Mental Health
Mental health encompasses chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, and brain chemical imbalance conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders.In addition to the resources listed below, the Alliance provides other educational information about Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease so you can learn more about symptoms, new treatments available and coping with the disease. To view our other resources, visit our Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease sections under "topics."
If you or a loved one suffers from mood or behavioral changes that impact daily life, such as loss of appetite, sluggishness, and indifference towards previously enjoyable activities, consider seeking help because it may be a sign of depression. Health care providers are finding that many adults who have a chronic illness suffer from depression as well, though it is still under-diagnosed in this group. Know that if you or a loved one develops depression after a chronic disease diagnosis, you are not alone. Visit Medline Plus for more information.
Depression
To learn more about depression and to find out what resources are available, visit the Depression Resource GuideRelated Publications
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Alliance in the News, Press ReleaseAlliance Applauds Obama Administration’s Commitment to Alzheimers
February 7, 2012
Related topics: Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Drug Development Federal Funding Medical Innovation Mental Health Policy Prevention Quality of Care ResearchWashington D.C.- February 7, 2012 - The Alliance for Aging Research, today applauded the Obama Administration for reprogramming $50 million from the current budget to Alzheimer’s disease and pledging an additional $80 million for Alzheimer’s research in the next budget cycle. “This is an important bet against the looming tide of dementia threatening America’s aging Baby Boomers,” said Dan Perry, president and CEO of the not-for-profit Alliance and chair of the Accelerate Cure/Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease (ACT-AD) coalition. “Even a modest shift in budget priorities in the current funding environment shows that the case for stepped-up research against this disease is being heard by this President,” Perry added.
The Alliance and other health advocates have met with officials in the White House, the budget office and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in recent months urging a bold increase in basic research into Alzheimer’s and other chronic diseases of aging.
At a press conference in Washington, DC, today Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and other officials, including the Director of the NIH, acknowledged that Alzheimer’s has “quite quickly become one of our nation’s most critical health challenges." Repeating a theme Secretary Sebelius and others said “we can’t wait to act” to reduce the burden of Alzheimer’s on patients and families.
In addition to targeting $50 million more for Alzheimer’s research in the current NIH budget, Secretary Sebelius announced that $80 million in additional Alzheimer’s funding will included in the President’s budget for FY 2013, and still another $26 million will be included for caregiver support, provider education and other goals of the National Alzheimer’s Disease Plan passed by Congress and signed by the President last year—adding up to a $130 million total commitment over two years.
Perry noted that a National Advisory Committee on Alzheimer’s established by the national plan already has identified its number one goal to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025. “Setting this direction and backing it up with $130 million over the next two years is an outstanding start, especially during these times of extreme budget austerity,” he said.
The Alliance for Aging Research and other Alzheimer’s and advocacy groups for aging research have pressed their case in recent months for increased funding during direct negotiations with the Obama Administration. To show broad support among researchers, the organizations gathered more than 530 signatures to support a budget increase for the National Institute on Aging within the NIH. The NIA will receive “a substantial portion” of new Alzheimer’s funding this year and next, according to Perry. -
Feature ArticleConscious Aging: Through Their Art, a Couple Finds Beauty and Peace in Aging
Who hasn’t looked in the mirror only to find someone staring back with too many wrinkles and gray hairs? Someone who we don’t recognize because that person is way too old? When Alice and Richard Matzkin found themselves and their loved ones confronting bodies being etched by time and pulled down by gravity, they became overwhelmed by fear. -
Press Release2009 Task Force on Aging Research Funding
May 2009
Related topics: Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Arthritis Brain Health Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Caregiving Diabetes Federal Funding Geriatric Training Health Incontinence Medical Innovation Men's Health Mental Health Osteoporosis Other Diseases of Aging Parkinson's Disease Persistent Pain Research Stroke Vision Loss Women's HealthMore than 65 disease groups, not-for-profit patient advocacy organizations, and foundations urge Congress and President Obama to restore a national commitment to medical research on behalf of America’s aging population. In a report released today, the 2009 Task Force on Aging Research Funding calls for at least a 7% increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year (FY) 2010 to halt the erosion of the nation’s research base and facilitate medical discoveries to fight diseases and disabilities that disproportionately affect older Americans.
