Sacred Heart Hospital's SeniorSpirit! program will present a free seminar on "Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders" on Wednesday, Feb. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Dudley Greenhut Auditorium on Sacred Heart's main campus.

The seminar will be presented by Dr. Lawrence King, III, a board certified neurologist with Sacred Heart Medical Group. The seminar will cover the signs and symptoms of memory disorders, as well as prevention and treatment options.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) produces a steady loss of memory and deterioration of thought processes like reasoning and judgment. For example, according to the Alzheimer's Association, it's not unusual to forget where you put the house keys. But someone with Alzheimer's may forget how to use the keys or what the keys are for. Eventually the loss can become severe enough to interfere with everyday life.

The American Medical Association says that Alzheimer's disease or some related form of dementia affects 5 percent to 6 percent of all older Americans. Over four million Americans now have Alzheimer's disease, and that number may climb to at least seven million by the early part of this century unless researchers find a cure or a way to prevent the disease.

Registration is required and seating is limited. To register, call (850) 416-1620 or 1-877-416-1620.

Sacred Heart SENIORSpirit is a free program for persons 55 and older.  Benefits include free screenings, seminars, special in-patient benefits such as three free guest meal tickets and newspaper delivery upon hospital admission, a monthly calendar of events detailing all SENIORSpirit events, and a quarterly newsletter containing health and event information.

For more information, please call (850) 416-7000 or visit www.sacred-heart.org.

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