Put your memory to the test

Brain health is the catch phrase for a Canadian agency that seeks to improve life for the elderly. In conjunction with Seniors’ Month, the Alzheimer’s Foundation for Caregiving in Canada (AFCC) is hosting its second annual National Memory Screening Day on Tuesday, June 23.

The first screening day was held last November and, despite low attendance, organizers called it a success. About two-thirds of participants reported complaints about their memories but little more than one-tenth had actually discussed the matter with their physicians.

Robert Appleton, the director of development and communication for the AFCC, said the timing of the event is critical to reaching a broader audience. There were some external factors that worked against getting more people out to the fall screening.

“We did that because it was tied into our American counterparts who also did it in Alzheimer’s Month, which is November down in the States,” he related. “What we found, of course, is that in the middle of November in Canada … we had some really snowy weather. For seniors, that’s difficult for them to get out. Our Alzheimer’s Day in Canada is in January, which isn’t a helluva lot better so we decided to go to Seniors’ Month in June.”

Nearly 1,000 people were screened during the first outing at about 60 sites across the country. This time around, more than 260 sites will be up and running and Appleton predicts reaching a broader audience.

“We anticipate that we’re going to have in the neighbourhood of 5,000-plus Canadians getting a free screening.”

The screening process is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. Qualified health care professionals conduct a personal but non-invasive test involving a series of questions and tasks that take about five minutes.

While the results don’t represent a diagnosis, screeners can identify areas of concern and recommend the client to follow up with their family doctor. Sometimes memory issues are the result of treatable conditions like vitamin deficiencies or a thyroid problem. Of course, early detection of more serious conditions including Alzheimer’s disease is also critical.

“We need to engage our Canadian community to bring memory and dementia issues to the forefront of our health care discussions, especially as our population ages,” said Taras W. Rohatyn, AFCC president.

It is estimated that nearly 300,000 Canadians have Alzheimer’s disease. That figure is expected to double in the next 20 years.