Misplace your car keys again? Can't recall the name of an old high school friend? These blips in memory could point to an underlying condition. If your concerned that there's something behind your forgetfulness, mark Nov. 16 on your calendar: National Memory Screening Day.
The day is sponsored byt the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA), in conjunction with health care providers across the country. The screening offers a free, quick test, designed to help determine whether you should see a doctor for additional memory testing.
A local National Memory Screening Day participating site is the Brichel Center for Neurodevelopment in downtown Portsmouth. "We're really excited to be a part of the AFA's Memory Screening Day," says Dr. William Mautz, a neuropsychologist. He runs the center with his partner, Dr. Joshua Gear, a psychiatrist.
Through the National Memory Screening Day, the AFA is promoting awareness and early detection of memory disorders. But, both doctors emphasize that the screening is not a diagnostic. You won't walk out after 10 minutes knowing just what's wrong. Instead, the goal is to determine whether you need to go to your primary care provider for further examination.
The doctors recognize that for some, there may be a fear factor involved with the screening. After participants complete the question-and-answer test, the results may lead to more extensive testing and possibly a diagnosis the participant may not want to hear. "However," says Gear, "there are so many medications and effective treatments that have come out in the last five years, the prognosis is so much better if a condition is caught early. There are treatments now that can slow or stop the progression of certain types of dementia."
According to Gear, during the past few years, researchers have gained a better understanding of what in the brain causes memory loss. "There's still a lot we don't know, which means there's a lot learned every year." In addition to their study of biological factors, scientists are also beginning to examine potential environmental causes of memory loss.
What can you do now to help remember a good punch line or recall where you left your glasses? Both doctors agree that a healthy lifestyle is the best preventative medicine. They recommend maintaining a balanced diet, exercise, limiting alcohol intake, monitoring your blood pressure, and keeping your mind active.
In addition, beginning the screening process at a young age, particularly for people with family histories of dementia, is a way to monitor memory functioning. Mautz says he anticipates that the men and women looking to be screened on Nov. 16 will be in the 60- to 70- year range. "But, the AFA reports that 40- to 60- year-olds have shown up at screening sites in the past."
In addition to the 10-minute test offered on National Screening Day, a regular service at the Brichel Center is a memory baseline. The exam takes about an hour. "We want to provide a memory baseline for 40-year-olds that shows their performance compared to that of other 40-year-olds. We'd then compare to a peer group again at an older age to see if there have been any changes," says Mautz.
The center, which opened in August 2004, also offers services for children and adolescents, including comprehensive evaluations and psychiatric treatment.
Before they joined together and opened the Brichel Center, both doctors - one an MD and one a PhD - often collaborated, referring patients to one another. They feel that blending their practices "makes our center unique," explains Gear. "We're both trained in the biological aspects of the brain but are looking at developmental, behavioral, and emotional issues from different perspectives."