It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Tuesday, October 07, 2025
ECU research debunks link between calcium supplements and dementia
New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU), Curtin University and the University of Western Australia has found no evidence that calcium monotherapy increases the long-term risk for dementia, helping to dispel previous concerns about its potential negative effects on brain health in older women.
This study, which leveraged outcomes from prior research that provided calcium supplements or a placebo to 1,460 older women over a five-year period, found that the supplement did not increase the long-term risk of dementia.
“Calcium supplements are often recommended to prevent or manage osteoporosis,” said ECU PhD student Ms Negar Ghasemifard.
Around 20 per cent of women over the age of 70 are affected by osteoporosis and calcium supplementation is widely recommended as a preventative measure against fracture.
“Previous research has raised concerns around the impacts that calcium supplements could have on cognitive health, particularly dementia. Results from our study provides reassurance to patients and clinicians regarding the safety of calcium supplements in the context of dementia risk for older women,” Ms Ghasemifard said.
ECU Senior Research Fellow Dr Marc Sim noted that when the analysis was adjusted for supplement compliance, a range of lifestyle factors, including dietary calcium intake and genetic risk, the results remained unchanged.
“Previous research suggesting potential links between calcium supplement use and the risk for dementia was purely observational in nature. Our research, in comparison, consisted of a post-hoc analysis from a 5-year double-blind, placebo controlled randomised clinical trial on calcium supplements to prevent fracture. Whilst our study is still epidemiology, its design does reduce the likelihood of unmeasured confounding”
“Some 730 older women were given calcium supplements over five years, and a further 730 were given placebo. This study design offers more accurate data on dosage and duration, and we had a long follow-up period of 14.5 years, which strengthens our results,” Dr Sim said.
While these findings may alleviate concerns regarding calcium supplementation and all-cause dementia risk in older women, particularly after the age of 80 years, Professor Simon Laws, Director of ECU’s Centre for Precision Health, said further research was required.
“Whether this extrapolates to other demographics, such as men or even women commencing supplementation earlier in life, remains unknown. To confirm the current findings, particularly regarding brain health, and to address these population gaps, future clinical trials of calcium supplements, with or without vitamin D, would need to be undertaken. These should include specific and robust assessments of brain health as the primary outcome measures.”
Professor Blossom Stephan, a Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor said the research highlighted a very important finding that provides reassurance to clinicians and patients about the long-term safety of calcium supplementation.
“Given calcium's critical role in multiple physiological functions, including bone health, these results provide reassurance that long-term calcium supplementation did not increase dementia risk in older women,” she said.
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Media contact: Esmarie Iannucci, Media Advisor, 0405 774 465
Calcium supplementation and the risk of dementia in the Perth Longitudinal Study of Aging Women: a post-hoc analysis of a randomised clinical trial for fracture prevention
Article Publication Date
6-Oct-2025
METAL ALCHEMY
Cracking the Secret of Kanazawa Gold Leaf’s Brilliant Texture
A photo of Kanazawa gold leaf, one of the world’s thinnest metallic foils, achieves its brilliance and durability through a unique crystal arrangement. The transmission electron microscopy image provides evidence of activation in the non-octahedral {110}– <110> slip system.
Ishikawa, Japan -- Kanazawa gold leaf is a traditional Japanese material known for its remarkable thinness, just 100 nanometers—about 1/1,000 the diameter of a human hair—and its brilliant shine. Made using the entsuke technique, a manual process of packing and hammering at room temperature, this ultra-thin foil is commonly used to decorate temples, shrines, crafts, and historical objects. While the skill of Kanazawa artisans has gained global recognition, including UNESCO’s designation as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020, the scientific reason behind its unique thinness has remained unclear.
Now, researchers from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), led by Professor Yoshifumi Oshima, in collaboration with Doctoral Course Student Yuanzhe Xu; Senior Lecturer Kohei Aso; Prof. Hideyuki Murata at JAIST; and Specially Appointed Professor (Full Time) Satoshi Ichikawa at the University of Osaka, have uncovered the deformation processes that give Kanazawa gold leaf its special qualities. Using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), this study, published on September 26, 2025, in npj Heritage Science, found that during the intense hammering process, the gold crystals go through an unusual change. Instead of recrystallizing, the material uses non-octahedral slip systems, specifically the {110}– < 110> slip system, which are usually inactive in gold.
This crystal behavior shifts hammering stress into the [001] direction, creating the characteristic cube texture that provides the leaf with its brilliance and durability. “Understanding how ultrathin films such as Kanazawa gold leaf can be fabricated via the pack and hammer method at room temperature while maintaining a {001} texture is of both scientific and practical significance,” explained Prof. Oshima.
The study compared two types of Kanazawa gold leaf. Zumi foil has a thickness of about 1 micrometer, while the more refined No. 4 Kanazawa gold leaf is only 0.1 micrometers thick. These samples represent different stages of the traditional entsuke hammering process. To reveal the structural changes that occur during fabrication, researchers used imaging techniques, including EBSD and TEM.
The results showed clear differences between the two materials. In the Zumi foil, the crystal texture was mixed, featuring many orientations and a high density of dislocations, which are tiny structural irregularities in the crystal lattice. In contrast, the No. 4 gold leaf had a well-ordered structure with a dominant {001} cube texture over large areas. This texture developed even though the hammering took place at room temperature and lacked the usual recrystallization process that typically helps with crystal alignment. The TEM images provided more insights, offering direct evidence of slip bands, which are narrow areas where many dislocations align together.
The study confirmed the activation of the {110}– < 110> slip system, a deformation mechanism rarely seen in gold. This was surprising because such mechanisms usually activate only under high temperatures or during processes like rolling, which apply stresses differently. The fact that traditional artisans achieve this effect through hand hammering at room temperature underscores the precision of the entsuke technique.
These findings matter beyond the cultural significance of Kanazawa gold leaf. By explaining how the leaf’s unique brilliance and durability develop, the research offers a scientific basis for the sustainable preservation of traditional crafts. Artisans who carry on the centuries-old tradition of gold leaf making can now work with a better grasp of the physical principles behind their craft. This knowledge helps ensure that cultural treasures, including temples, shrines, and historical artworks adorned with Kanazawa gold leaf, can be preserved and restored with confidence in the material’s performance. The study also links traditional craftsmanship with modern science and technology. The deformation mechanisms discovered may inspire the design of ultrathin metallic films with specific properties. These films could find applications in electronics, sensors, decorative coatings, and nanotechnology, where precise control of crystal orientation is crucial for performance and stability.
Looking ahead, these insights could guide the development of high-performance nanomaterials that combine extreme thinness with special optical, mechanical, and electronic properties. This might lead to innovations in flexible devices, sustainable decorative materials, and consumer electronics. As Prof. Oshima states, “Our study enables the development of high-performance nanomaterials with unique optical, mechanical, and electronic properties, driving innovations in consumer electronics, flexible devices, and sustainable decorative materials, and fostering cross-disciplinary breakthroughs inspired by traditional craftsmanship.”
This work shows how traditional Kanazawa gold leaf techniques can inspire modern materials science, ensuring their brilliance continues to influence future generations.
About Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Founded in 1990 in Ishikawa prefecture, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) was the first independent national graduate university that has its own campus in Japan. Now, after 30 years of steady progress, JAIST has become one of Japan’s top-ranking universities. JAIST strives to foster capable leaders with a state-of-the-art education system where diversity is key; about 40% of its alumni are international students. The university has a unique style of graduate education based on a carefully designed coursework-oriented curriculum to ensure that its students have a solid foundation on which to carry out cutting-edge research. JAIST also works closely both with local and overseas communities by promoting industry–academia collaborative research.
About Professor Yoshifumi Oshima from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Professor Yoshifumi Oshima is a faculty member at the Nanomaterials and Devices Research Area, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. His research spans crystallography, electron microscopy, and nanomaterials, with a focus on ultrathin metallic films and their deformation mechanisms. He has published extensively in materials science journals and leads projects integrating traditional craftsmanship with advanced nanotechnology to support both cultural heritage preservation and modern innovation.
Funding information
The work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant No. 23H00255), Advanced Research Infrastructure for Materials and Nanotechnology in Japan (ARIM) by MEXT (JPMXP1224OS0018), and the Electron Microscopy Group of NIMS Open Facility (23NM8160).
A unique collaboration, the Elsevier Foundation and RIKEN, Japan’s premier research institute, have released “Envisioning Futures: Women’s Leadership and Gender Equity in Japanese Research,” a comprehensive report that shines a spotlight on the journeys, achievements and challenges faced by women research leaders in Japan. The report blends data-driven analysis with compelling personal narratives, offering a timely roadmap for institutional change and a call to action for the advancement of women in science and innovation.
The report shows that despite Japan’s global reputation for technological innovation, the country continues to grapple with persistent gender disparities in its research community. In a bid to help create a more inclusive and dynamic research ecosystem, “Envisioning Futures” tells stories that are not only testament to the resilience and ingenuity of pioneering women scientists but also serve as beacons of hope. By amplifying women’s voices and recognizing their indispensable contributions, this initiative aims to inspire future generations to break barriers and reimagine what is possible for Japanese science and society. Key highlights:
Significant gender gap: As of March 31, 2024, women make up 22% of active researchers in– well below the global average of 41%.[1]
Leadership Disparity: Women hold an even smaller share of senior positions, with only 16% of scientific publication authorships and 17% of patent applications by women, underscoring a stark underrepresentation at the highest levels[2].
Nonlinear Pathways: Many women research leaders have advanced through flexible, opportunity-driven careers, reframing interruptions as sources of resilience and growth.
People-centered leadership: Interviewees describe fostering lab cultures built on empowerment, collaboration and psychological safety – creating “communities of belonging”.
Mentorship and networks: Access to mentorship and professional networks emerges as a vital driver of career progression and confidence-building for women in research.
Cultural barriers: Persistent challenges include unconscious bias, unequal evaluation, cultural norms and limited institutional support for work-life balance.
Progress and gaps: Japan’s ambitious government targets for women’s participation and leadership remain challenging, with incremental progress highlighting the need for continued vigilance and sustained action.
Rethinking success metrics: Advocacy to broaden assessment criteria beyond publication metrics and patents to include societal impact, interdisciplinarity, mentorship and science communication ensuring that diverse contributions are valued.
“The journeys of these pioneering women research leaders remind us that true progress in science depends on inclusion, resilience and collective action. By embracing diverse career paths and recognizing a broader range of achievements, we can build a research ecosystem where all voices are heard and innovation flourishes,” said Dr. Yuko Harayama, Secretary General, Global Partnership on AI (GPAI); Former Executive Director, International Affairs, RIKEN and Former Member, The Elsevier Foundation Board.
“We are proud to partner with RIKEN on ‘Envisioning Futures’. By uniting the powerful stories of Japan’s women research leaders with national data, this report offers both insight and inspiration for change. RIKEN’s leadership and commitment to open dialogue are helping to shape a more inclusive future for Japanese science. Together, we are amplifying women’s voices and paving the way for the next generation of researchers to thrive,” added Ylann Schemm, Executive Director of The Elsevier Foundation.
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Notes to Editors:
Read the “Envisioning Futures” report, including profiles of female senior leaders and discover actionable recommendations for advancing gender equity in Japanese research.
For additional materials:
Progress Toward Gender Equality in Research & Innovation – 2024, focus on Japan. This is an abridged version of the original report. Available in English and in Japanese.
“RIKEN Female PI Oral History Project: The Path to PI” website, with transcripts of the interviews in English and in Japanese. This page also includes short interview excerpts, available in Japanese with English subtitles.
Additional quotes from RIKEN PIs:
Collaborative research cannot be successful if only one party enjoys the benefits. There has to be proper give and take.” Dr. Reiko Mazuka
I come from an era where being treated as if I didn’t exist was normal. Become a PI was telling me not only ‘You’re here’, but ‘It’s okay for you to be here’.” Dr. Yoshie Otake
Diversity reduces the incidence of various difficulties by making it possible for people to exchange information and possible solutions freely and not have to feel isolated when they run into a problem.” Dr. Yukiko Goda
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About The Elsevier Foundation
The Elsevier Foundation contributes over $1 million a year to non-profit organizations through inclusive research and health partnerships which incubate new approaches to catalyze change towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Funded by Elsevier, the Elsevier Foundation is a key part of Elsevier’s commitment to advance inclusive research and healthcare in partnership with the communities it serves. Since 2005, the Elsevier Foundation has contributed over $18 million in grants to over 100 partners in 70 countries around the world. www.elsevierfoundation.org
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a global leader in advanced information and decision support. For over a century, we have been helping advance science and healthcare to advance human progress. We support academic and corporate research communities, doctors, nurses, future healthcare professionals and educators across 170 countries in their vital work. We do this by delivering mission-critical insights and innovative solutions that combine trusted, evidence-based scientific and medical content with cutting-edge AI technologies to help impact makers achieve better outcomes. We champion inclusion and sustainability by embedding these values into our products and culture, working with the communities that we serve. The Elsevier Foundation supports research and health partnerships around the world.
Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.elsevier.com and follow us on social media @elsevierconnect.
‘Defying climate change calls for new approaches in breaking down greenhouse gases’, Professor Jan Paradies of Paderborn University said. The chemist and his team have now moved a step closer to this goal: the scientists have successfully managed to reduce ozone-damaging nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’) to its harmless constituent parts using metal-free catalysis at low temperatures. The results were published in the internationally renowned Journal of the American Chemical Society.
‘Nitrous oxide is one of the most potent ozone-depleting substances and has a global warming potential 265 times higher than that of CO₂. It causes around six percent of global warming and is used in agricultural, industrial and medical processes. Its concentration in the atmosphere has risen by 20 percent since the industrial revolution. Given this environmental impact, there is a pressing need for research into new, efficient reduction methods’, Professor Paradies explained.
The research team, consisting of doctoral students Rundong Zhou and Viktorija Medvaric as well as Professor Thomas Werner and Professor Paradies, have demonstrated a facilitation of the oxygen transfer reaction from nitrous oxide to the phosphetane catalyst. Of the greenhouse gas, this then leaves behind only the harmless nitrogen, which can for example be further processed into fertiliser for agriculture. The new phosphetane-oxygen compound can then be returned to its original state via a reaction with a silane (a special chemical compound containing silicon and hydrogen), meaning that it can be repeatedly reused. This creates a catalytic cycle.
