CNN posted a story today highlighting a new US government web site addressing a new strategy to address Alzheimer’s Disease.

It’s an exceptional moment in the struggle to find effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, says one expert. Why? Take a look at these disturbing Alzheimer’s statistics projected for 2050:
• 11 million additional people will have the condition in the United States
• 115.4 million will have it worldwide, compared to the current figure of about 35.6 million
• $1.1 trillion will be spent in the U.S. on caregiving costs, compared with $200 billion this year.
Staring in the face of these sobering numbers, the Obama administration offered details Tuesday of how it plans to take on this mysterious disease that destroys the brain.

The new strategy supports a $7.9 million dollar study on an insulin nasal spray treatment. Separately, researchers will work on the first-ever Alzheimer’s prevention trial in people with a genetic predisposition to develop the condition. The strategy also offers solutions for collaborating across federal and state agencies and for informing the public through a one-stop website, www.alzheimers.gov

Read the entire story here: http://bit.ly/IW4QEA

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend, as its first recommendation, that people in the path of a tornado find a shelter or a tornado-safe room. The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement. If possible, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench. If outdoors, lie down in a gully or ditch.  Head injuries are common   causes of death during tornadoes, and individuals may decide to use helmets to protect their heads. However, because the time to react may be very short, people who choose to use helmets should know where they are and have them ready. Helmets should not be considered an alternative to seeking appropriate shelther considered just one part of their overall home tornado preparedness kit.

For more information:  http://bit.ly/K9KcyR [CDC Press Release, May 3, 2102]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a series of prevention-based policy measures that will better protect consumers from foodborne illness in meat and poultry products. These measures will significantly improve the ability of both plants and USDA to trace contaminated food materials in the supply chain, to act against contaminated products sooner, and to establish the effectiveness of food safety systems.

More information:  http://1.usa.gov/KlfQxV  [USDA News Release, May 2, 2012]

Public Health Reports has published a special supplementary issue: Innovations in Oral Health Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS.  The issue presents research from the Special Projects of National Significance Innovations in Oral Health Care Initiative, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s HIV/AIDS Bureau.

Access the entire issue for no-cost at: http://www.publichealthreports.org/issuecontents.cfm?Volume=127&Issue=8

A no-cost webinar discussing innovative approaches to oral health care for those with HIV/AIDS will be held on May 22 at 1pm EST.  Registration required: http://bit.ly/JBd87k

If you’re a patient in search of the best medical care possible, it makes sense to understand some of the electronic tools doctors now use to manage your care. The fact is, health IT changes how physicians and other healthcare providers document and view healthcare information and exchange data with each other. This overview, provided by InformationWeek Healthcare, includes electronic medical records (EMRs), personal health records (PHRs), patient web portals, electronic prescribing, electronic lab result reporting, health information exchanges (HIEs), and telemedicine.

Also included are lists of recommended reading for more information, related webcasts, and related websites.

For more: http://bit.ly/IHwPdx

Water is the foundation for life.  May 6–12, 2012 is Drinking Water Week. This observance is sponsored each year by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and a number of other organizations and agencies. Following the theme “Water: Celebrate the Essential,” Drinking Water Week provides an opportunity for the public to recognize the vital role that safe water plays in our daily lives.

Learn more about the vital role safe water plays in our lives and what CDC is doing to address challenges to our water supply: http://1.usa.gov/KeQnWb [CDC Current Features]

Hispanics Seem to Have Better Odds of Lung Cancer Survival

Hispanic people with lung cancer tend to live longer than white or black people with the disease, according to a new study.

Researchers say Hispanics’ increased likelihood of survival may be due to genetic factors or environmental advantages, such as lower rates of tobacco use.

To rest of the article is on the MedlinePlus Hispanic-American Health page available at http://1.usa.gov/Ipi1h4

Asian/Pacific Islanders and Cardiovascular Diseases: Statistical Fact Sheet

American Heart Association outlines the leading causes of death among Asian/Pacific Islander men and women.

Available at http://bit.ly/JtXJB0

2010 Census Island Areas

U.S. Census Bureau - Access demographic information for American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Available at http://bit.ly/K4tCEj

New opportunities in Medicaid and Medicare that will allow people to more easily receive care and services in their communities rather than being admitted to a hospital or nursing home were announced last week by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

HHS finalized the Community First Choice rule, which is a new state plan option under Medicaid, and announced the participants in the Independence At Home Demonstration program. The demonstration encourages primary care practices to provide home-based care to chronically ill Medicare patients.

Read the complete announcement: http://1.usa.gov/IbpX5E  [HHS Press Release, April 26, 2012]

The shingles vaccine is generally safe and well tolerated by patients, according to a new study.

Shingles, which affects more than 1 million people each year in the United States, is a painful contagious rash caused by the dormant chickenpox virus, which can reactivate and replicate, damaging the nervous system. Elderly people are especially at risk because immunity against the virus that causes shingles declines with age.

More information: http://1.usa.gov/JBgk03 [HealthDay News, April 23, 2012]

The Administration on Aging (AoA) is promoting Older Americans Month (OAM) in May.

Help spread the word!  When you tweet, please use the hashtag #OAM2012.  This year the theme of OAM is “Never Too Old to Play”, which encourages older Americans to stay active and involved in their communities.

Also, AoA has developed a website in honor of Older Americans Month at www.OlderAmericansMonth.org  It offers resources for celebrating Older Americans Month, including an activities toolkit, Day of Play promotion flyers and OAM posters.  Also, people can share photos and videos of events that they organized for OAM on the OAM website.

Here are a few things to help get inspired!

Here’s a video the National Institute on Aging did with Dr. Varmus, NCI Director shot last year about seniors and physical activity.

http://bit.ly/IjYr9A

Also, a Senior Citizen Flash mob -

http://bit.ly/IbZ9D6

For Seniors: Here are some exercises and tips that can help improve balance.

Article available here: http://1.usa.gov/Ii6l4o