Free Memory Screenings for Brain Optimization

 Boca Raton, FL— Consumers who want a status check on their memory can take advantage of free, confidential screenings on November 17 as part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) designed to promote proper detection of memory problems and strategies for successful aging.

 Memory screenings are a significant first step toward finding out if a person may have a memory problem. Memory problems could be caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other medical conditions.   

 Now in its seventh year, AFA’s National Memory Screening Day coincides with National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, which takes place during November.

    On November 17,  Sparks of Genius Brain Optimization Center will hold memory screenings at 7777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, from 10 am – 3 pm. Please call 561-859-4060 for more information or to make an appointment. You are also welcome to stop by.  Refreshments will be provided.

    At Sparks of Genius we offer cognitive training program which can slow down the progression of memory loss or delay it’s onset.

    AFA suggests memory screenings for adults concerned about memory loss or experiencing warning signs of dementia; whose family and friends have noticed changes in them; or who believe they are at risk due to a family history of Alzheimer’s disease or a related illness. Screenings also are appropriate for those who do not have a concern right now, but who want to see how their memory is now and for future comparisons.

    The event features a face-to-face screening, which takes only about five to ten minutes, and consists of a series of questions and tasks. Screenings will be conducted by Dr. Rohn Kessler, Dr. Amy Price and Ninah Kessler, LCSW. The results do not represent a diagnosis, and AFA advises those individuals with below-normal scores or those who have normal scores but are still concerned to follow up with a qualified healthcare professional.

     Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and CEO, is urging consumers “to be proactive about brain health.”

    ”We pay so much attention to the health of our bodies, but we should be equally concerned about the health of our brains,” he said. “National Memory Screening Day offers the opportunity to find out how your memory is now and to learn how to protect it in the future.”

        For more information about National Memory Screening Day, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org or call 866-AFA-8484.

Medical Specialist Appointment and You

By Amy Price PhD
You have been sent to a specialist…what next? First of all sort out what you expect to happen as a result of this visit. What are your goals? Make sure they are realistic. If this was easy your primary care doctor could probably fix it.

Before your visit explain what records you have and ask which of these they would like you to copy and pre-send. Usually you can get copies of MRIs or other diagnostic tests on CD. They are easier to carry with you or send than bulky films. If you choose to send your diagnostic results and films call and confirm they arrived. Get a cost for a cash price unless you have medical insurance which will cover your visit so that you will know your costs and if you can absorb them.

If you are making a distance appointment insist on a phone consultation so you will know if your expectations are viable. If the staff you speak with don’t have information about a certain area make arrangements to call back when it is available. This way all the preliminary material is out of the way and your appt can focus on what is most important. Explain you are travelling from out of town and are in pain and request the best time of day to be seen promptly. Emergencies or office back ups can still happen but this step minimizes the possibility.

Write down what you consider to be the most important things you want covered in your visit. The reason you may want to do this is because chronic pain and injury can cause us to be sidetracked by emotion. You may get a compassionate response but it may eat away at the time available.

This is the place to get your MRI and other diagnostic tests explained. The doctor that ordered the test is the one who needs to explain it. Get an advance copy of the report and ask about what you don’t understand. We get emails every day from people who want us to translate the MRI or other diagnostics. We cannot do this because the MRI is only part of the equipment needed for a diagnosis. It is your job to make sure you understand your diagnosis before you leave the doctor’s office.

It is helpful to plan a nice dinner out or a treat for yourself for afterwards and if you can, take someone with you who will remember what the Doctor says. The reason for this is it will be difficult for you to reconcile yourself to a 40 minute appt when the injury has taken over your life 24/7. Even though your appointment time may be quite generous, logic and rational thought cannot always be counted on, when you just want it fixed.

Now relax and trust the specialist you have chosen!

Toddler helped by stem cells (Denver Post, 2009)

By Amy Price PhD

Chloe Levine  is  another one of the children in the Duke University study who has shown pronounced improvement of cerebral palsy after treatment with her own umbilical cord. There have been multiple questions from parents on cord banking and the advantages of banking umbilical cords. This is a follow up on the Dallas Hextell story

It should be noted that  if you choose to private  bank there may be issues with transporting the cord cells across state lines or out of  the country both with safe transport for the cells and with legal issues. There is also a great deal of expertise needed to bring the cells back from a frozen state to where they will be of use to grow out healthy stem cells. It may be best to check  carefully in these areas to avoid complications later on down the road if the cells are needed and you have relocated.

For those that have questions on using donated umbilical cords I have found stem cell companies that claim postitive results but I have not been able to locate peer reviewed research on children or large animals for this area. This does not mean they do not exist as the stem cell research arena grows daily so if anyone has cerebral palsy stem cell therapy research using other means  I would be happy to add this

Dr Frances Verter of Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation graciously helped us  out with some answers. This site has excellent in depth information.

Dr. Amy Price wrote:

It is not clear if children whose cord blood is stored in a public bank will have access to their own cord blood should the need arise. Could you please elaborate on this? Obviously unless the disease is genetic it would make sense to use own donor supplied cells….There is a mail in component but this does not make it clear how a parent would take these steps ….please advise, we get a lot of parents asking about this

Dear Amy,

The “consent” form signed by the mother when they donate to a
public bank makes it very clear that  they are giving up all
ownership or rights to the cells.

Will the parents be able to donate?
Only IF
1) IF they are delivering the baby at a hospital which collects
for a public bank
2) IF they deliver during whatever hours the public bank operates
(sometimes only day shift)
3) IF the mother passes the maternal history screening
4) IF they register early enough

Will they get them back should a need arise?
Yes, but only IF:
1) IF the cells were not discarded.  Typically 60% of donations
to public banks are discarded, usually because of low volume, other
reasons could be infectious disease testing, etc.
2) IF the cells have not been released to someone else.

A lot of parents have the misguided idea that donation is a cheap
way to preserve for themselves.  They should not think in those terms.
Donations is an altruistic act.

There is only one bank which accepts mail-in donations,
Cryobanks Intl in Florida.  I have heard that their rejection
rate is very high, because on top of sample size there is also
shipping time issues.  Here is their enrollment form:
http://www.cryo-intl.com/enroll/donating/

I hope this helps,
Fran Verter

For long trips instant ice can be purchased at pharmacies, large discount stores or order online. These are disposable one use ice packs that are activated by squeezing them. If you have no grip strength, step on them or ask someone with working hands to activate them for you. Bring or buy epsom salts, they are an inexpensive way to ease stiffness. Just drop a handful into a hot bath and you are good to go!

An Electrical Accupuncture system such as ETPS is a great pain reliever. It will fit in hand luggage.

Transfer analgesic products like Bio-freeze into a small leak proof container. (empty hotel size shampoo containers work great) It is best not to try Zip Lock containers as these leak if the aircraft has air pressure variances plus TSA screening personnel have little respect for creative packaging and tend to confiscate them.

Forgot your neck pillow? Roll up a hotel hand towel and place it under your neck, letting the regular pillow take care of the rest of your head.

Need Fitness Options? Try a stretching work out with therabands. There are lots of good Yoga and Pilates DVDs available so a workout can be as close as your computer. If you miss the gym and the hotel gym is not great. Ask at the desk and you can usually find a gym that will let you be a guest for a small fee. If you belong to a chain of Gyms you can get privileges for other locations. If you stay where there is a pool you can bring portable swimming fins or resistance gloves to pack some power in your work out.

Want to jog or walk….ask the hotel staff where it is a good location and safe territory