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"Brain Screen"

A self–referral, screening program for strokes, falls and dementia risk factors

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Abstract

Background

Falls, strokes and dementia can be predicted and their occurrence can be delayed or even prevented by treatment of risk factors. The value of screening self–referred adults is unknown.

Objectives

To assess whether a screening program of self–referred adults provides new and valuable medical information on risk factors for falls, stroke and dementia.

Method

We examined 514 self–referred people (59% women, mean age 68±8 years (range 44–89) and 14±3 years of education) in our "Brain Screen" program. Participants completed detailed questionnaires and underwent a neurological examination, computerized gait analysis, carotid Duplex, serum lipid and homocysteine levels, a computerized neuropsychological battery (NeuroTrax®) and the Mini–Mental State Exam. Information that was detected by "Brain Screen" was compared with the self–reported data.

Results

Unknown vascular risk factors detected by "“Brain Screen" included: high cholesterol in 44%, homocysteine > 10 μmol/L in 20%, >1mm carotid intima–media thickness in 13%, and carotid narrowing (> 30%) in 2.2%. Unknown risk factors for falls were detected in 66% of the subjects who never fell. Of the 205 subjects (44%) who complained of memory decline, 28% had objective memory disturbances compared with their age group. Mild cognitive impairment (amnestic MCI) was clinically diagnosed in 17% of the population and dementia in 5%.

Conclusion

Screening self–referred adults for falls, strokes and dementia risk factors detected significant unknown risk factors that can be treated in more than one–third of the participants. A national "Brain Screen" program can have significant impact on the health of the aging population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Tel–Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizman Street, Tel–Aviv 64239, Israel

    N. Giladi MD, M. Mordechovich MD, L. Gruendlinger BSc, H. Shabtai MD, D. Merims MD, R. Baltadzhieva MD, J. M. Hausdorff PhD, A. Y. Gur MD, PhD & N. M. Bornstein MD

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel–Aviv University, Tel–Aviv, Israel

    N. Giladi MD, D. Merims MD, J. M. Hausdorff PhD, A. Y. Gur MD, PhD & N. M. Bornstein MD

  3. Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Hadassa School of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

    S. Naor MD

Authors
  1. N. Giladi MD
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  2. M. Mordechovich MD
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  3. L. Gruendlinger BSc
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  4. H. Shabtai MD
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  5. D. Merims MD
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  7. R. Baltadzhieva MD
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  8. J. M. Hausdorff PhD
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  9. A. Y. Gur MD, PhD
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  10. N. M. Bornstein MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Giladi MD.

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Giladi, N., Mordechovich, M., Gruendlinger, L. et al. "Brain Screen". J Neurol 253, 307–315 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-005-0986-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-005-0986-6

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