I’ll watch the HBO series with an open heart and mind – I swear I will. But the reviews are certainly daunting. The whole point of Forget Memory is that there is MORE to Alzheimer’s than tragedy. That there is HOPE in science, but there is also HOPE in human beings – in our ability [...]
Archive for the ‘public education’ Category
“Hope at the expense of caution”: NYT’s reviews HBO’s Alzheimer’s Project
Posted in cultural phenom, film, medicine, public education, tagged alzheimer's, forget memory, HBO Alzheimer's Project, memory loss, NYT's review on May 9, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Transforming Activities in Long Term Care
Posted in art, cultural phenom, disability, music, public education, tagged Activities, alzheimer's, david greenberger, dementia, HBO Alzheimer's Project, long term care, meaningful, memory loss, Think Tank on May 6, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Activities. The word makes me think of things people don’t really want to do, but are coaxed into. The word seems a cold categorization of things that keep us busy and not thinking about other things…things that we might not have anymore. I’m neck deep in thinking about “activities” now as I prepare for the [...]
The Pre-Game to HBO’s Alzheimer’s Documentaries
Posted in cultural phenom, disability, film, public education, science of memory, tagged alzheimer's, David Shenk, dementia, film, HBO Alzheimer's, Maria Shriver, Naomi Boak, NYTs Magazine, peter whitehouse on May 1, 2009 | 2 Comments »
And now we learn, in the 2 weeks before the release of HBO’s new Alzheimer’s Project on May 10th, that Maria Shriver is an executive producer. She’s making the press rounds to promote the project now – I’ve seen her last Sunday’s NYT’s Magazine and this article and interview in AARP’s mag. I am reminded [...]
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 [...]
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 |
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 [...]
HBO’s Alzheimer’s Project to Begin May 10th
Posted in cultural phenom, film, public education, tagged film, HBO Alzheimer's Project, memory loss, television on March 27, 2009 | 4 Comments »
The big headline on the HBO Alzheimer’s Project says HOPELESS with the LESS crossed out. This made me excited for this unprecedented, three-part series on this most important of issues. But then I watched the trailer. And it was HOPELESS. I will watch and I’m sure hoping to find a little more hope – that [...]
Creativity and Dementia in DC!
Posted in art, cultural phenom, disability, public education, tagged arts and dementia, creativity matters, Meet Me At MoMA, national center for creative aging, NCCA, TimeSlips on February 23, 2009 | 4 Comments »
I’m so excited for the March 30- April 1st Creativity Matters: Health, Wellness and the Arts Symposium coordinated by the National Center for Creative Aging. I’ll be doing an all-day TimeSlips Creative Storytelling training workshop at the Iona Senior Center on Monday the 30th. On the 31st, there’s a knock-out line up of folks presenting [...]
Are social, challenging activities enough?
Posted in art, disability, public education, science of memory on February 18, 2009 | 3 Comments »
There is a swirl of research out there now…and it’s confusing. On the one hand, there is a growing body of research that suggests that social, creative activities help stave off memory loss. This article for example, suggests that activities like quilting, pottery and computer games reduce the effects of memory loss. Logic would have [...]
After the Forgetting
Posted in cultural phenom, disability, public education, tagged dementia, Erica Hielman, Greg Sharrow, radio, StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative on December 16, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Vermont-based, independent radio producer Erica Hielman has created a story, now available on transom.org, exploring the relationship between Vermont couple Greg Sharrow and his partner Bob, and Greg’s mother Marj who is experiencing dementia. Greg and his mother always had a strong bond. For many people with strong and positive memories of parents or loved [...]
