Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagDementia

old-vintage-monochrome-photographs-in-sepia-color-are-scattered-on-a-wooden-table-the-concept-of-genealogy-the-memory-of-ancestors-family-ties-memories-of-childhood-stockpack-adobe-stock
old vintage monochrome photographs in sepia color are scattered on a wooden table, the concept of genealogy, the memory of ancestors, family ties, memories of childhood
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
July 30, 2023
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
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Is Dementia Research Missing the Forest for the Trees?

Sudden bouts of lucidity in people with dementia are understudied, researchers admit
Denyse O'Leary
July 30, 2023
4
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Researchers have begun to ask about the curious fact that persons with obvious dementia sometimes have lucid episodes: “In the last week, Sarah has occasionally said things that were recognizable, startling her family. Most notably, on two occasions, she clearly and unexpectedly told her spouse, “I’m scared. I want you to come with me.” These episodes unsettled him. He reported them to Sarah’s physician, asking for advice. (This case is adapted from one of the author’s [JK] clinical experiences.)” – Peterson A, Clapp J, Largent EA, Harkins K, Stites SD, Karlawish J. What is paradoxical lucidity? The answer begins with its definition. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Mar;18(3):513-521. doi: 10.1002/alz.12424. Epub 2021 Aug 2. PMID: 34338400; PMCID: PMC8807788. The paper is open Read More ›

old-man-painting-stockpack-adobe-stock
old man painting
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 29, 2023
Categorized
Psychology
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Sparks and Flashes of Remembrance

An expert in memory-loss treatment recalls some tender stories about memory in the midst of forgetfulness
News
May 29, 2023
6
Psychology

In a recent Mind Matters podcast episode, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor (Mike), a frequent contributor to the site, interviewed friend and colleague Stephen Post, an expert in memory-loss-related disorders. Here’s a snippet of their conversation, which you can enjoy in full by following this link. Mike Egnor: So to begin, your new book, Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People, why did you use that title and what do you mean by deeply forgetful people? Stephen Post: Well, that’s a fabulous question to begin with because the title doesn’t quite say it all, but it’s close. I’ve been working with deeply forgetful people and their caregivers since I went out to Case Medical School in 1988, and I have never felt comfortable with Read More ›

sick-asian-senior-woman-fainted-unconscious-at-the-table-fall-face-downelderly-female-patient-stop-breathing-due-to-heart-failure-cardiac-arrestsevere-arrhythmia-sudden-unexpected-death-syndrome-stockpack-adobe-stock
Sick asian senior woman fainted unconscious at the table, fall face down,elderly female patient stop breathing due to heart failure, cardiac arrest,severe arrhythmia, sudden unexpected death syndrome.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
January 9, 2023
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience
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How Do Strokes, Dementia Offer Insight Into How the Brain Works?

Neurologist Andrew Knox thinks the brain may store memories is an associative scheme, where previous memories are used to build up new ones
News
January 9, 2023
7
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience

In the podcast released last Thursday, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviewed pediatric neurologist Dr. Andrew Knox from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health on “Ways the brain can break” (#220, January 5, 2023). What follows is from Part 3 of the discussion. Here’s Part 1: How our brains are — and aren’t — like computers and Part 2: What is happening when children have strokes or dementia signs? https://mindmatters.ai/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/Mind-Matters-220-Andrew-Knox-Episode-1.mp3 This portion begins at roughly 18:25 min. A partial transcript and notes, and Additional Resources follow. The discussion began with the question, “How does the brain store memories?” Andrew Knox: There are different schemes for storing memories, but patients with Alzheimer’s seem to have Read More ›

brain-nervous-system-conceptscience-is-something-that-children-should-study-and-learnthinking-process-and-psychology-of-kids-stockpack-adobe-stock
Brain Nervous System concept.Science is something that children should study and learn.Thinking process and Psychology of Kids.
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
January 5, 2023
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Ways the Brain Can Break

Robert J. Marks
January 5, 2023
1

The brain is a marvelous organ still not understood. Artificial neural networks are supposed to be a simulation of the human brain. But comparing the brain to an artificial neural network is like comparing the human heart to a pump handle. Dr. Andrew Knox and Dr. Robert J. Marks discuss the brain, aging, and neurology. Additional Resources

model-of-the-human-brain-the-concept-of-medical-health-intellectual-capabilities-the-study-of-the-activity-of-the-cerebral-cortex-psyche-and-consciousness-stockpack-adobe-stock
model of the human brain, the concept of medical health, intellectual capabilities, the study of the activity of the cerebral cortex, psyche and consciousness
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 10, 2022
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience
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Researchers Locate 440 Genes That Develop Each Brain Differently

Large-scale MRI and genetic datasets are helping us understand the common variants of the genes that help build the human cerebral cortex
News
February 10, 2022
3
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience

To map regions of the brain to specific genes, researchers at the University of California – San Diego did genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of the regional cortical surface area and thickness of 39,898 adults and 9,136 children. That is, they scanned complete sets of DNA (genomes), looking for genetic variations. They were especially interested in variations that might be associated with a problem like autism, epilepsy, or dementia. By and large, construction of the human brain is determined by heredity, though factors like environmental exposures also play a role, particularly during sensitive periods of neurodevelopment during childhood. Large-scale MRI and genetic datasets have increasingly illuminated the common genetic variants that help build the human cerebral cortex — the outer, layered Read More ›

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Dying woman with nurse
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 18, 2021
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
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Do People Suddenly Gain Clarity About Life Just Before Dying?

A small number of cognitively challenged or dementia patients become lucid — for the first time in years — just before dying
News
May 18, 2021
7
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

The percentage of people who suddenly become lucid on the point of death may be small but their stories are remarkable. The best known case was that of Anna Katharina Ehmer (1895–1922) who, due to mental disabilities, lived in a psychiatric institution called Hephata in Germany for most of her life (from 1896 to 1922). She … allegedly never spoken a single word during her life. Yet, she was reported to have sung dying songs for a half hour before she died. The case was reported by the head of this institution and by its chief physician. We consider it difficult to evaluate the authenticity of the case definitively in retrospect. Nevertheless, there are similar cases and a variety of Read More ›