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Help for Seniors Who Worry About Memory Problems
By
Jim Miller
Many seniors worry about memory lapses as they get older, fearing
it may be the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type
of dementia. To get some insight on the seriousness of your mom’s
problem, here are some key warning signs to be vigilant of and some resources
you can turn to for help.
Warning Signs
As we grow older, some memory difficulties – such as trouble remembering
names of people or places or forgetting where you put your glasses – are
associated with normal aging. But the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are
much more than simple memory lapses. Knowing the early warning signs is a good
first step in recognizing the difference between typical age-related memory loss
and a more serious problem. To help you evaluate your mom’s condition,
here’s a checklist of some common early symptoms to watch for:
• Asking the same questions repeatedly.
• Getting lost in familiar areas.
• Failing to recognize familiar people.
• Having difficulty following directions.
• Misplaces items in inappropriate places, for example putting her keys
in the microwave.
• Having difficulty completing familiar tasks like cooking a meal or paying
a bill.
• Having trouble remembering common words when speaking, or mixing up words.
For more information, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of 10
warning signs that you can access at 10signs.org, or call 800-272-3900 and request
a free copy of their booklet “Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease: What
it is and what you can do.”
Another good screening tool is the self-administered cognitive screening (SAGE)
test that was developed at The Ohio State University Medical Center. This test
helps identify mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, and can be taken
at home in about 10 to 15 minutes. You can download the SAGE test along with
scoring instructions at sagetest.osu.edu.
Get Help
After going through the warning signs and/or testing of your mom, if you’re
still concerned, get her in to see her doctor for a thorough medical examination.
Her doctor may then refer her to a geriatrician or neurologist who specializes
in diagnosing and treating memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease.
Keep in mind that even if your mom is experiencing some memory problems, it doesn’t
necessarily mean she has early stage Alzheimer’s. Many memory problems
are brought on by other factors like stress, depression, thyroid disease, side
effects of medications, sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies and other medical
conditions. And by treating these conditions she can reduce or eliminate the
problem.
Free Memory Screening
Another option you should know about is National Memory Screening Day on Nov.
13, where your mom can get her memory tested for free. Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s
Foundation of America (AFA), this free service provides a confidential, face-to-face
memory screening that takes about 10 minutes to complete and consists of questions
and/or tasks to evaluate her memory status.
The screening is given by doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social
workers or other healthcare professionals in more than 2,500 sites across the
country. It’s also important to know that this screening is not a diagnosis.
Instead, its goal is to detect problems and refer individuals with these problems
for further evaluation.
To find a screening site in your area visit nationalmemoryscreening.org or call
866-232-8484. The AFA recommends checking for a screening location shortly before
Nov. 13, because new sites are constantly being added.
This page and its contents ©2012
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
