Is forgetting your partner's birthday a sign of Alzheimer's?
In short: In this interview, neuroscientist Lisa Genova explores the distinction between normal lapses in memory and the early warning signs of neurodegenerative disease, using the striking example of a Japanese engineer who memorized 111,000 digits of pi but forgot a birthday.
Neuroscientist Lisa Genova addresses the widespread fear that everyday forgetfulness signals the onset of Alzheimer's. By examining the contradiction of a retired Japanese engineer who could memorize over 111,000 digits of pi through visualization yet failed to remember his wife's birthday, Genova helps dispel the myth that ordinary forgetting is a definitive symptom of disease.
Genova, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist and author of the bestseller REMEMBER, provides a scientific perspective on brain health and the mechanics of memory.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: A neuroscientist’s guide to protecting your brain, in 58 minutes | Lisa Genova: Full Interview
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