UA Psychologists Offer Memory Screening

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.  — Graduate students and faculty in The University of Alabama’s psychology department are offering a no-cost memory screening to members of the West Alabama community ages 55 or older.

The screening, which is both a service to the community and part of a UA research study by the clinical geropsychology program, is offered at Capstone Village by appointment.

Memory loss poses a considerable clinical and public health care burden to older adults, the researchers said. With the use of behavioral or pharmaceutical interventions, however, these adults can sometimes ease that burden. Cognitive decline and memory loss can become noticeable in adults in their 60s; memory screening can help researchers detect problems that can be addressed through clinical intervention.

UA’s clinical geropsychology program was started to serve older adults, provide training for students and to research topics associated with aging. The memory screenings will be conducted by graduate students in the doctoral psychology program under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Forrest Scogin, UA professor of psychology, and graduate students Ernest Wayde and Elizabeth DiNapoli are the lead investigators.

The screening will include a short clinical interview, a brief cognitive assessment and tests for depression and anxiety. The researchers will share results with the participants. The program will use data collected during the screenings for research into cognition among older adults.

Those who wish to participate in this no-cost screening should phone 205/348-1921. Individuals should leave a message indicating their willingness to participate in the no-cost screening opportunity. Individuals should also leave a name, call back number and convenient times to call. The screening is expected to take between 45 minutes and an hour.

Researchers will refer people identified as potentially having memory problems for a more extensive evaluation.

The psychology department is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.