The NYT’s Science Section featured an interesting article today about how memory loss associated with aging might actually be recast as a widening of the attention/focus to better synthesize information rather than focus on details. This, the article tells us, is another way to define wisdom. Might this also be true of other “losses” associated [...]
Archive for May, 2008
It’s not memory loss, it’s…wisdom
Posted in cultural phenom, history of memory, public education, science of memory, tagged aging, memory loss, wisdom on May 21, 2008 | 1 Comment »
New book on memory by Sue Halpern
Posted in books, cultural phenom, history of memory, science of memory, tagged books on memory, memory loss, sue halpern, what's normal? on May 19, 2008 | Comments Off
As the population ages, the marker of “normal” in memory loss will continue to shift. There are several books out now that address the worry over memory loss in all its manifestations – from seemingly benign to the significant losses in the dementia experience. The latest entry is coming out this month from Harmony Books, [...]
My Point Exactly
Posted in cultural phenom, film, public education, tagged alzheimer's, alzheimer's demographics, Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter, Deborah HOffman, dementia, fear, film and dementia on May 16, 2008 | Comments Off
I was sure that when I turned in the final copy of the book to the publisher on Tuesday, that it was already out of date. I’d just given two talks at chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association, and the audiences really got what I was saying. We can no longer raise awareness of Alzheimer’s with [...]
Huge Literature Review
Posted in art, public education, tagged arts, creativity, dementia, Don Moyer, Jenny Knauss, non pharmacological interventions, Renee Beard on May 14, 2008 | Comments Off
Don Moyer and Jenny Knauss, the folks behind Alzheimer’s Spoken Here, worked with sociologist Renee Beard and a student to pull together a mammoth literature review of all the academic citations having to do with non-pharmacological interventions in dementia care, a.k.a. the arts and creative expression. It’s a great list – and a great way [...]
Dementia pride?
Posted in cultural phenom, tagged advocacy, alzheimer's, dementia, mental illness, pride on May 12, 2008 | 1 Comment »
In the conclusion of Forget Memory, I dream of a time when advocates with/for dementia create a movement like “Act-Up” that insists on humane treatment and financing of care and research. This past Sunday, a New York Times article pointed out a similar movement starting to happen with mental illness. Can my dream be far [...]
Radio Segment on Songwriting Works
Posted in music, tagged alzheimer's, creativity and aging, dementia, judith-kate friedman, music and dementia, songwriting on May 6, 2008 | Comments Off
Judith-Kate Friedman came through Milwaukee in April to give a workshop on Songwriting Works at Luther Manor (UWM’s Center on Age & Community sponsored, along with the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music). Friedman works with groups of people to catalyze the creation of an original song. She [...]
creativity and dementia article
Posted in art, cultural phenom, public education, tagged creativity and dementia on May 5, 2008 | Comments Off
I’m always trolling for news about creative expression and dementia, and came across this one today – Creativity Not Slowed by Dementia in the San Mateo Times (CA). Enjoy.
Fresh from NYC
Posted in public education, tagged early stage conference, NYC chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative on May 5, 2008 | Comments Off
What an incredible conference. The New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association held its annual Early Stage Conference on May 1st at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC. 350 people – a blend of professionals in dementia care, family care partners and people in the early stages of dementia–were guided by a stable of clear [...]
