UI study: Memory loss doesn’t mean emotions are gone

A new University of Iowa study showed that although Alzheimer's patients may soon forget a visit or other pleasant experience, the event can be a mood-booster.

For the study, published in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers showed patients with memory loss clips of happy and sad movies.

Although participants couldn't recall what they had watched, they retained the emotions elicited by the clips.

Lead author Justin Feinstein, a student in the UI graduate programs of neuroscience and psychology, said the discovery has direct implications for Alzheimer's patients.

“A simple visit or phone call from family members might have a lingering positive influence on a patient's happiness even though the patient may quickly forget the visit or phone call,” he said. “On the other hand, routine neglect from staff at nursing homes may leave the patient feeling sad, frustrated and lonely even though the patient can't remember why.”

Feinstein said the findings challenge the notion that erasing a painful memory can abolish psychological suffering and reinforces the importance of attending to the emotional needs of people with Alzheimer's.

The study was funded by the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Kiwanis International Foundation.