Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 August 2002 — Page 34

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2002 ■ PAGE D6

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STATE-WIDE INITIATIVE Working to provide families with superior health care

Submitted by the Health Education, Promotion and Training Department of the Marion County Health Department Covering Kids of Marion County is an outreach initiative to enroll eligible children into Indiana’s health insurance program. The program began in March of 1999 and is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The program is one of eight pilot sites in the state of Indiana. Since that time. Covering Kids of Marion County has been able to assist approximately 3000 children and pregnant women. The main objective of the program is to identify all uninsured children, youth, and pregnant women who fall at or below the 200% Federal Guideline. Actively working with school nurses, social workers, teachers, and administrators to determine those students who are without health insurance accomplish this objective. Covering Kids has established enrollment sites in which outreach workers set up “temporary space” to help meet the health insurance needs of clients at various agencies. Some of the agencies where outreach workers are available are WIC, Head Start, The Julian Center, INDYpendence, The Hispanic Center, local libraries and local health centers. Covering Kids outreach extends to all nine townships of Marion County and now to connecting coun-

ties. These include Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, Boone, and Hamilton. Covering Kids, in terms of outreach, focuses on the “hard to reach”, for instance a senior who has legal custody of a child, teens, those with language barriers, or those who move frequently. Any family or individual who is referred to the program is considered for enrollment. Approval is dependent upon income, eligibility, and the Department of Family and Children. Hoosier Healthwise is a program serving Indiana children, pregnant women, and low-income families. By June 2001 in the state of Indiana, 178,139 children, adolescents, and pregnant women had been enrolled in Hoosier Healthwise, in addition to the 210,423 already enrolled in Medicaid. Likewise, the number of primary medical providers working with the program has increased 13.5 % in all counties. To date, more than 128 dentists have joined the program. Hoosier Healthwise provides coverage for children younger than 19 living in households with incomes below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (currently $26, 484 for a family of four). In January of 2000, families with incomes of 150% up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (currently $35,304 for a family of four) could also receive coverage by paying a

small monthly premium. The plan covers routine checkups, well-child visits, doctor visits, hospital stays, specialty care, prescription drugs, mental health, vision and dental care, screenings, immunizations, diagnosis and treatments. Providing assistance to uninsured mothers is also an emphasis of the initiative. An analysis of data from the 2000 Current Population Survey estimated that 92,000 lowincome mothers in Indiana (12%) were uninsured. For this reason, outreach workers also identify income eligible adults or parents needing coverage, youth who are 19 years old, college students, and seniors who aren’t eligible for Medicare and these persons are then signed up for another program - the Advantage Network Program. Similar to Hoosier Healthwise, this program is a health cost assistance plan developed to assist adults with regular physician visits, specialty care, family planning, and low cost prescriptions. The income guidelines are closely in line with Hoosier Healthwise guidelines. The Covering Kids office is located at 2951 East 38 ,h Street. Community outreach workers are available to schedule appointments, conduct home visits, or meet at the workplace or other convenient location. For more information on Covering Kids or the Advantage Program please call (317) 221-2041 or 221-2464.

Mark Your Calendars! Back-to-School Days August 16 and 17 11 am to 7 p.m. Marion County Health Department 3838 N. Rural Street There will be: Food Entertainment Games (dunk tank, basketball, rock climbing) Back>to-School Giveaways Enrollment for Hoosier Healthwise & Wishard Advantage Network Lead Screenings Dental Screenings Additional Health Screenings

Research shows heart-healthlylifestyle could prevent Alzheimer’s disease

LONDON (AP) — Mounting evidence indicates the risk factors for heart disease — high blood pressure, diabetes, excess weight, high cholesterol and lack of exercise — also may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. New studies presented at an international Alzheimer’s conference in Stockholm establish the big picture for the first time, giving scientists a better understanding of how to reduce the likelihood the disease. Over the last few years, hints of a connection between Alzheimer's and lifestyle have emerged, but scientists have become increasingly interested in investigating such a link and are just now beginning to realize that what is good for the heart may also be good for

the brain. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease that causes memory loss, disorientation, depression and decay of bodily functions. The disease afflicts about 12 million people worldwide, including more than 4 million Americans. It is increasing so fast that more than 22 million people worldwide will be affected by 2025, experts predict. Scientists do not know what causes the sticky brain deposits that inevitably kill off neural cells until memory disintegrates and ultimately the patient dies. The biggest risk for Alzheimer's is simply age: Alzheimer’scasesdouble with every five years of age between 65 and 85. “While more research is necessary, especially in the form of prevention trials, we’re seeing the strongest evidence yet that there is a relationship between healthy aging and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's," said William Thies, vice president of medical and scientific affairs at the Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association. Several studies presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders indicated that people may be able to reduce

their chances of developing Alzheimer’s by treating high blood pressure. One 21-year study, by Miia Kivipelto of the University of Kuopio in Finland, examined 1,449 people. It found that the high cholesterol and high blood pressure seemed to be more strongly linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s than was a certain gene variation. However, it seems that having high blood pressure only in later life is not connected to Alzheimer’s. “Since high blood pressure can be controlled, we may have identified something people can do to lower their chance of developing Alzheimer’s,” said Thies, who was not connected with the research. Three studies presented at the conference, the largest gathering ever of Alzheimer’s researchers, bolster evidence that taking cho-lesterol-lowering drugs could reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s. A study by Dr. Robert Green at Boston University School of Medicine found that people taking cholesterol drugs called statins reduced their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 79 percent. With 2,378 patients, it is the largest study to investigate the connection and the first to include large numbers of Black people, who are disproportionately likely to develop Alzheimer’s. The study also found that types of chclcsterol-lowering drugs other

than statins were not linked with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. High cholesterol can narrow the arteries and raise the risk of heart disease. Some researchers think high cholesterol may also affect brain arteries and promote the clumping of the protein beta-amy-loid, which is thought to damage the brain in Alzheimer’s. Beta-amyloid occurs normally in the body, but can accumulate in the spaces between brain cells and create plaques in the brain. These plaques are linked to the death of brain cells, causing a gradual loss of memory and control of body function, and leading eventually to death. By the time a patient has noticeable symptoms of Alzheimer’s, substantial amounts of amyloid have built up in the brain, experts say. A study presented at the conference by researchers at St. George’s Medical School in London found statins dramatically reduced the production of beta-amyloid. “The small amounts of betaamyloid normally found in the blood of healthy people are quickly cleared from the brain,” said the study’s leader Brian Austen. “In the general population, people taking statins to reduce their blood cholesterol, for whatever reason, have a 70 percent reduction rate for Alzheimer’s.” Advances in the understanding of how beta-amyloid acts have prompted researchers to focus much of their effort on trying to block plaque formation.

Lifestyle changes point to healthy weight loss

(NAPSI) — There may be good news for many people who feel they have a fat chance of being slim. The key to healthy weight loss is changing your lifestyle, says nutritionist and dietician Gayle Reichler, MS, RD, CDN. “Fad diets and starving yourself just do not work. The key is changing your lifestyle. I always recommend to my clients that they find a balanced meal replacement program that still allows them to enjoy the foods they love.” Here are some healthy tips for choosing a meal replacement program: • Make it easy. Look for a comprehensive program that fits into your lifestyle, such as one that does not require counting calories or fat grams or weighing food. • Taste, taste, taste. A balanced meal replacement program should have products that taste good. If it is labeled chocolate, it should smell, chew, and taste like chocolate. • Variety. Look for a program with a lot of choices. No one wants to eat the same meal every day. A wide range of flavors will allow you to mix and match bars and

shakes over the week to avoid boredom. • Convenience. The program must be convenient. A meal that needs to be microwaved can’t be used if you don’t have access to a microwave at lunchtime. • Treat yourself. Everyone needs a snack now and then. Pick a diet program that offers healthy snack options. • Support. Anyone who is dieting needs support to change eating habits and help lose weight. One balanced meal replacement program that meets these requirements is SlimWell, the newest introduction to the Avon Wellness line. In addition to the SlimWell meal replacement bars and shakes, Avon has also created a complementary wellness program called The New Me. This program provides eating, exercise, and stress management tips, and incorporates other fitness products and tools into the overall SlimWell plan to encourage a healthy lifestyle. For more information about SlimWell and the New Me Program, call 1-800-FOR-AVON or visit http:// www.avon.com on the Internet.