NATCHEZ REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER OFFERS MEMORY SECREENING November is Recognized as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month President Ronald Reagan launched a national campaign against Alzheimer’s Disease twenty five years ago when he designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983. At that time, fewer than two million Americans had Alzheimer’s. The former President, in a latter to the American public, courageously announced his own Alzheimer’s diagnosis to the public in 1994 and passed away ten years later. Today, as many as 5.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease and millions more of their families and caregivers. While there is much we do not yet know about Alzheimer’s Disease, tremendous progress has been made since 1983. In support of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, Natchez Regional Medical Center will focus on raising awareness and shedding light on the importance of healthy living and early detection of Alzheimer’s. We also encourage anyone dealing with this disease to attend our monthly Alzheimer’s Support Group, held at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of every month at NRMC. While many people receive annual screenings for vision, dental, PSA and mammograms, I would bet that most people have not had their mind or memory screened. Although individuals as young as 35 have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, individuals 65 and older are in the highest risk category. Many believe that “old” people are supposed to have memory loss, but this just isn’t so! A Memory Screening makes sense for anyone concerned about memory loss, a family history of Alzheimer’s Disease or a desire to establish a baseline score for future comparisons. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you might benefit from a Memory Screening: --Am I becoming more forgetful? --Do I have trouble concentrating? --Do I have difficulty performing familiar tasks? --Do I have trouble recalling words or names in conversations? --Do I sometimes forget where I am? --Have family and friends told me that I am repeating questions or saying the same thing over and over again? --Have I become lost when walking or driving in a familiar neighborhood? --Have my family and friends noticed changes in my mood, behavior, personality or desire to do things? Your memory can be affected by a number of factors ranging from stress, lack of sleep, vitamin deficiencies, depression or thyroid problems. Memory screening is not used to diagnosis any particular illness and does not replace consultation with a qualified specialist. It is not an IQ test. However, it is helpful because it can test your memory, language skills, thinking ability and other intellectual functions. It most importantly indicates whether you would benefit from more testing. Natchez Regional Medical Center is pleased to bring you a free, face to face Memory Screening on Thursday, November 13 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Magnolia Room, located on the first floor of the hospital. The screening takes approximately 5 – 10 minutes and consists of a series of questions and tasks administered by qualified healthcare professionals. As stated previously, the screening does not represent a diagnosis. Individuals who score below normal or who still have concerns are encouraged to pursue follow-up evaluations. For additional information, please contact Katie Porter-Foster, Assessment Coordinator of the Behavioral Health Unit at NRMC, at 601-443-2330. ###