Who Should Be Assessed
Although everyone 55 and older would benefit from getting a reliable memory assessment, there are several indicators of heightened risk for developing memory problems.
Everyone 55 and older would benefit from getting a reliable assessment of their memory before they are having memory problems. This assessment can be used as a baseline to which future assessments can be compared.
In addition, there are several indicators that might place you at a heightened risk for later developing memory problems such as Mild Cognitive Impairment or even Alzheimer’s disease. Below are a few of the known factors that may put you at a heightened risk for memory problems:
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a family history for dementia (especially if a member of your family was diagnosed by the age of 65)
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high blood pressure
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type II diabetes
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a known or suspected central nervous system dysfunction (e.g., stroke, tumor, etc.)
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if you are undergoing treatment involving general anesthesia or medications that affect memory
We recommend that anyone aged 55 and older consider the testing because dementias become increasingly prevalent with age. Most important is that you do not wait until you have a problem, especially a serious memory impairment, before you get tested. There is help for those with memory problems, but treatments work best if the memory problems are detected early.
Who Should Be Assessed
