So maybe you keep losing your keys, or the names of old
acquaintances seem to escape you. For most people over 50, it's
probably not cause for alarm. But if your forgetfulness is
becoming more than a nuisance—you struggle with familiar tasks,
you're not sure where you are or how you got there, your friends
say you're repeating questions—some medical experts say you
should get a "memory screen": typically a five-minute test
featuring such tasks as memorizing a series of words,
manipulating numbers, and spelling words backward. The idea is
to test not just your memory, but everything from language
skills to overall thinking ability. The Alzheimer's Foundation
of America, a nonprofit advocacy group, recommends these
screenings to anyone with memory concerns. The foundation
sponsors National Memory Screening Day (866-232-8484) each
November, when free screenings are offered at more than 2,000
sites nationwide, including at many assisted living facilities.
The test is no substitute for a medical diagnosis, but it