CHCSI Offers Free Memory Screenings

The Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa and Decatur County Public Health are hosting a free in-person memory screenings and open house on National Memory Screening Day between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on November 15 at both the Lamoni and Leon Offices of the Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa. Refreshments will be served.

National Memory Screening Day is an initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) and is held annually during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month to promote early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses, as well as to provide information about successful aging.

The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is expected to triple by mid-century to an estimated 16 million Americans. However, the disease is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed by clinicians using routine history and medical examinations. Warning signs of dementia include forgetfulness about names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion, and erratic mood swings.

Administered by doctors, social workers or other healthcare professionals, the non-invasive, confidential screenings used on National Memory Screening Day take about ten minutes and consist of tasks to assess memory and other intellectual functions. Most commonly used is the Mini-Mental State Examination, which has been documented as an effective screening tool for dementia.

On National Memory Screening Day, these simple screenings are used to flag a potential problem, but are not used to diagnose any illness. Clinicians urge individuals with abnormal scores to pursue an extensive medical evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.

As a follow-up to a screening, exams may reveal that the person is suffering from a reversible condition, such as a vitamin deficiency or thyroid problem, or from an irreversible disorder like Alzheimer’s disease.

Several recent studies point to the importance of early detection. Among them, a study in Neurology found that individuals with mild dementia and those aware of their diagnosis were more likely to be able to make competent decisions regarding their treatment. Another study, published in the Archives of Neurology, concluded that the Latino population in particular needs to recognize symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease since they developed symptoms seven years earlier than white non-Latino subjects.