Things to Remember, Things to Forget

I often feel like my recall ability is sub-par. I tend to remember general feelings, rather than specific conversations. Some events stand out in my mind while others fade away. My brother is often amazing me by recalling the most random things from our childhood — down to details like what we were wearing and what we ate for dinner. Let’s face it: your brain is loaded down with a lot of information. The stuff you need the most — directions to the store or your ATM code, for example — needs to stay with you. Other things can be … Continue reading

Early Detection For Alzheimer’s Disease

How many animals can you name in a minute? How many different types of fruit can you name in a minute? The answers may just give a clue to whether or not you are suffering from early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study asked the question of 136 volunteers, with surprising results. People with early signs of Alzheimer’s managed to name an average of ten to fifteen animals or fruits. Healthy adults managed twenty to twenty-five. Not a huge difference, but enough for researchers to be able to pick out early Alzheimer’s disease patients simply by their word lists. … Continue reading