title: Findings from the National Memory Screening Day program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report experience with a large, nation-wide public memory screening program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study of community-dwelling elderly adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Local community sites (48 sites agreed to provide data) throughout the United States participating in National Memory Screening Day in November 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 4,369 reported participants, 3,064 had complete data records and are included in this report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a questionnaire that included basic demographic information and a question about subjective memory concerns. Each site selected one of seven validated cognitive screening tests: Mini-Cog, General Practitioner assessment of Cognition, Memory Impairment Screen, Kokmen Short Test of Mental Status, Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 11.7% failed one of the seven screening tests. As expected, failure rates were higher in older and less-educated participants (P's < .05). Subjective memory concerns were associated with a 40% greater failure rate for persons of similar age and education but no memory concerns (odds ratio = 1.4, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-1.78), although only 11.9% of those who reported memory concerns (75% of all participants) had detectible memory problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening for cognitive impairment in community settings yielded results consistent with expected effects of age and education. The event attracted a large proportion of individuals with memory concerns; 88.1% were told that they did not have memory problems detectible with the tests used. Further studies are needed to assess how participants respond to and use screening information, whether this information ultimately influences decision-making or outcomes, and whether memory screening programs outside healthcare settings have public health value.
authors: War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veteran Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Bayley
authors: Jennifer Y
authors: JY
authors: Kong
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Mendiondo
authors: Laura C
authors: LC
authors: Lazzeroni
authors: Soo
authors: S
authors: Borson
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Buschke
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Dean
authors: Howard
authors: H
authors: Fillit
authors: Lori
authors: L
authors: Frank
authors: Frederick A
authors: FA
authors: Schmitt
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Peschin
authors: Sanford
authors: S
authors: Finkel
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Austen
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Steinberg
authors: John Wesson
authors: JW
authors: Ashford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; dementia; memory screening; subjective memory