How many times have you heard the comment “ I have lost my keys again – I must have Alzheimer’s!" ?  This fall you will see groups of people across the country “Taking Steps to end Alzheimer’s” and raising funds to answer your questions regarding memory loss.  My Health Care Manager Indianapolis and Sarasota teams are participating in the 2007 Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk to assist in raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer Care, Support and Research – for more information click on http://www.alz.org. This is excellent site for caregivers to learn more about dementia, the current research and simply where to start if you have questions regarding a loved one’s decline in memory.  In reality, memory loss is usually the first sign of dementia and the number of people who are having thinking or remembering problems doubles every 5 years after age of 65.  There are simple screening tests such as "stating three simple words out loud and waiting one full minute and trying to remember the three words".  If you can’t remember all three words, it doesn’t mean that you have Alzheimer’s but further testing by your physician is recommended  to address the changes in memory/cognition (http://www.healthinaging.org/).   Link to following sites for more information and research regarding Alzheimer’s Disease http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/ http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/NewsReleases