Why Alzheimer’s sometimes feels like time travel

Alzheimer’s disease can sometimes feel like a form of time travel because it profoundly disrupts how a person experiences and understands time. Those living with Alzheimer’s often lose their sense of when events happened, what day or year it is,…

What hormone balance has to do with memory loss

Hormone balance plays a crucial role in memory function, and imbalances can significantly contribute to memory loss. Hormones such as estrogen, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), cortisol, and others influence brain regions responsible for memory, including the…

Why Alzheimer’s causes emotional isolation

Alzheimer’s disease causes emotional isolation primarily because it profoundly disrupts the brain functions that govern memory, communication, mood regulation, and social interaction. As the disease progresses, individuals experience cognitive decline that makes it increasingly difficult to connect with others emotionally…

How music connects people when memory fades

Music has a remarkable ability to connect people, especially when memory begins to fade due to aging or conditions like dementia. Even as verbal communication and explicit memories deteriorate, music can reach deep into the brain, unlocking emotions and memories…

Why someone may lose interest in people they once loved

People may lose interest in those they once loved for a variety of complex and interrelated reasons that often involve emotional, psychological, and situational factors. This loss of interest is rarely sudden or arbitrary; it usually develops gradually as feelings…

How breathing and rest reset cognitive energy

Breathing and rest play a fundamental role in resetting cognitive energy by directly influencing brain function, emotional regulation, and mental clarity. When you breathe deeply and rest properly, you provide your brain with the oxygen it needs to operate efficiently,…

Why dreams become confusing even when memories are sharp

Dreams often feel confusing and fragmented even when our waking memories remain sharp because the brain processes and stores information differently during sleep than when awake. While memories in waking life are encoded, consolidated, and retrieved through well-organized neural pathways,…

How MMSE fits into real-world memory care

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a widely used, brief cognitive screening tool that plays a significant role in real-world memory care by providing a quick snapshot of an individual’s cognitive function. It consists of 30 points covering various domains…

What makes Alzheimer’s patients laugh or cry at odd moments

Alzheimer’s disease profoundly affects the brain’s structure and function, leading to complex changes in emotions and behavior. One of the puzzling and often distressing aspects for caregivers and families is why individuals with Alzheimer’s sometimes laugh or cry at seemingly…

Why some dementia patients stop showing emotion

Some dementia patients stop showing emotion because the disease causes physical and chemical changes in the brain that affect how emotions are processed and expressed. As dementia progresses, areas of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, recognition, and expression become…