Health & Wellness by Ryan Baker, MD, FAAFP
Don’t Forget to Talk to Your Primary Care Physician About Memory Loss
Any good primary care provider is going to look for early signs of Alzheimer’s and screen for it.
By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s Disease is projected to reach 7.2 million; that’s a 16% increase from the 6.2 million age 65 and older affected in 2021.
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and after family members, primary care physicians are often the first to notice the signs in a patient. This is a big topic, especially with our older population here in Florida. Most often, it’s not the patients themselves who bring up the issue to me, but it’s their spouse, family member or caregiver who brings it up during an appointment.
So, what’s normal age-related memory loss and when should you be concerned it might be something more? I like to say, if you go to the mall and forget where you parked your car, that’s normal. But if you forget how you got to the mall, there’s a bigger issue.
Alzheimer’s is very rare before the age of 65, and advanced age is of course the most relevant risk factor for developing the disease. In fact, the incidence doubles in prevalence every year after the age of 65.
An annual memory screening is included in the free Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, and it is just one of the many reasons that regular check-ins with your doctor are so important. Any good primary care provider is going to look for early signs of Alzheimer’s and screen for it. It’s a simple non-invasive screening done right in the office, but it lets me know what, if any, next steps need to be taken, like medications or referral to a specialist.
Scheduling an Annual Wellness Visit is also a great opportunity for the spouse or caregiver of a person with Alzheimer’s to address their own healthcare. Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s have a tough role, and very often let their own physical and mental health needs go unaddressed. If you’re living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, it’s so important that you take care of yourself as well. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of your loved one.
About Millennium Physician Group:
Millennium Physician Group is the largest comprehensive, independent physician group in Florida with more than 550 healthcare providers at 150 locations in 19 Florida counties serving nearly half a million patients. Learn more at www.MillenniumPhysician.com.
CONTACT:
Dr. Ryan Baker/Millennium Physician Group
2299 9th Ave. N, Suite 1A, St. Petersburg, FL 33713
727-655-9854