Memory Screening — While occasional bouts of forgetfulness are not uncommon, memory loss that causes problems in your life is a sign that you should speak with your healthcare provider. They may recommend memory screening – and we think you should follow their advice.
Memory screening in adults is a process of testing memory and other thinking skills to identify possible cognitive impairment. It can indicate whether a further medical checkup is needed.
Memory screening is a simple and safe assessment tool that takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Memory screening is important for many reasons
- Detecting the onset and type of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Early detection allows for early intervention and treatment, which may slow down the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life for the patient and their caregivers.
- Differentiating between neurologic and psychiatric causes of cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, depression, delirium, medication side effects, metabolic or endocrine dysfunction, etc. This can help guide the diagnosis and management of the underlying condition.
- Predicting the functional outcomes and abilities of the patient, such as driving risk, decision-making capacity, independent living skills, etc. This can help plan for the future needs and care of the patient and their family.
- Monitoring the recovery and rehabilitation of the patient after a brain injury or illness, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumor, etc. This can help evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and adjust it accordingly.
- Providing a baseline for comparison with future memory screens to track changes over time.
Age as a memory loss factor
Age is a major risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia, and the prevalence of these conditions does increase with age. Dementia affects an estimated 3.2% of persons aged 65 to 74 years, 9.9% of those aged 75 to 84 years, and 29.3% of those 85 years or older.
Other Risk factors
Risk factors for cognitive impairment or dementia include family history, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, head injury, and so on. These may increase the likelihood of developing cognitive impairment or dementia over time.
“Honey, where are my keys?”
“Hey, babe, have you seen my glasses?”
“ARG! Where did I leave my jacket?”
If these questions are common in your household, it could be time to talk about memory screening.
Symptoms
Memory screening is recommended for anybody who is concerned about their memory or cognitive performance. Additionally, those with known signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment – problems with memory, language, attention, executive function, perceptual motor function, or social cognition. These symptoms often interfere with daily activities and quality of life for all involved – patient and household, caregivers, and so on.
Memory screening benefits
The benefits of memory screening can be as life changing as providing early detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment, allowing for early intervention and treatment, as well as seeing and treating reversible vs. irreversible causes of impairment. Screening also allows your doctor to predict future abilities, to monitor recovery and rehabilitation, and, certainly, reassurance when the screening results indicate a treatable cause, or are normal.
Read more about memory screening at the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
Enjoy patient-centered health care with PPMA!