. Recently, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced substantial cuts to funding for Gavi, the vaccine alliance, claiming the organization had “ignored the science.” Kennedy, known for his skepticism towards vaccines, has questioned the safety of the DTP vaccine, despite its established safety and efficacy.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated, “Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress.” UN experts emphasized the severe inequality in vaccine access, particularly in regions affected by conflict and humanitarian crises.

Countries such as Nigeria, India, Sudan, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Angola account for 52 percent of the total unvaccinated children. Sudan reported the lowest DTP coverage, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions in these regions.

While global measles vaccination coverage saw a slight rise, with 76 percent of children receiving both doses, experts argue that achieving 95 percent coverage is crucial to prevent outbreaks of this highly contagious disease. The WHO reported that 60 countries experienced significant measles outbreaks last year.

The United States is currently facing its most severe measles outbreak in over three decades, while Europe reported 125,000 cases in 2024, double the previous year’s figures. In the UK, health authorities recently confirmed the death of a child from measles in a Liverpool hospital. Despite ongoing awareness campaigns, only about 84 percent of children in the UK are fully vaccinated.

Helen Bradford, a professor of children’s health at University College London, expressed her concern, stating, “It is hugely concerning, but not at all surprising, that we are continuing to see outbreaks of measles. The only way to stop measles spreading is with vaccination. It is never too late to be vaccinated — even as an adult.”

Vaccines are crucial in preventing an estimated 3.5 million to 5 million deaths annually. The current vaccination landscape underscores the need for renewed commitment to equitable healthcare access and the importance of maintaining global vaccine initiatives.

A child in Liverpool has died after contracting measles, prompting urgent calls for increased vaccination efforts across the UK. This tragic incident follows a warning from health officials about a significant rise in confirmed measles cases nationwide. Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized that this death highlights the necessity for the country to “redouble its efforts” to ensure that more children receive vaccinations.

According to the UK Health Security Agency, there have been 529 laboratory-confirmed measles cases reported in England since the start of 2024. The situation is concerning, as the World Health Organization (WHO) states that achieving herd immunity requires at least 95 percent of children to be vaccinated against the disease. Current figures reveal that the UK has the lowest vaccination rates for measles among G7 countries, with only 89 percent of children receiving their first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine this year. In contrast, nations like Germany, France, the United States, and Canada boast rates of 96 percent, 95 percent, and 92 percent, respectively.

Understanding Measles Symptoms and Risks

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that poses severe health risks, particularly to young children who have not been vaccinated. Symptoms typically manifest between 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Initial signs include fever, cough, runny nose, and sore throat, lasting 4 to 7 days. One notable symptom is the appearance of Koplik’s spots—tiny white spots inside the mouth—followed by a distinctive blotchy red-brown rash that usually begins on the head or upper neck before spreading across the body.

If left untreated, measles can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. The disease is transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, making it easy to contract measles by inhaling these droplets or touching contaminated surfaces.

Individuals with measles remain contagious from the onset of symptoms until approximately four days after the rash appears, underscoring the importance of vaccination to prevent outbreaks.

Vaccination and Preventive Measures

The most effective way to prevent measles is through the MMR vaccine. In the UK, the first dose is administered at 13 months of age, with a second dose offered at three years and four months. Adults and older children who have not been fully vaccinated can receive the MMR vaccine at any age. For more detailed information about vaccination, the NHS recommends consulting with a general practitioner.

In light of the rising cases, the NHS urges parents to ensure their children are up to date with their vaccinations. They can find additional resources about the risks associated with unvaccinated children through the NHS website.

If a child does contract measles, several steps can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Over-the-counter medications may alleviate fever and discomfort. In severe cases, particularly if complications arise, hospitalization may be necessary for proper treatment.

This recent case in Liverpool highlights the urgent need for public health initiatives aimed at increasing vaccination rates to protect children and prevent further fatalities. For more information on measles symptoms and vaccination, visit the NHS website.