The event is part of National Memory Screening Day (NMSD), an annual initiative that the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) holds each November during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. More than 2,000 sites across the country will be participating.
Stickney Township Office on Aging will provide the memory screenings at the Stickney Township Medical Center located at 6721 W. 40th St, from 9:30-11:00. For more information, call (708) 788-9100.
Qualified healthcare professionals administer the screenings, which consist of a series of questions and tasks, and take five to ten minutes. Screening results are not a diagnosis, and individuals with below-normal scores or who have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam.
Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. Other memory problems might result from causes that are not currently reversible, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat one of these conditions.
Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and CEO, said the continuing growth of National Memory Screening Day reinforces the need for this service. More than 30 leading professional organizations are supporting the event this year.
“Community memory screenings are a vital resource to begin a dialogue with a healthcare professional and to learn more about brain health. They prompt critical next steps,” he said.
AFA urges anyone concerned about memory changes, at risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to family history or who wants to check their memory now and for future comparison to get screened. Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion over daily routines, and erratic mood swings.
Currently, as many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and the incidence is rising in line with the swell of aging baby boomers. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years beyond age 65.
Event sponsors are: Forest Laboratories and Senior Helpers as silver sponsors; and Accera Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, and Novartis, as remembrance sponsors.
For more information about National Memory Screening Day, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org or call 866-AFA-8484.
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, based in New York, is a national nonprofit organization that unites more than 1,600 member organizations nationwide with the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families. Its services include counseling and referrals by licensed social workers via a toll-free hot line, e-mail, Skype and live chat; educational materials; a free quarterly magazine for caregivers; and professional training. For more information about AFA, call toll-free 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org