by Kelsey Herbers
To help aging individuals be more proactive about their memory health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center is offering free memory screenings to anyone age 55 and older.
The screenings, led by trained staff from VUMC’s Center for Cognitive Medicine, can be completed by phone or in person, and the process takes approximately 15 minutes.
Results are available immediately, and the score provides insight into how the participant’s memory and general cognitive ability are functioning. Resources are then provided to the participant based on the results.
According to Paul Newhouse, MD, director of the Center for Cognitive Medicine, aging adults should receive a memory screening at least once after turning 65 — or earlier if they are concerned — and again if they or others note a change in their memory or cognitive abilities.
Consequences of ignoring memory health include missing early problems in memory, learning and thinking, which is when the possibility of successful intervention and treatment is greater.
“Early detection of potential memory problems can allow detection of developing memory problems and permits us to offer a more in-depth assessment and treatment if appropriate. These include standard treatments or investigational treatments that are offered through the Center for Cognitive Medicine,” said Newhouse, Jim Turner Professor of Cognitive Disorders. “Don’t forget your memory.”
The free screening program is funded by the Center for Cognitive Medicine, which is supported by federal and foundation grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association, among others.
Individuals can sign up for their free screening by calling Amy Boegel at 615-875-0955 or by emailing amy.r.boegel@vumc.org.