WEIRD STUFF

Your dog could be autistic

An animal scientist Dr Jacqueline Boyd says there is growing evidence that indicates dogs can have the same kinds of brain differences seen in humans with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Boyd, who works at Nottingham Trent University, explained: "Some dogs might be very much like the neurotypical human, whereas other dogs might be more neurodivergent and be more like someone with autism or ADHD."

At present, vets lump these behaviours under the catch-all label Canine Dysfunctional Behaviour (CDB), because diagnosing a human condition in an animal that can't speak "is a really difficult thing," Boyd admitted.

However, she said research is now forcing scientists to take seriously the idea that animals "experience the world differently because of diversity in how their brains function".

Key behaviours that could indicate your dog is on the spectrum include poor impulse control, hypervigilance, and hyperfocus.

In humans, ADHD is linked to imbalances in serotonin and dopamine, and studies show impulsive dogs often have the same neurotransmitter issues.

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Microplastics could be fuelling heart disease

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside found that everyday exposure to microplastics can accelerate the development of atherosclerosis - the dangerous narrowing of arteries linked to heart attacks and strokes.

Even more startling, the effect appeared only in males.

Lead researcher, Professor Changcheng Zhou, wrote in Environment International: " Our findings fit into a broader pattern seen in cardiovascular research, where males and females often respond differently."

He added that while the mechanism isn't yet clear, factors such as sex chromosomes and hormones, "particularly the protective effects of oestrogen", may explain why females were seemingly shielded.

For the study, scientists gave male and female mice daily doses of microplastics for nine weeks - an amount reflecting real-world exposure levels found in food and water.

All mice were kept lean on a low-fat diet to rule out typical risk factors like obesity or high cholesterol.

What happened next shocked the team, as male mice developed 63 per cent more plaque in the aortic root and a staggering 624 per cent more plaque in a major artery branching from the heart, while the females showed no such damage.

Zhou admitted avoiding microplastics entirely is "nearly impossible", but reducing exposure - such as by ditching single-use plastics or limiting processed foods - may help.

More urgently, he warned that microplastic pollution is rising, and so are potential health risks.