Catching A Simple Infection Can Damage Your IQ, Study Warns
New research shows that infections can impair your cognitive ability measured on an IQ scale. The study is the largest of its kind to date, and it shows a clear correlation between infection levels and impaired cognition.
Danish researchers say the link is very real – and the more infections a person suffers, the bigger the damage to their brain power. This damage can last for ‘many years’, they warn.
While the effect was seen after infections in any part of the body – for example, the stomach, urinary tract or skin – the most ‘damage’ was seen following infections in the brain.
The researchers found that people who were hospitalized due to infection had an IQ score of 1.76 lower than the average.
And those with five or more hospital contacts with infections had an IQ score of 9.44 lower than the average. The average IQ is said to be no higher than 115. (Romania Libera)
More Than 1,200 Children Abandoned In Maternity Or Pediatric Wards Of Hospitals
More than 1,200 children were abandoned in maternity or pediatric wards of hospitals in 2014, according to official statistics of the National Authority for Child Adoption.
Of the abandoned children, 1057 were released from hospital, but only 436 of them were integrated in families, according to Mediafax.
Also, of more than 1,200 children abandoned in 2014, 738 were left in maternity wards, 441 in pediatric wards and 34 in other hospital wards. Moreover, another 448 children abandoned in hospitals were placed at professional maternity care assistants, 48 to families or individuals, 45 in care centers, 23 in emergency centers, three became part of the extended family and other 54 were released from hospital “in other situations.” (Adevarul)
ECB: Eurozone Economic Profile Best In 7 Years
The forecast for the eurozone economy is now the most favorable in the last seven years, said European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, adding though that this was not the end of the challenges for Europe.
Monetary policy is working its way through the economy. Growth is picking up. And inflation expectations have recovered from their trough,” Draghi said recently at an economic forum in Sintra, Portugal.
This is by no means the end of our challenges, and a cyclical recovery alone does not solve all of Europe’s problems,” said Draghi. It doesn’t solve the problem of structural unemployment in many countries, doesn’t eliminate high-sky debt in many parts of the eurozone, and the institutional set-up of the monetary union still has to be enhanced, said the ECB president. (Romania Libera)
Romania’s Public Debt At 44.1% Of GDP, Up To EUR65.94B, End-December 2014
Romania’s public debt reached 44.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP), up to EUR65.94 billion, on December 31, 2014, compared to EUR54.38 billion at the end of 2012, according to a recent report of the Court of Accounts.
The report refers to the evaluation of the public debt management between 2012 and 2014 at the Finance Ministry.
“Romania’s public debt during the analyzed period saw a continuous increase on December 31, 2014, reaching RON295,57 million (EUR65,94 million), compared to RON240,842 million (EUR54,38 million) on December 31, 2012,” according to the report.
During the analyzed period, the public debt in euro per capita saw a significant increase, of EUR608.3/capita. (Adevarul)
Liberals To File No-Confidence Motion On Correspondence Voting
The National Council of the Liberal Party has decided to submit a no-confidence motion against the Ponta Cabinet on June 5, targeting the correspondence voting.
Liberals’ decision came in the context in which social democrats, which hold the majority in Parliament, blocked debates on correspondence voting for Romanians working abroad, despite the promises made after the presidential elections.
The motion needs the support of UDMR and UNPR to be approved, considering that liberal leaders said they will negotiate with all parties, except social democrats. (Romania Libera)