HealthDay (10/4, Thompson) reports that research published online Oct. 4 in Neurology suggests “women who develop high blood pressure in their 40s could be much more vulnerable to dementia later in life.”

MedPage Today (10/4, Kneisel) reports that investigators “analyzed records for 5,646 members of the Kaiser Permanente system (3,095 women, 2,551 men) during 1964-1973 (average age 33 years) and 1978-1985 (average age 44 years).” The researchers found that “women who developed hypertension in their 40s were at significantly increased risk of dementia (HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.24–2.40) compared to normotensive women.” However, no association “was seen between midlife blood pressure and subsequent dementia risk in men.”

Related Links:

— “High Blood Pressure in 40s a Dementia Risk for Women?,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, October 4, 2017.

Reuters (10/4, Rapaport) reports that “23 percent of suicide victims age 50 or older shared suicidal thoughts with another person in the month before their death,” researchers found after examining “data on 46,857 suicide deaths among adults 50 or older in US states.”

HealthDay (10/4, Preidt) reports that “the older” the adults “were, the more likely they were to disclose” their intentions, the study revealed.

Healio (10/4) reports researchers also concluded via “logistic regression analyses” that “depressive mood…and health problems” were tied to “increased likelihood of suicide intent disclosure.” The findings were published online Oct. 3 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Older adults more likely to disclose suicidal thoughts as they age,” Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, October 4, 2017.

HealthDay (10/2, Mundell) reports that in wake of the Las Vegas shootings, “psychiatrists urge young people and their parents to not give way to fear.” Psychiatrist Victor Fornari, MD, “director, child and adolescent psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital,” said, “The acts of violence we have seen are rare events, and should not interfere with young people from attending concerts.” Psychiatrist Matthew Lorber, MD, of the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said, “It is natural for parents to be fearful [after such events], but they have to be careful to not teach teens to be afraid of everything, but rather teach teens smart safety precautions.”

Related Links:

— “Reassuring Kids After Another Senseless Tragedy,” E.J. Mundell, HealthDay, October 2, 2017.

Healio (10/2) reports, “Illicit drug use initiation was highest for marijuana in 2016, followed by prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers and stimulants,” researchers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found after analyzing “data from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for individuals aged 12 years and older.”

Related Links:

— “Survey results shed light on substance use initiation trends,” Rachel N. Lipari, PhD, Healio, October 2, 2017.

The AP (10/3, Neergaard) reports the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will launch Tuesday a novel online tool to help patients find alcohol treatment professionals. NIAAA Director George Koob “ordered development of the Alcohol Treatment Navigator after realizing if medical professionals were confused, families must be lost.” The Navigator offers a step-by-step guide to assessing options beyond detox and Alcoholics Anonymous, including links to thousands of board-certified addiction physicians or psychiatrists, accredited alcohol treatment centers, and licensed therapists, organized by ZIP code.

Related Links:

— “Trying to get sober? NIH offers tool to help find good care,” LAURAN NEERGAARD, ABC News, October 3, 2017.