Scientists Find First Drug That Appears To Slow Alzheimer’s Disease
Scientists on Wednesday unveiled the first drug that appears to slow down Alzheimer’s disease. The drug is called Solanezumab and it blocks memory loss over the course of many years in patients that have a mild version of the disease.
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia affect more than 40 million people around the world. This number will increase to an estimated 75.6 million in 2030 as the population continues to age.
Existing drugs simply address the symptoms – and failure to deal with the underlying causes means they quickly wear off, and the disease soon takes its devastating course. In contrast, the experimental drug solanezumab tackles beta amyloid, the toxic protein that clogs the brain in Alzheimer’s, destroying vital connections between cells. Hopes about solanezumab were dashed three years ago, when a large-scale trial appeared to show it was ineffective.
However, close analysis suggested there were some benefits if taken at a very early stage of the disease. (Romania Libera)
Some 18,600 Young Girls Under 19 Gave Birth In 2014
Nearly 18,600 young girls under the age of 19 gave birth last year and 662 of them, mostly living in rural areas, gave birth before the age of 15.
According to the Health Ministry, 18,595 girls under the age of 19 gave birth last year, of whom 12,399 live in rural areas and 5,534 in urban areas.
Of the 18,595 girls, 662 were under the age of 15 when they gave birth. Of these, 449 were living in rural areas and 213 in urban areas. Another 17,933 were aged 15 to 19 when they gave birth, 12,399 being from rural areas and 5,534 from urban areas.
A total 13,329 new pregnant girls under 19 were registered last year, 654 of them being aged under 15 and 12,675 being aged 15 to 19. (Adevarul)
Romania To Set Up Committee Issuing Recommendations On Macroprudential Policy
At the suggestion of the European Union, Romania will set up a committee, to be run by central bank governor Mugur Isarescu, which will issue recommendations to the government on policies regarding the balance on the financial-banking market (macroprudentiality).
The National Committee for Macroprudential Supervisory (CNSM) will issue recommendations to the Government, the National Bank and the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) regarding the measures the three must take to lower the risks.
The main tasks of the future committee consist in drawing up a strategy on Macroprudential policy, collecting and analyzing information, as well as identifying, monitoring and assessing the systemic risks concerning the financial stability, issuing recommendations and warnings with a view to preventing and lowering the systemic risks concerning the stability of the national financial system and monitoring their implementation. (Romania Libera)
2014-2020 Rural Development Program Provides Funding For Setting Up Or Modernization Of Farms
Romania’s National Rural Development Program (PNDR) for 2014-2020 provides funding for the setting up or modernization of farms, the acquisition of tractors, for farming machines and equipment, irrigation systems and infrastructure works or for environmental protection.
The program is a system of specific measures and financing aimed at carrying out priorities and strategic objectives established by Romania and the European Commission.
Romania was allotted total funds of EUR9.5 billion for the 2014-2020 period. (Adevarul)
PM Ponta Says He Disagreed With Raising Top Officials’ Wages
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said recently, with respect to the ordinance raising the wages of public officials, that he disagreed with this measure, but did not want to make it look like he is getting revenge against President Klaus Iohannis by cutting his salary.
Ponta said “revenge is not the best weapon in politics.”
The Government allocated nearly RON600,000 at the budget revision for the increase in public officials’ wages, which had been decided through ordinance on July 8. (Puterea)