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 latest report on mental health in the United States is now available from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). The recently published report focuses on the nation’s mental health system across three themes: people; treatment facility characteristics; and payers and payment mechanisms. Includes state-level data, needs of children and military personnel, and services in non-traditional settings. This report is an update of the last report, Mental Health, United States, 2008.

The entire report can be ordered or downloaded at no charge:  http://bit.ly/JPNTNV

Are you aware of the specific concerns, needs, and resources available to your community’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adult population?

SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) in partnership with 10 organizations, including NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers and with funding from the U.S. Administration on Aging, has launched the National Resource Center of LGBT Aging with the overall goal of improving services for LGBT older people.

Link to the website: http://www.lgbtagingcenter.org/

Link to a recording of a recent webinar and presentation materials on cutting-edge resources: http://bit.ly/Jpthi0

Kind of a mixed bag for resources, but consider this your weekly round-up.

• SAMHSA: New report and toolkit now available. Top Health Issues for LGBT Populations Information & Resource Kit.

Equips prevention professionals, healthcare providers, and educators with information on current health issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. Includes an overview of terms related to gender identity and sexual expression.

Available at http://bit.ly/GXYY13

• White House: New Spanish language presentation on the Affordable Care Act available online. La Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio y Usted (The Health Care Law and You).

Available at http://1.usa.gov/GCmCMF

• CDC: April is National STD Awareness Month. 2012 theme Reaching Young People. Online resources and toolkit now available at http://1.usa.gov/c0scEi

• HHS: Launching of updated anti-bullying website.  http://www.stopbullying.gov/

• New on the MedlinePlus Seniors’ Health topic page is an Alzheimer’s Prevention video from HealthDay.

Seniors’ Health topic page: http://1.usa.gov/jwG30

Alzheimer’s Prevention video: http://1.usa.gov/HPbcn7

•  Healthy roads media has a ten part series for patients on the complexities of taking Coumadin (Warfarin) safely.  This series is available as free web-videos and patient handouts.  They are available in both English and Spanish

Available at http://bit.ly/HiQH8r

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA: Webinar. Using Data Resources to Strengthen Behavioral Health Systems for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. March 29, 2012, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET

To register go to http://svy.mk/GYvpvo

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center

SPRC: Webinar. Saving Our Youth: How One Native Community Reduced Teen Suicide. March 29, 2012, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET

“This webinar will provide an overview of the Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program, which was developed by and for a Native community in New Mexico.  The comprehensive, community-driven program showed significant, sustained reduction in youth suicide gestures and attempts over 13 years.  Presenters will describe three critical aspects of the program, which could be replicated in other settings.”

To register to go http://bit.ly/Hipy4I

Suicide Prevention Resource Center: States and Communities

The website of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides information, resources, contacts and lists events for each state on the topic of suicide prevention.  Check out the website and click on your state to find out what’s going on in your area.

Go to http://sprc.org/states

Women who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, or SSRIs, during pregnancy are much less likely to breast-feed their babies, researchers have found.

The new study was conducted by researchers associated with the Connecticut Pregnancy Exposure Information Service (CPEIS), a state-funded service that provides women with information about exposures during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

The study authors analyzed data from 466 pregnant women who contacted the CPEIS’ California affiliate over 10 years with questions about a wide variety of exposures.

The results showed that women who took an SSRI at any time during pregnancy were about 60 percent less likely to breast-feed than women who took no antidepressants. http://1.usa.gov/w9sazn [Health Day News]

1-800-985-5990

TEXT “TalkWithUs” to 66746

The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the nation’s first hotline dedicated to providing disaster crisis counseling.  The toll-free Helpline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  This free, confidential and multilingual crisis support service is available via telephone (1-800-985-5990) and SMS (Text ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746) to U.S. residents who are experiencing psychological distress as a result of a natural or man-made disasters.  Callers are connected to trained and caring professionals from the closest crisis counseling center in the network.  The helpline staff provides confidential counseling, referrals and other needed support services.

The Disaster Distress Helpline is a project funded by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and is operated by Link2Health Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mental Health Association of New Your City.

For more information, visit the SAMSHA web site: http://distresshelpline.org/

The Alzheimer’s Association has just released the 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report. It provides a statistical overview and analysis of Alzheimer’s prevalence, mortality, caregiving, and increasing costs as well as a special report on those living alone with Alzheimer’s. The full report, as well as a video, graphs, and state specific information are now available at www.alz.org/facts . [Wellnes and Prevention Health Reform Digest, March 8, 2012]

Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are treated for pain are more likely to get very strong painkillers if they also have mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a new study.

That’s worrisome, researchers said, because some people who take opioids — which include OxyContin and Vicodin — abuse the drugs or overdose on them, and those who already have mental troubles may be most at risk. http://1.usa.gov/zKx8EX [MedlinePlus]

After a tornado, most families recover over time, particularly with the support of family, friends, and organizations. The length of recovery depends, in part, on how frightened individuals were and the extent of the damage and loss. Some families will be able to return to their normal routine rather quickly, while others will have to contend with repairing damage to their home and possessions, finding medical care, or facing financial hardship. Some families will have lost a loved one or a pet. Others will need to adjust to school closings or changes in school schedules.

Children’s functioning will be influenced by how their parents and other caregivers cope during and after the tornado. Children often turn to adults for information, comfort, and help. Children do best when parents and teachers remain (or at least appear) calm, answer children’s questions honestly, and respond as best they can to requests. http://bit.ly/wVsyiT [DIMRC]