Primary care teams may wish to provide their patients with forms that they can use to gather information about their medical history and any concerns to bring with them to their appointment. The National Institute on Aging provides suggested worksheets that incorporate questions about changes in memory or thinking.
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s has developed a confidential online memory questionnaire, BrainGuide, that may be useful for patients who are concerned about their brain health, that of a loved one, or if they are a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s disease. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and upon finishing, patients will be directed to a webpage with relevant resources that can help them better understand Alzheimer’s disease, their brain health, and recommendations on next steps.
Alternatively, consider adding a question about memory or cognition as part of an assessment or questionnaire that is already in use at the practice for collecting patient information prior to or during regular visits. For new patients, this can be part of the general admission procedure and can be included in the electronic health record to be monitored in future visits.
Example questions to use include:
“Are you worried about your memory?” (Maslow, 2018)
“During the past 12 months, have you experienced confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse?” (Cordell, 2013).
The second question has been tested and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for use in a national survey (National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, 2018). Because reference to a concrete time request such as 12 months may make patients nervous—especially if they are already having trouble in managing their time and schedule—consider softening this question to “lately,” “recently,” or “frequently.”
Overview | Discuss Brain Health | Engage in Conversations About Protective Actions | Address Diverse Life Experiences | Discuss Memory and Cognition | Observe for Signs and Symptoms of Cognitive Impairment | Listen for Patient and Family Concerns About Cognition | Address Any Sensory Loss and Use Effective Communication Strategies | Use Health Questionnaires | Use Electronic Health Records | Primary Prevention Recommendations for Reducing Risk of Cognitive Decline | Warning Signs That Might Indicate Dementia | Resources for Patients About Brain Health | Kickstart References