The premiere in Upper Franconian Heiligenstadt and its three districts Siegritz, Teuchatz, and Hohenpölz was a success: The digital dementia screening day organized by digiDEM Bayern on Thursday, April 20, 2023, was very well attended. Many citizens had their memory performance checked free of charge with the help of a scientific short test. The hosts were digiDEM Bayern, the Digital Dementia Register Bavaria in Erlangen, and the market town of Heiligenstadt.
„I am very grateful that digiDEM Bavaria approached us with a dementia screening. The tasks of a municipality are very diverse and broad. With the help of digiDEM Bavaria, we as a municipality can raise awareness for dementia,“ said Stefan Reichold, Mayor of Heiligenstadt in Upper Franconia.
State Parliament Member for the Bamberg district, Holger Dremel, was also pleased about the dementia screening day. „Dementia pre-examinations directly on-site are of great importance for our population. People save themselves long journeys, especially in a rural district like ours.“ Furthermore, Holger Dremel emphasized the importance of the dementia screening day for the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and long-term care (StMGP). As part of the Bavarian Dementia Strategy, it supports the digiDEM Bayern initiative in all Bavarian administrative districts.
Mild cognitive impairment
Six digiDEM Bavaria employees, actively supported by digiDEM Bavaria project assistant Ottilie Ochs, conducted a total of 58 short tests in Heiligenstadt and its three districts Siegritz, Teuchatz, and Hohenpölz within one day. The so-called Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test used is a scientifically valid procedure for assessing cognitive abilities, such as short-term memory. However, it does not replace a comprehensive medical diagnosis. But after a testing duration of 10 to 15 minutes, it provides initial indications as to whether further clarification is necessary. 36 percent of the people who participated in the free preliminary examination showed signs of mild cognitive impairment.
„Many people are worried that something might be wrong with their memory. In such cases, it is helpful to gain clarity and certainty. With cognitive impairments, it is important not to suppress them but to find out the causes, for example, with medical help. Because there are treatment options, especially when specific causes such as high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus („sugar disease“) are identified,“ explains Prof. Dr. Elmar Gräßel, one of the digiDEM Bayern project leaders, at the Heiligenstadt town hall.
Participation in the digiDEM Bavaria research project
The supply researcher points to the research project digiDEM Bavaria: „In Bavaria, we want to find people with mild cognitive impairments or mild dementia and involve them in our research project. In this way, we will gather valuable information about their wishes and needs, as well as their care situation. These results will enable us to provide important input to health policymakers and make suggestions to improve the quality of life for people with mild cognitive impairments, as well as their caregivers and relatives.“
