Rising levels of obesity in middle age could cause a major rise in the number of dementia sufferers, researchers have warned.

The risk of having dementia almost doubles with midlife obesity, the UK Health Forum said.

Dr Laura Webber and Tim Marsh found that by 2050 almost seven per cent of the British population over 65 are predicted to suffer from dementia.

The study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Liverpool, also predicted that by 2050, nearly half of men and 31 per cent of women will be obese. (AP)

Worldwide appeal for a fishy partner

A worldwide appeal has been launched to find a mate for the last remaining males of a tropical fish on the brink of extinction.

The Mangarahara cichlid, from Madagascar, is believed to have vanished from the wild as a result of the building of dams that has dried up its habitat on the Mangarahara River.

Two of the last known individuals from the species are in London Zoo’s aquarium, but both are male, the Zoological Society of London said.

Described as “gorgeously ugly”, the zoo is hoping to start a conservation programme if a fit female can be found. (PA)

Ghost town surfaces off Buenos Aires

A strange ghost town that spent a quarter century under water is coming up for air again in the Argentine farmlands south-west of Buenos Aires.

Residents fled from Epecuen in 1985 when its saltwater lake overflowed its banks after a heavy rainstorm, leaving the former bustling little lakeside resort under nearly 10 metres of water.

Now the water has mostly receded, exposing what looks like a scene from a film about the end of the world with rusted cars and crumbled homes.

The town has not been rebuilt, but it has become a tourist destination once again. (PA)

Driver’s story is too bad to be true

A Florida driver who made a snap decision to flee from police ended up in hospital after he ran into an alligator.

Bryan Zuniga, 20, was pulled over for a traffic offence by Pinellas County officers but ran off.

He was found at a local hospital a few hours later and said he had been attacked by an alligator, leaving him with puncture wounds to the face, arm and armpit area.

He has been charged with fleeing police, driving with a suspended or revoked licence and resisting an officer without violence. (PA)

Virgin tycoon dons skirt to honour bet

Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson has donned lipstick and a red skirt to honour a bet.

The Virgin Group founder also helped out as a flight attendant on an AirAsia flight from Perth, Australia, to Malaysia, after losing a bet to the airline’s chief Tony Fernandes in 2010 over the success of their Formula One racing teams.

Mr Fernandes’ Lotus outfit finished two spots above Sir Richard’s Virgin team in that season’s table.

After the six-hour flight, Mr Fernandes gleefully declared that Sir Richard’s skills as an attendant were “rubbish”, and that he was being fired immediately. (AP)