INDIANAPOLIS — In Check Up 13 this month, we are talking about the health of your brain as you age.
Mary Sullivan was worried her "senior moments" could be something more sinister. She was committed to following up with her doctor after concerns her brain wasn't working right.
"It showed itself in my conversations," Sullivan said. "I'd be grasping for words, and the more I worried about it, the more it was happening. I was fearing dementia. I was fearing early Alzheimer's. I was looking at all these things."
Sullivan took part in a free cognitive screening.
"When I say it was kind of fun, it was because it was like different games. I like puzzles, so there were word games, there's connect the dots, are these things the same or different, and they did get increasingly difficult," Sullivan said.
Following the screening, her neuropsychologist delivered good news.
"Fortunately, we were able to do the assessment and it really showed that her cognitive abilities were completely normal for her age," said Dr. Kent Berry, a neuropsychologist at Ascension St. Vincent Center for Healthy Aging in Indianapolis.
The screening also revealed those senior moment symptoms were likely caused by anxiety.
"I slept well that night, I did. My husband was so relieved. And that fear, because I think the fear built into my anxiety, which made my symptoms worse," Sullivan said.
Berry agreed.
"That worry was actually causing more problems than any actual changes in her thinking," Berry said.
That knowledge made all the difference.
"It really alleviated my anxiety," Sullivan said.
And her symptoms subsided. Now, she's learned to fuel her brain by staying active and engaged and staying in touch if things get off track.
"There's nothing better than moving forward with that relief," Sullivan said.
Brain Health: Simple Dementia Screening to Put Your Mind at Ease
Forgetting where you left your car keys? Grasping for the right word? Many older adults live in fear that their memory isn't what it used to be — and worry what that could mean for their continued independence. The anxiety over such “senior moments” may cause more problems than any actual changes in someone's cognitive functions.
Fortunately, June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month — a perfect time for anyone 65 or older to get a free cognitive screening at Ascension St. Vincent.
“It's so intimidating to confront perceived cognitive changes because there's a big stigma in our society about what dementia is, what cognitive decline means for older adults, and how that affects independence,” Berry said. “Waiting doesn't help with any of that. So, the earlier we can identify a problem, the better our outcomes are going to be.”
This short screening, which takes no more than 15-30 minutes, puts people through a simple conversation-based and written test to quickly assess any potential cognitive impairments. Results are provided at the end of the screening, and if further testing is recommended, a follow-up appointment can be made with a geriatrician that will be billed to insurance.
WTHR Check Up 13
In partnership with WTHR-13News, this month's Cognitive Screening is open to anyone 65 years and older. On June 13, you can sign up for the free screening by submitting the form below or calling the Ascension St. Vincent CARELine at 866-UCHECK13 (866-824-3251) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. To learn more about Ascension St. Vincent Center for Healthy Aging, visit this website.
To register, call the hotline today, or request online at WTHR.com by midnight Thursday.