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Memory Screening Could Help Prevent Alzheimer's

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) - November is National Alzheimer's awareness month and Nov. 19 is National Memory Screening Day.

Alzheimer's Foundation of America President Carol Steinberg joined KDKA's Larry Richert and John Shumway to talk about prevention, early detection, National Memory Screening Day and more.

Asked if a new study that claims exercise can help prevent or slow down the progression of Alzheimer's, President Steinberg says you have to be careful when looking at research involving the disease.

"There's no absolute evidence that anything someone does can prevent Alzheimer's disease at this point," Steinberg said. "[But] healthy lifestyle choices may help reduce risk factors of the disease."

Steinberg says there is a long way to go with finding a cure, but there are advancements being made in finding causes of the disease and ways to treat it.

She says there isn't much money there for research and that Alzheimer's is the fastest growing health threat in the United States.

Tuesday, Nov. 19 is National Memory Screening Day. It's a day that "provides free confidential screenings to people across the country who have memory concerns, who have a family history of Alzheimer's disease, or who want to check their memory now for future comparison."

Steinberg stresses it is not a diagnosis, but can be used to "raise a red flag." She says it is a non-invasive process that only takes 5 to 7 minutes.

Steinberg says the main reason for Memory Screening Day is to, "start a conversation about memory concerns."

To find out more information you can visit www.Nationalscreening.org

President Carol Steinberg

Listen to Larry Richert and John Shumway every weekday from 5 to 9 a.m. on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA.

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