New Screening Tool Helps Detect Alzheimer’s (NAPSA)—An 86-year-old man gets lost in his own neighborhood. A 62-year-old woman forgets once familiar names. Memory problems can be frustrating and confusing for families and they may be signs of something more serious, such as Alzheimer’s disease. “Families ask ‘How much of this is normal aging?” says Dean Knudson, M.D., geriatric psychiatrist and Medical Director of Nation’s CareLink. Now, for the first time, many individuals can be screened for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in the privacy of their home, via a telephone interview. “The Minnesota Cognitive Acu- ity Screen (MCAS)is an excellent a ’ os if Answering the call for an easier way to tell if someone has Alzheimer’s Disease is a new first course of action when loved telephoneinterview program. developed the screening tool to alleviate or identify concerns. tion of dementia means families have more cause for hope as additional, better treatment and care options become available.” ones experience memory problems,” says Knudson, who co“Early detection (of Alzheimer’s and dementia) means greater opportunity to assess medication, long-term care and other options.” The MCAStelephone interview is conducted by a registered nurse, trained to screen for cogni- tive problems. Designed and vali- dated by a team of scientists during a two-year period, the MCAS has been found to identify mild/moderate dementia over 98 percent of the time. MCAS ques- tions relate to a person’s basic orientation, problem solving, mem- “The MCASprovides a much needed bridge between expensive medical evaluations and the so- called ‘watchful waiting’ option,” adds Knudson. With the cost of a telephone screening at $95, the MCASoffers an affordable and convenient first step for detect- ing mild or moderate dementia. It is intended to help individuals and their physician determine whether further evaluation is needed. The results of the MCAS should not be used for making ory and reasoning skills. The medical treatment decisions with- are advised to contact their physi- CareLink is a national health assessments company that develops health screening services and cognitive assessment tools used by insurance companies, physi- interview takes only 15 minutes to complete and results are mailed within 24 hours after the MCAS has been completed. Individuals cians to discuss the results. “There are many causes of memory problems and confusion, and someof them can betreated,” says Yogesh Shah, M.D., a geri- atric physician and Associate Director at the Mercy Mayoclinic in Des Moines, Iowa. “Early detec- out a diagnosis by a physician. Based in Minneapolis, Nation’s cians and other healthcare pro- viders. For more information about the Minnesota Cognitive Acuity Screen, contact the MCAS Center at 1-866-884-6100 or visit www.cognitivescreening.com.
