Apparently, this is some new kind of quick screening test doctors are now using to detect the onset of dementia. Mme Reclus and I both had our yearly medical exam yesterday and we were both given the following test. Its the first time for both of us for this screening. My wife turns 83 in February, I will be 77 next month.

Each of us were asked to listen to and remember three common words. In my case, it was ‘banana’,'finger’ and ‘nation’. Then we were asked to sketch the face of a clock, with all the numbers in the right places. After that, we were asked to draw the hands of the clock for a specific time (in my case, it was 5:15). After the clock exercise, we was asked to repeat the three test words from memory (it was only about a minute after the clock exercise).

We both passed the test, although I had trouble remembering ‘banana’. It finally came to me after about thirty seconds of sheer panic. I noticed my wife had some hesitancy about recalling one of her three words, but she finally remembered it too.

We all recognize problems with short-term memory as we get older. We develop strategies for dealing with it (like taking notes, mnemonic devices, etc), but it is a terrifying feeling to have to deal with it up front.

For me, I first noticed it around 70. It became really obvious at age 75. There is no doubt in my mind I am not qualified to be President. The sad thing is that at one time, not too long ago, I think I could have handled the job.