What it means when someone forgets recent holidays

When someone forgets recent holidays, it often means their memory of recent events is impaired or disrupted. This can happen for various reasons, ranging from normal everyday forgetfulness to more complex mental health or neurological issues. Forgetting recent holidays specifically…

Why the brain struggles to multitask after menopause

The brain struggles to multitask after menopause primarily because of significant hormonal changes, especially the decline in estrogen levels. Estrogen plays a crucial role in supporting brain function by influencing neurotransmitters—chemical messengers like serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and norepinephrine—that regulate mood,…

How spatial confusion shows up in early diagnosis

Spatial confusion often appears early in the diagnosis of neurological conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain brain injuries. It manifests as difficulty recognizing familiar places, trouble navigating even well-known environments, misjudging distances, or failing to understand spatial relationships…

Why late-stage Alzheimer’s often includes long sleep periods

Late-stage Alzheimer’s disease often involves **long sleep periods** primarily because the disease severely disrupts the brain regions and systems that regulate normal sleep-wake cycles. As Alzheimer’s progresses, damage accumulates in parts of the brain responsible for maintaining circadian rhythms—the internal…

How touch and texture affect people with cognitive issues

Touch and texture play a profound role in shaping the experiences of people with cognitive issues, influencing their emotions, behavior, and overall well-being. For individuals facing cognitive challenges—such as those related to autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, dementia, or…

Why memory loss disrupts personal identity

Memory loss disrupts personal identity because our memories form the foundation of who we are, linking our past experiences, relationships, values, and sense of self into a continuous narrative. When memory fades or becomes fragmented, this narrative breaks down, causing…

What makes communication harder during menopause

Communication can become harder during menopause largely because of the complex interplay of hormonal changes affecting the brain, emotions, and physical well-being. The decline in estrogen and progesterone levels impacts cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and mental clarity—often described…

Why some Alzheimer’s patients can still dance but not speak

Some Alzheimer’s patients can still dance but not speak because the brain areas and neural pathways involved in movement, rhythm, and music processing are often affected differently than those responsible for language and speech. Dancing taps into more preserved motor…

How hallucinations differ from confusion

Hallucinations and confusion are both experiences that affect how a person perceives reality, but they are fundamentally different in nature and origin. Understanding how hallucinations differ from confusion requires looking closely at what each involves, how they manifest, and their…

What scientists are discovering about hormone-brain balance

Scientists are uncovering remarkable insights into how hormones and the brain work together in a delicate balance that influences everything from stress and metabolism to mood and disease. This hormone-brain interplay is far more dynamic and complex than previously understood,…