The Tangled Neuron

Appreciation and Respect for People with Memory Loss

A lot of our conversations about memory loss include phrases like “fight against this terrible disease” and “loss of sense of self.”  When I talk with people who have mild to moderate memory loss, though, many are more positive about their lives.  They mention how much they enjoy gardening, the arts, animals, family and friends.  Some say the “silver lining” of their memory loss is that they’ve become more appreciative, more spiritual and more able to live in the moment.

This less fearful view is starting to be reflected in the media.  Last year, Newsweek published a piece about “pleasant dementia.”  A recent Speaking of Faith interview and a new book by Dr. John Ziesel also present some positive aspects of memory loss.

Does Loss of Memory Mean Loss of Self? A Webcast

My friend Don Moyer, who blogs about his wife Jenny's memory loss and about memory loss in general, will be one of the guests on a HealthTalk webcast Wednesday (April 9, 2008) at 4 pm Pacific time. He, Jenny and Dr. Renee Beard, a geriatric sociologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, have published a paper about the rich and meaningful lives people with memory loss lead.

You can read more about this webcast, and register to participate here.

Creativity and Memory Loss

Are people with memory loss more creative? It seems many have taken up painting, writing or playing an instrument. Donna Beveridge has taken up all three.

Donna, 65, is a retired elementary school teacher diagnosed last year with early stage probable Alzheimer’s. She lives with her partner Betsey and their two cats, Shadow and Idgy, near the coast of Maine. Her three children and their families live close by.