If Memory Serves...

The last time you saw your doctor, he likely told you about your heart, your cholesterol, your blood pressure… but did he mention anything about your mind? Or did you think to ask?

While we may not always listen to prevailing wisdom, the Health Revolution and accessibility of wellness information has made all of us far more conscious about eating right, exercise, and well care than previous generations were. But it only just came to my attention that people have less concern about mind health than they do about body health.

And this is not necessarily a wise thing.

Recently, I was hosted by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Headquartered in Manhattan, the national foundation is headed by my former colleague Senator Charles Fuschillo, Jr., who, along with his staff, presented startling statistics that I was unaware of.

Here are a few:

* More than 5 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease.

* It’s estimated that about a half million Americans younger than age 65 have some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s.

* While Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, the risk of developing the illness increases with age and doubles every five years beyond age 65.

* One to four family members act as caregivers for each individual with Alzheimer’s disease.

Many of us have seen it up close: It’s not just the individual with the disease who is impacted but also any number of close relatives who become de facto caregivers.

The good news is that there are resources available for those suffering from Alzheimer’s, as well as those who help them and their loved ones. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a center for disseminating such information.

Among its many services, the AFA provides free memory screenings, which I plan to offer in my district. No one wants to be the bearer of bad news, but early detection and awareness-raising education is important, and I urge community leaders who are in a position to share information with others to look into these free memory screening and education opportunities.

As I learned yesterday, everyone loses his or her keys. It’s when you find them and don’t remember what they’re for that you have to start worrying. For 5 million Americans learning to cope with the onset of Alzheimer’s – to say nothing of the 10 to 20 million people they will impact with their care needs – this is a serious matter. But a little diligence can make it easier.

State Senator Simcha Felder


(This column originally appeared in The Jewish Press on Sept. 1, 2016)