Health Buzz: Alzheimer's Documentary and Other Health News

The Alzheimer's Project Set to Air on HBO Starting Sunday

HBO will air a documentary on Alzheimer's disease on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday that aims to raise awareness of the disease. The documentary's executive producer, Maria Shriver, whose father has Alzheimer's, appeared on Good Morning America today to discuss the series, which is called "The Alzheimer's Project." She also talked about how the disease has affected her family. She said that her children help her cope with her father's illness by encouraging her to deal with her father as he is today, rather than expecting him to be the person he once was.

Sunday's show, "The Memory Loss Tapes," begins at 9 p.m. Eastern time. On Monday, the program will air at 7:30 p.m. ("Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? With Maria Shriver") and 8 p.m. ("Momentum in Science, Part 1"). Tuesday's show starts at 7 p.m. ("Caregivers") and 8 p.m. ("Momentum in Science, Part 2").

Learn 10 things you should know about Alzheimer's disease. Here is one family's story of dealing with the illness. And discover how one man keeps busy in an effort to ward off Alzheimer's.

Recession's Effect on Women's Health

Just how much of an effect is the recession having on women's health? Actually, quite a lot, according to some new polls. One—a Gallup survey of 1,031 women ages 18 to 44 conducted for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists—suggests that a growing number of women are putting off having babies and have become more careful about taking birth control pills, Deborah Kotz reports. One in five women says she's more worried today about having an unintended pregnancy than she was a year ago; a full 17 percent of married women say they've put off plans to have a baby as a result of the economy.

Learn how to find happiness during the recession. Also, these tips can help manage your money-related stress. Here are 7 ways to boost your sex life during difficult economic times.

Obama Budget Eliminates Funding for Abstinence-Only Sex Education

President Obama is proposing a new teen pregnancy prevention initiative that supports "evidence-based" and "promising" models, Deborah Kotz reports. Once again, Obama is reversing policies set in place under President Bush, who asked for more than $100 million in funds last year for abstinence-only programs. Several states opted to turn down federal funds rather than be forced to forgo contraception education in public schools.

Obama's new budget includes $50 million in funds for states to use for teen pregnancy prevention programs. What's not clear, though, is which comprehensive sex education programs will be funded. There's quite a bit of difference among them, with some far more effective than others, Kotz reports. It's also not clear how "evidence-based" will be defined. Just how many studies are needed to determine if a program is effective? And how few are needed to deem a program "promising"?

How to prevent teen pregnancy is an ongoing debate. Should students be taught only the merits of abstaining from sex? Or should they also learn about contraception, just in case? Bristol Palin appeared on television this week encouraging teens to abstain from sex.

—January W. Payne

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