Arlington Hts. Senior Center offers memory screenings

The Arlington Heights Senior Center is offering free, confidential memory screenings and educational materials about brain health on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

The event is part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America during National Alzheimer's disease Awareness Month.

Catholic Charities Northwest Senior Services will provide the screenings from, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the center, 1801 W. Central Road. Staying Sharp resources and materials are available, as is a caregiver specialist who can answer questions. For information, call (847) 253-5532.

Professionals conduct the confidential, face-to-face screenings, which consist of a series of questions and tasks to test memory, language skills, thinking ability and other intellectual functions as a first step toward the detection of memory problems. The results do not represent a diagnosis, but they can indicate whether the individual should follow up with a health care professional.

Some memory problems can be readily treated, while others are not currently reversible. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat.

Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people's names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills and confusion over daily routines. Screenings also are appropriate for those who do not have a concern right now, but who want a basis for future comparisons.