At the start of a new year, many people think about their health in practical ways. You schedule your physical, maybe update your glasses, and check your blood pressure. One area often gets overlooked: your memory.

A memory screening offers a simple way to check in with your brain health. Not because something is wrong, but because staying informed helps you make better choices, sooner.

What Happens During a Memory Screening?

A memory screening is brief and typically completed in under 20 minutes, depending on the test used. You answer a few questions and do short tasks that look at memory, attention, and thinking. There’s also time to talk about your health history, medications, sleep, and daily routines.

A screening won’t diagnose you or predict what’s ahead. It’s simply information.

Think of it as a starting point. If your results are within the expected range, you leave with reassurance and a useful baseline for later. If results raise questions, you and your provider can decide on next steps, like more testing or a specialist visit.

Many Memory Changes Can Be Treated

One of the biggest reasons to check memory sooner is that Alzheimer’s disease is not the only cause of memory problems. In fact, many memory changes are linked to treatable conditions.

Doctors regularly see memory changes linked to medication side effects, vitamin deficiencies, sleep issues, depression, anxiety, thyroid conditions, or infections.

Spot these issues early on, and they can often be identified and managed. For many people, that means memory improves. For others, it means stress goes down because serious conditions are ruled out.

Even when follow-up is needed, having clarity beats months or years of guessing. Knowing what’s happening allows you and your loved ones to focus on support instead of speculation.

What Early Detection Means for Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease develops slowly. Brain changes due to Alzheimer’s often begin years—sometimes up to two decades—before your daily life is clearly affected.

Many people first experience mild cognitive impairment, called MCI. You may have some memory changes, yet still manage your routines and relationships.

Catching Alzheimer’s early gives you something precious: time to make choices while you’re fully able to. You can also:

Some newer Alzheimer’s treatments and many clinical trials focus on the earliest stages of the disease. They’re designed for people who still have mild symptoms. Identifying changes sooner helps keep those options available.

What Happens When Memory Concerns Are Ignored

Even with growing awareness, many people wait years before getting checked.

Research shows many people wait several years between first symptoms and diagnosis. Years of wondering and worrying. Years when support could have been in place.

Waiting also limits access to specialists and research opportunities. The sooner you get answers, the sooner you can move forward and open the door to care.

Practical Steps You Can Take Now

You don’t need to wait for a major problem to consider a memory screening. It can be helpful if you notice changes, if someone close to you has concerns, or if you simply want a baseline for the future.

Here are a few simple steps you can take:

  • Ask your healthcare provider about memory checks during routine visits
  • Jot down patterns you notice related to your memory, sleep, or mood
  • Review medications regularly with your provider
  • Stay active, both physically and socially
  • Share screening results with your doctor if follow-up is suggested

These steps are simple, but they are also effective.

In community screening programs, many people reported making positive changes afterward, such as increasing physical activity. The screening became a turning point, not a source of fear.

Support Starts With You and Continues With Us

A memory screening gives you information, time, and more choices.

Whether you get reassurance or a referral for more testing, you’ll know where you stand. It gives you space to plan, ask questions, and make decisions at your own pace.

At Charter Research, patient volunteers are at the center of everything we do. Our memory screenings and clinical trials are offered at no cost, designed to support your care while advancing research that benefits everyone.

When you come in, you learn about your own memory and help shape the future of Alzheimer’s treatment. If you’re ready to start, we’re here. What you learn could make a real difference for you and the people who care about you.

Contact Charter Research for a free memory screening and to learn about current open studies.

Orlando: 407-337-3000
The Villages: 352-441-2000
Chicago: 773-300-1000