I first started reading Atul Gawande’s piece on solitary confinement in the New Yorker because 1) I pretty much love anything he writes, and 2) I love picking up the New Yorker and falling down rabbit holes of fascinating research and beautifully written tales. But pretty quickly I realized this article has implications for long [...]
Archive for April, 2009
Social Isolation as Torture?
Posted in cultural phenom, disability, tagged Atul Gawande, dementia, isolation, memory loss, torture on April 28, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Cognitive Enhancement in the Age of Dementia
Posted in cultural phenom, disability, history of memory, public education, science of memory, tagged adderall, carl elliott, memory loss, neuro enhancers, peter whitehouse on April 25, 2009 | 2 Comments »
I just read a fascinating article called “Brain Gain” in the most recent New Yorker. At first blush, one might not connect the stories of college students (or professional poker-players) taking “neuro-enhancers” like Adderall for a cognitive boost with concerns over memory loss. But raising for bar for “normal” cognition creates greater pressure and worry [...]
Stigma and Worry Worsens Memory
Posted in cultural phenom, science of memory, tagged aging, memory tests, stigma of memory loss on April 22, 2009 | Comments Off
Saw an interesting article today based on a study from NC State. Dr Tom Hess found that older adults performed worse on memory tests if negative stereotypes about aging were activated. Stigma and fear over how one is being perceived really do make a difference…
Song from HBO Trailer
Posted in cultural phenom, disability, film, music, tagged HBO Alzheimer's song on April 20, 2009 | Comments Off
I’m seeing lots of traffic of people looking for who sings the song on the trailer to the HBO series on Alzheimer’s. It’s Gary Jules. Here’s a youtube clip.
Life Story Theatre
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Alan O'Hare, drama and dementia, life story theatre, schenachie, senior theater on April 6, 2009 | Comments Off
I was in Boston this week for a couple days of meetings, including one with a lovely fellow named Alan O’Hare who runs the “Life Story Theatre: Celebrating the Mysteries and Miracles of Life.” Based in and around the Boston area, Mr. O’Hare draws on the tradition of the Schenachie, Irish storytellers. He has created [...]
Blocking and Unlocking Memory
Posted in cultural phenom, history of memory, public education, science of memory, tagged memory research, NYT's article on memory on April 6, 2009 | Comments Off
Today’s NYT’s article on the memory research at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn is the stuff of sci-fi-esque movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Looks like they can block some unpleasant memories in mice – like the memory of a particularly disgusting taste (wonder how they simulated that…) – some three months [...]
Change is in the Air…
Posted in art, cultural phenom, tagged arts and Alzheimer's, arts and dementia, creativity matters, national center for creative aging, training in dementia care on April 1, 2009 | 1 Comment »
And I don’t think it was just the fragrance of cherry blossoms wafting through DC this week. Monday through Wednesday, March 29 – April 1st, The National Center for Creative Aging held its Creativity Matters: Health, Wellness, and the Arts symposium. Executive Director Gay Hanna organized the perfect blend of presenters, peppered with introducers/responders who [...]
