#memory Tag

18 Oct

Posted at 12:21h in Mental Health Research

Mental Health Notice: Revisiting old photographs is not a treatment for depression, grief or other mental health conditions. If memories bring persistent sadness, distress or thoughts of self-harm, reach out to a qualified mental health professional. In a crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). This post is for general information only. Products and tools linked in this post are not warranted or endorsed by MedicalResearch.com or Eminent Domains Inc.

Nostalgia is more than simply remembering the past. It is an emotional experience that connects personal memories with feelings of love, happiness, belonging, and sometimes sadness. A photograph from a childhood birthday, a family vacation, or a special milestone can bring back emotions that have remained hidden for years. These experiences demonstrate how closely memory and emotional well-being are connected.

In today's digital world, people can preserve thousands of personal photographs and revisit them whenever they wish. Although photographs cannot capture every detail of an experience, they can serve as powerful reminders of meaningful moments. Understanding the psychology of nostalgia helps explain why looking at old pictures can influence mood, strengthen personal identity, and bring people closer to important relationships.

[caption id="attachment_76637" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Photo by Wolfgang Vrede via <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/vintage-photographs-with-retro-camera-31415467/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#1a7abf;">Pexels</a> Photo by Wolfgang Vrede via Pexels[/caption]

12 Mar

Posted at 19:12h in Addiction, Author Interviews, Cannabis, Memory
Editor’ note:  Cannabis and THCA/HEMP CBD products should have an active ingredient list on the container and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Discuss your use of THC, Cannabis or CBD products with your health care provider.  Dosing of Cannabis products is variable, especially since they are not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues. CBD skin care products can be absorbed through the skin and have similar effects. Do not use Cannabis products including edibles, drinks and CBD if you are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products. MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72752" align="alignleft" width="200"]Carrie Cuttler, Ph.D.The Health & Cognition (THC) Lab Associate Professor Director, Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program Co-Director, Cannabis Research Center (CRC) Department of Psychology Washington State University Dr. Cutttler, Ph.D.[/caption] Carrie Cuttler, Ph.D. The Health & Cognition (THC) Lab Associate Professor Director, Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program Co-Director, Cannabis Research Center (CRC) Department of Psychology Washington State University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: One of the most well-documented effects of acute cannabis intoxication is impairment in memory. However, memory is not a single process. It is a complex system made up of multiple distinct subsystems that rely on different neural mechanisms and support different types of remembering. Most prior research examining the acute effects of cannabis in humans has focused on a relatively narrow set of memory tests—primarily verbal memory tasks, which involve recalling lists of words, and working memory tasks, which require temporarily holding and manipulating information in consciousness. Far fewer studies have examined how cannabis affects other types of memory that are more relevant to everyday life. These include temporal order memory (remembering the order in which events occurred), prospective memory (remembering to perform tasks in the future), source memory (remembering where information came from), false memory (recalling information that was never presented), and episodic content memory (recalling personally experienced events). To address this gap, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examining the acute effects of cannabis across multiple memory domains. In total, 120 participants were randomly assigned to vaporize either a placebo, a moderate dose of cannabis (20 mg THC), or a high dose of cannabis (40 mg THC).

22 Jun

Posted at 21:36h in Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, JAMA
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_62050" align="alignleft" width="150"]Mabel Seto, PhDHarvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment Department of Neurology Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, Tennessee Dr. Seto[/caption] Mabel Seto, PhD Harvard Aging Brain Study, Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment Department of Neurology Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, Tennessee   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The background for this study is that individuals with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease (i.e., one or more first-degree relatives) have a higher risk for the disease than individuals that don’t have a family history. Previous studies suggested a preferential maternal inheritance of AD, though they were limited in sample size and statistical power. In our study, we wanted to focus on a larger, cognitively unimpaired sample. Using data from the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s (A4) study, a randomized clinical trial aimed at AD prevention, we examined the relationship between a parental history of significant memory impairment as a proxy for AD (as some individuals may not have pursued formal diagnosis) and amyloid-beta burden in the offspring.

14 Feb

Posted at 01:41h in Author Interviews, Memory
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_61330" align="alignleft" width="125"]Professor Frederic Meunier PhDProfessor and Academic Senior Group/Unit Leader/Supervisor Queensland Brain Institute and Prof. Meunier[/caption] Prof. Frederic Meunier PhD Professor and Academic Senior Group/Unit Leader/Supervisor Queensland Brain Institute and [caption id="attachment_61329" align="alignleft" width="125"]Isaac O Akefe DVM, PhDClem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland St Lucia Academy for Medical Education, Medical School Brisbane QLD Australia Dr. Akefe[/caption] Isaac O Akefe DVM, PhD Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland St Lucia Academy for Medical Education, Medical School Brisbane QLD Australia     MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The brain is the body’s fattiest organ, with fatty compounds called lipids making up 60% of its weight. Fatty acids are the building blocks of a class of lipids called phospholipids. In our study, we first showed that levels of saturated fatty acids increase in the brain during neuronal communication and long-term memory formation, but we didn’t know what was causing these changes.

07 Aug

Posted at 14:50h in Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, Memory
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_60725" align="alignleft" width="150"]Michael Leon, Professor emeritusDepartment of Neurobiology and Behavior Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders University of California Irvine Prof. Leon[/caption] Michael Leon, Professor emeritusDepartment of Neurobiology and BehaviorCenter for the Neurobiology of Learning and MemoryInstitute for Memory Impairments and Neurological DisordersUniversity of California Irvine MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?  What types of aromas were employed? Response: The olfactory system is the only sense to have a direct “superhighway” access to the memory centers of the brain. The other senses can contribute to the health of the memory centers, but they have to take the brain's “side streets” to get there and consequently have much less impact on the health of those centers. If there is olfactory loss for any reason, the memory centers start to deteriorate. Stimulation of those memory centers with odors allows those centers to allow for better memory. We used naturally occurring pleasant odors: rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender.

21 Jun

Posted at 21:15h in AHA Journals, Author Interviews, Blood Pressure - Hypertension, Cognitive Issues, Memory
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_57670" align="alignleft" width="175"] Dr. Nation[/caption] Daniel A. Nation, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychological Science Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders University of California, Irvin MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Hypertension is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia, and treatment of hypertension has been linked to decreased risk for cognitive impairment. Prior studies have attempted to identify which specific type of antihypertensive treatment conveys the most benefit for cognition, but findings have been mixed regarding this question.  We hypothesized that antihypertensive drugs acting on the brain angiotensin system may convey the greatest benefit since they affect the brain angiotensin system that has been implicated in memory function.