How your favourite tipple could help keep you supple: Enjoying the occasional alcoholic drink may improve fitness levels in middle and old age

• Study shows teetotallers have difficulty carrying out everyday movements
• Those who have a drink up to four times a week had least trouble moving
• Experts hail the research for celebrating diet of moderation not fasting

Enjoying the occasional glass of wine could help keep you physically fit in middle and old age, according to a study.

Surprisingly the findings appeared to show being teetotal had the reverse effect, with abstainers more likely to have difficulty carrying out everyday movements such as walking and getting dressed. Researchers from University College London looked at the drinking habits and physical ability of nearly 30,000 men and women aged between 45 and 69.

Those who enjoyed a tipple up to four times a week were found to be the most supple and had the least trouble walking, eating, dressing and reaching. The worst physical condition of all was seen among those who didn’t drink. 

Even when former alcoholics – who were more likely to be in poorer physical condition – were removed from the figures, teetotallers were 27 per cent more likely to experience problems than those who drank regularly. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2726401/How-favourite-tipple-help-supple-Enjoying-occasional-alcoholic-drink-improve-fitness-levels-middle-old-age.html

Chemotherapy will be 'obsolete in 20 years time' thanks to genetic revolution which will allow personalised treatment for cancer patients

• Landmark project to study about 75,000 cancer patients over next four years
• DNA of healthy and tumour cells will be mapped to help transform treatment
• Prime Minister said it will make Britain the world leader in genetic research
• Chemotherapy could be obsolete for treating a range of cancers in 20 years

Drugs that target cancer without harming healthy cells and triggering distressing side effects could be a reality in 20 years, claim British scientists.

A landmark project to map 100,000 complete DNA code sequences is set to transform treatment of cancer and rare diseases, meaning chemotherapy could be obsolete within a generation.

David Cameron said it will make Britain the world leader in genetic research as he announced a package of deals worth £300million to carry out the work, expected to be completed by 2017.

Over the next four years, about 75,000 patients with cancer and rare diseases, plus their close relatives, will have their whole genetic codes, or genomes, sequenced. Cancer patients will have the DNA of both healthy and tumour cells mapped, making up the 100,000 total. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2712781/David-Cameron-hails-gene-revolution-make-chemotherapy-obsolete-20-years.html