The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) has been awarded a Suffolk County Marathon grant to provide free memory screenings to Suffolk County veterans and their families. Memory screenings take place every Monday and Wednesday from 10AM to 4PM and every Friday from 10AM to 2PM and will be conducted virtually, allowing veterans to get screened from the comfort of their homes. Veterans can make an appointment by calling AFA at (866)232-8484.
The National Memory Screening Program has memory screening professionals administer a virtual (face to face) memory screening that is completely confidential. These screenings only take 10 minutes and consist of a series of questions and tasks that gauge one’s thinking, language, and memory skills. It gives an individual a baseline for where their cognitive functioning is at that time. Numerous studies have shown that there are benefits to early detection of memory problems. Being able to identify the causes of a memory problem can afford a participant to plan ahead for themselves legally, financially, and also for their future care needs.
Currently, more than 50,000 individuals in Suffolk County and 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. The greatest risk factor of Alzheimer’s Disease is age (65+). To date, there are more than 450,000 veterans over the age of 65 in New York State, and Suffolk County is home to the largest population of veterans in the state. In addition, a clinical history of conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans may increase their risk of dementia. Early detection of any memory less or cognitive decline is essential to either treating or reversing the problem, or in a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, a plan can be made for care and support.
