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Winter's Dawn: Celebrating the Solstice

The Winter Solstice, which occurred on December 21st, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, signaling the official start of winter. Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Julia Gomez from USA TODAY explore the significance of this astronomical event and how it is celebrated across different cultures. The solstice, occurring when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, brings the least amount of daylight and the longest night. This year, the solstice fell on December 21st at 4:21 a.m. EST, marking the astronomical beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, the Winter Solstice has been a time of celebration and reflection. Ancient civilizations, such as the Romans with their Saturnalia festival and the Norsemen with their bonfires, honored the return of the sun and the promise of longer days ahead. Today, people continue to observe the solstice with various traditions, including gatherings, feasts, and rituals that pay homage to the natural cycles of l...
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Alzheimer’s Drug Donanemab Receives FDA Advisers’ Endorsement for Slowing Disease Progression

 

A significant milestone has been reached in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Eli Lilly’s closely watched Alzheimer’s drug, donanemab, has won the unanimous backing of federal health advisers. The drug is specifically intended for people with mild dementia caused by this brain-robbing disease.

The decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers comes after careful consideration of the drug’s benefits and risks. Donanemab has demonstrated the ability to modestly slow cognitive decline and memory problems associated with Alzheimer’s. Although it’s not a cure, this endorsement represents a promising step forward in managing the disease.

Here are the key points:

  1. Effectiveness: Donanemab has shown effectiveness in slowing cognitive decline. Patients who received monthly intravenous infusions of the drug declined about 35% more slowly than those who received a placebo.
  2. Risk Assessment: The FDA panel weighed the risks, including side effects like brain swelling and bleeding, which will need monitoring. Despite these risks, the panel concluded that the drug’s benefits outweighed them.
  3. Tau Protein Screening: Unlike previous concerns about tau protein screening, most panelists believed there was enough evidence to prescribe the drug broadly without requiring such screening.
  4. FDA Decision: The FDA will make the final decision on approval later this year. If approved, donanemab would become only the second Alzheimer’s drug in the U.S. shown to convincingly slow cognitive decline.

This endorsement brings hope to individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s, and we eagerly await the FDA’s final decision. Stay tuned for further updates on this groundbreaking development! 

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