Senior health expert fields questions surrounding the mental health of the elderly

• DEAR SUE: Forgetfulness is something everyone experiences from time to time, but at what point does it indicate the beginning of a more serious problem?
• Memory loss: Yes, it is true that forgetfulness and memory loss can be symptoms of more serious problems, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have Alzheimer's disease.
• � Trouble making choices or handling money.
• Memory screening: A memory screening is a good first step towards early detection of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, or other types of conditions that can cause memory loss.
• If you have some concerns about your memory loss or have a family history of Alzheimer's disease, National Memory Screening Day on Nov. 15 is a great opportunity to get tested.
• Initiated by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, this is a free service that provides a confidential, face-to-face memory screening that takes about 10 minutes to complete and consists of questions and/or tasks to assess your memory, language skills, thinking ability and other intellectual functions.
• The screening is given by doctors, social workers or other health-care professionals in hundreds of convenient locations in communities across the country.
• It's important to know that this memory screening does not diagnose an illness, but can flag a potential problem.
• Those who have a memory screening test that raises concerns will be encouraged to see a doctor or other healthcare professional as soon as possible.
• Early detection: Early diagnosis is very important because many of the conditions that cause memory loss are treatable and may be reversible.
• And for irreversible illnesses like Alzheimer's disease, even though it can't be stopped, early detection is significant because there are several medications that if taken early, can help delay its devastating effects.