Cognitive screenings should not be something you write off!

We are all going to grow old; it is part of how life goes. But should we make space for cognitive screenings in the future too? The simple answer is yes!

The longer answer is that we need to understand how aging is worth it and how it will affect us as we grow physically.

And while we are all aware of how the body generally ages—white hairs, wrinkles, skin spots, and possible achy joints, just to name a few things—there are other ways that are less obvious that happen where we cannot see them!

This includes the brain! As early as hitting your thirties and forties, the brain (which stopped growing when you reached 25) is going to start to shrink, including the brain part that handles the elements of memory and learning.

Thus, as we age, not only are we going to potentially lose parts of our memory, but the aging process can also impose on the communication between our neurons and make them less effective.

These changes in our bodies are normal, but they can end up causing us problems with memory and other parts of our brain.

Some of the most common signs that there could be some issues developing with your brain include challenges with remembering words and names and decreased attention.

While these could be just normal signs of aging, they could also be pointing towards some changes in your brain that are pointing towards memory-associated diseases, so you should probably get a cognitive screening to see which one it is related to!

If you are curious to know more about cognitive screenings, why seniors (and all adults) need them, and much more, make sure you keep reading!

What are cognitive screenings?

While these cognitive screenings may sound pretty intimidating, they are not as scary as they may sound.

They are assessments that are done to test an array of factors that make up someone’s cognitive functions, with the ultimate goal being to detect any signs of memory loss or impairment when it comes to thinking, language, problem-solving, and many other cognitive aspects.

There are signs that show that a person may start having these cognitive changes, but in the long run, they are hard to depict in the early stages, and those who suffer from them may either not be aware of them or they may be in denial about what is going on.

These cognitive screenings are, more often than not, brief assessments or questionnaires that a person will have to answer.

An important thing to keep in mind is that these are not the sole reasons as to why you would get a diagnosis, but rather one of the preliminary steps so that you can see a specialist and, in case it is needed, have further evaluations with them.

As you age, think about these cognitive screenings as another tick in your yearly overall wellness check.

Just as you are checking to see if your cholesterol levels are good so as not to end up at a high risk of cardiovascular disease, think about these assessments to see if you are at risk for developing dementia.

If everything is alright, then you have nothing to worry about.

Why should seniors get one?

You should not only think about getting these if you know there is a history of cognitive impairment in your family. In reality, there are lots of reasons why these cognitive screenings are important outside of this scope. And why most older adults and seniors should get them done.

To begin with, they are the best way to see if there are any changes in your thinking patterns and functions, as well as your memory. Doing such an assessment can help you pinpoint if you are dealing with significant difficulties, and even if there is nothing too big, there are ways to fix them.

In a lot of cases, if the change is not too drastic, it is easier to pinpoint the underlying cause, and fixing certain nutritional deficiencies or getting help from medications can help fix the issue before it becomes more noticeable.

In the case that there is a history of dementia in your family and the cognitive screening shows there are some signs of it appearing in you as well, studies have shown that early stages of dementia can be slowed down with the newly available drugs on the market.

Likewise, there are lifestyle changes that can also have the same effect.

Finding out you may be suffering from the early stages of a memory-related disease, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, or even Parkinson’s, is crucial, as you can slow the progression of the disease and be on top of it before it takes a significant toll on your life.

Yet, when should you start getting cognitive screenings? Who performs them? What do you do once you have your results? Keep on reading to find out.

Who performs them?

The easiest way to get a cognitive screening done is to ask for one at your primary care doctor’s office, potentially when you are going in to get your yearly checkup done as well.

While it may sound a bit peculiar, they are well-equipped to do the initial screening, and since they are familiar with you as their patient, they can help you pinpoint any cognitive changes through such an assessment.

Unfortunately, there are not enough specialists in this field (namely neurologists and geriatricians) who could see all aging adults and seniors in a timely manner for such a screening, so getting one done through your primary care doctor is the best thing.

That way, you can easily and timely get one done and see if any changes need to be made, any medications,, or if there is a need to visit a specialist soon.

When should seniors get their first screening?

The easiest way to get a cognitive screening is to get one once you enroll in Medicare. This generally happens once you have reached the age of 64, as it should be included in the annual checkup you should have.

In the annual checkup, you will most likely have a basic cognitive screening included. If you have never had any issues with your memory or thinking patterns, then you should not be getting one earlier than 65.

Yet, make sure you keep in mind that you may have to ask for the cognitive screening once you go for the check-up.

Studies and research show that not all Medicare beneficiaries take advantage of their cognitive assessment, with a large number of them not even going to the annual wellness visit.

Out of those who do, not all of them have a cognitive assessment during their wellness visit, so when you start going or when you think you or a loved one may benefit from one, inquire about the cognitive screening even if you are not told about it.

Should you wait for signs before getting a screening?

Here’s one of the most commonly asked questions when people think about cognitive screenings. As we mentioned before, even if you have some signs, they may not be very obvious, or you may be none the wiser about them.

This is why doctors will end up performing one if they have a patient who comes and talks to them about how they forget to take their meds or if they mention any sort of memory problems.

You do not have to be 65 or older for these memory issues to manifest, and you should not expect them to only manifest after that age. There are other issues that are not related to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease that could impair your cognitive functions.

This is why these screenings are designed to look for signs that are not clinically apparent, and you do not need to wait for the obvious signs of memory or brain function decline to get one performed.

If you are looking to stay on top of everything and make sure that you are taking care of your brain and memory in the best way possible, we recommend you add some fun to the mix. These memory games, puzzles, and challenges are the best way to make sure you keep exercising your brain while also having fun!

If you want to start working on having a healthy diet while also maintaining your brain’s health, make sure you add foods that are known to help the brain stay in tip-top condition! If you are curious about those foods, check out this article! The best thing yet is that they are all delicious!