06/04/2026
She kept forgetting names. The family chalked it up to age. Six months later, she was lost in her own neighborhood.
Brain health rarely declines with a warning shot. It declines quietly -- and the people who notice first are usually family, not physicians. By the time concerns reach a clinic visit, the runway for early intervention is shorter than it needed to be.
That's why detecting cognitive impairment is a required component of the Annual Comprehensive Visit. A short screen like the Mini-Cog can flag changes years before a crisis. Early detection doesn't stop Alzheimer's -- but it buys time for planning, support, medication, and the conversations families need to have while they still can.
This Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month: ask your provider about cognitive screening. And if you're a caregiver -- you are part of the care plan.