National Memory Screening Day: November 9

As part of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) National Memory Screening Program, Marywood University in Scranton will offer free, confidential memory screenings on November 9. Screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Psychological Services Center.

According to the event organizer, Dr. Brooke Cannon, professor of psychology and clinical neuropsychologist, “Annual memory screenings, like regular physical exams, allow for identification of potential cognitive problems and monitoring of already existing impairment.”

Trained and supervised by Dr. Cannon, graduate student members of Marywood’s Association of Neuropsychology Students in Training will administer the memory screenings and provide educational materials about memory concerns, brain health, and caregiving. The face-to-face screenings consist of a series of questions and tasks, taking approximately 10 minutes.

AFA suggests memory screenings for anyone concerned about memory loss or experiencing warning signs of dementia; whose family and friends have noticed changes in them; who believe they are at risk due to a family history of dementia; or who want to see how their memory is now and for future comparisons. Warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion and personality changes.

Screeners emphasize that results are not a diagnosis, and encourage individuals who score below the normal threshold, as well as those who still have concerns, to see their primary care physician for a thorough evaluation.

Currently, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and that number is expected to nearly triple by mid-century. Advanced age is the greatest known risk factor for the disease, which results in loss of memory and other intellectual functions, and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

For more information about the National Memory Screening Program, call (toll-free) 866-232-8484 or visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org.

For more information about National Memory Screening Day at Marywood University, please call the Psychological Services Center at (570) 348-6269. For additional information about Marywood University, please visit www.marywood.edu, or call the Office of Admissions, at (570) 348-6234.