As part of National Memory Screening Day – an annual initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of
America (AFA) – senior centers in both Bowling Green and Perrysburg will be offering private memory
screenings on Tuesday.The Wood County Senior Center will provide confidential screenings at 305 N. Main St.,
Bowling Green, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Featured speaker Lynn Dennie of Waugh Consulting will discuss
"Exercise, Memory and You" from 1 to 2 p.m.This event is supported by Heritage Corner Health Care
Campus and Right at Home Health Care. To register call the county senior center at 419-353-5661 or
1-800-367-4935 or email [email protected] on Tuesday, the Perrysburg Area Senior Center will provide
private and confidential screenings at 140 W. Indiana Ave. from 1 to 3 p.m. It will also offer brain gym
exercises from 1 to 2 p.m. to challenge participants and to provide more information on the unique features
of our brains.Event sponsors are Senior Helpers and St. Clare Commons. To register call the Perrysburg
senior center at 419-874-0847.Qualified healthcare professionals 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, and take five to 10 minutes to administer.Both the BG
and Perrysburg events are free and open to the community, regardless of age."Wood County Committee on
Aging strives to keep individuals independent and assists them to remain in their own homes. Through events
like this we are able to provide resources for those with concerns about their cognitive abilities,"
noted Danielle Brogley, director of programs. "This information is necessary so that they may plan
ahead to avoid a potential crisis situation."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.Screeners emphasize that results are not a diagnosis, and encourage those
who score poorly as well as those who still have concerns to pursue a full medical examination.Such
screenings are becoming increasingly important as the number of Baby Boomers turning age 65 – the at-risk
age group for Alzheimer’s disease – continues to climb. The federal government’s historic "National
Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease" urges a greater emphasis on both early diagnosis and education
about Alzheimer’s and related dementias.However, an AFA survey of 2010 National Memory Screening Day
participants found that 92 percent of those polled had never been given a screening by their primary
health-care provider; and 83 percent who were worried about their memory had not discussed their concerns
with a doctor."Brain health should be on everyone’s radar screen, especially as you age. Memory
screenings are a first but critical step toward finding out where you stand now and what additional steps
you might need to take," said Carol Steinberg, president of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.Some
memory problems, like those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid issues, are readily treatable and even
curable. Others might be due to Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Although there currently is no cure for
Alzheimer’s, early intervention can improve the quality of an individual’s life; available medications may
help slow progression of symptoms and diagnosed individuals can more readily participate in long-term care
planning.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. The number of
Americans with Alzheimer’s is expected to triple to 13.8 million by mid-century. Advanced age is the
greatest known risk factor for the disease.