People with Alzheimer’s disease often have trouble remembering recent events but are able to recall distant memories. This is due to the damage produced to the hippocampus, a seahorse shaped structure located in the core of the brain. This area is usually the first to be affected by Alzheimer, which is why the disease is associated with memory loss. Older memories tend to last longer since they are “stored” in the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain.
Some families of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease tend to become detached from their relatives. The common argument is “why would I visit grandpa if he’s going to forget the minute I leave”. True, but not entirely.
A finding published this week in the journal PNAS, Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences, revealed that the emotion tied to a memory lingers in the mind even after the memory is gone.
Justin Feinstein, a graduate student in neuropsychology at the University of Iowa did a little experiment. He threw a movie festival in the hospital where he works. It wasn’t just random movies, he chose clips from tear-jerkers such as Forrest Gump (the scene where he cries by Jenny’s grave). After the movie, the patients did not remember seeing the movie but still, they felt sad.
Feinstein repeated the experiment but this time, instead of using sad moments, he played cheerful and uplifting clips. You guessed right. After the show was over, the patients didn’t remember a thing about it but their general mood was upbeat. Emotions outlasted the memories once again.
Whether you have someone who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or you work as a caregiver, share this with those close to people affected with this illness. A short visit may not add new memories to the ailing person, but might make their days brighter. Memories of relatives and long time friends are more certain to reside in the cerebral cortex, at a safe distance from the hippocampus; so unless the disease is in its advanced stages where more and more cognitive functions become compromised, you can make a difference in these people’s lives.
Image credit, ShockMD.org
Article by Fernando
This is my blog - I write about careers, talent management and organizational development. I've been featured at Monster.com, Alltop, WeBlogBetter and BloggingPro among others. I hope you leave this blog with more than you arrived and I look forward to discussing your ideas and projects with you. See you in the comments section.
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