A rise in obesity rates was identified as a key factor behind an increase in the number of people with a rare disorder that starts as a debilitating headache but can lead to blindness.
Pseudotumor cerebri, sometimes called idiopathic intracranial hypertension, is a disorder related to high pressure in the brain.
The Latin name means "false brain tumour" because of the similarity in symptoms.
It causes severe headaches that can lead to serious complications if left untreated, including a progressive and permanent loss of vision.
One of the most important ways to treat this condition is weight loss
In a study published in January this year, researchers in Wales analysed data from 2003 to 2017 and found that pseudotumor cerebri cases increased six-fold over the course of their study.
The report said the rising numbers corresponded with a similar increase in obesity. Researchers also found that the condition was more prevalent among women.
“One of the most important ways to treat this condition is weight loss,” said Dr Sumayya Al Marzouqi, consultant ophthalmologist at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi.
“It is not an actual tumour but has the same presentation, which is headache, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision.
“Pseudotumor cerebri is more common in young adults, particularly obese women from the age of 20 to 40. It does occur in children but, with prepubescent children, obesity is not a factor.
“However, once they hit puberty then it becomes a factor and is generally more common in females."
While there is no data in the UAE to show the number of pseudotumor cerebri cases, Dr Al Marzouqi said she noticed a significant increase in recent years.
"I see five to six new cases per week. The numbers are high because obesity rates are high," she said.
"The numbers keep increasing. I started with two cases per week six years ago."
Patients normally go to an ophthalmologist, who later refers them to a neurologist.
Dr Al Marzouqi emphasised the importance of patients losing weight and seeking medical help immediately.
"Again, obesity is a major factor. Losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is critical," she said.
Genetics are not a factor, she said, and the reason why young adults develop pseudotumor cerebri remains unknown.
There is a theory that when a person is obese, their abdomen puts pressure on the veins, which increases the overall pressure until it reaches the brain, she said.
“The brain is important for CSF [cerebrospinal fluid] production and in these cases it produces more CSF, which increases the pressure,” Dr Al Marzouqi said.
In 2017, the UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study of more than 3,000 non-citizens found that 43 per cent were overweight.
A year later, a UAE national health survey showed the adult prevalence of obesity to be at 27.8 per cent. The rate was 17.35 per cent in children aged between 5 and 17.
While the number of people with this disease is increasing, so too is awareness.
“Previously there was little awareness, but gradually more and more know about it,” Dr Al Marzouqi said.
Emirati Um Ali, 46, started losing her eyesight in January. She could not see clearly, had double vision, a constant headache, dizziness and ringing in her ears.
The mother of four was admitted to SSMC. At the time, she weighed 85 kilograms.
"I had never heard of this disease before. It was a nightmare. I couldn't take care of my children or move at one point," she said.
Her symptoms started to subside only after she lost weight and took medication.
"I've lost more than five kilograms and have already improved. I am gradually losing more," she said.
Secondary school pupil Saeed Al Rashdi is of average weight. His symptoms started with a high-grade fever and an odd whooshing sound in his ears.
The 17-year-old also experienced blackouts whenever he bent over.
In 2018, he went to a private hospital to discuss the problem with an ear, nose and throat specialist and an ophthalmologist. His symptoms only recently improved after visiting SSMC.
“I got better after taking the prescribed medication. The difference I felt is like day and night,” he said.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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Dubai World Cup draw
1. Gunnevera
2. Capezzano
3. North America
4. Audible
5. Seeking The Soul
6. Pavel
7. Gronkowski
8. Axelrod
9. New Trails
10. Yoshida
11. K T Brave
12. Thunder Snow
13. Dolkong
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers
Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.
It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.
The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.
Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.
Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.
He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.
AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”
A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.
Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.
Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.
Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.
By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.
Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.
In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”
Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.
She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.
Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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