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The Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. is encouraging members of the community to be proactive about memory health by taking advantage of free, confidential memory screenings and information about successful aging on Nov. 15.
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.
The Northeast Area Senior Center will provide the memory screenings at 705 North Main St., Walbridge from 10 a.m. to noon. Senior Independence will provide free confidential screenings using the Reality Comprehensive Clock Test. Registration is suggest for this event.
The Wood County Senior Center will host an event at 305 North Main Street, Bowling Green beginning at 1 p.m. with featured speaker Diana Waugh, R.N., BSN, from Waugh Consulting. Waugh will present information on “Family Unit Transitions: Discovering Your Role with Memory Loss” and will share intimate details of her journey and how she and the family transitions through the progression of the disease. Free confidential screenings will be offered from 2 to 4 p.m.
For more information or to register call 419-353-5661 or 1-800-367-4935.
“Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. strives to keep individuals at home; through events like this we are able to provide resources for those with concerns about their cognitive abilities.” According to Danielle Brogley, director of Programs.
Qualified healthcare professionals administer the screenings, which consist of a series of questions and tasks, and take five to 10 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, Brogley notes. 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.
For more information about National Memory Screening Day, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org or call 866-AFA-8484.
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