Marywood University To Hold Free Confidential Memory Screenings

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 15. Screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Psychological Services Center.

            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 last approximately 10 minutes.

            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, advanced clinical psychology doctoral students will administer the screenings, which consist of a series of questions and tasks, and take five to ten 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. Additional assessment may be scheduled at the time of the screening through Marywood’s Psychological Services Center.

            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 questions about memory screenings or other mental health concerns, please contact Marywood’s Psychological Services Center at (570) 348-6269.

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