Making Sense of Memory Loss

Human memory is incredibly powerful yet frequently fallible. We all know the frustration of forgetting, a common and adaptive aspect of our mental processes. While occasional lapses are a normal and healthy part of cognition, for some, particularly those with clinical conditions, forgetting can be a source of significant distress. I will delve into the memory challenges faced by individuals with epilepsy, focusing on the phenomenon known as 'accelerated forgetting'. Our research aims to shed light on this issue and explore methods to better understand and address these memory difficulties.

Alzheimer's disease is an illness that damages the brain, leading to symptoms like memory loss and difficulties with thinking and reasoning. Researchers think one of the causes for Alzheimer's is the abnormal build-up of proteins known as amyloid-beta and tau. But how do we know what this looks like inside our brains? Maddie will talk to you about how she has been trying to solve this question, and show you the first ever structures of amyloid-beta inside part of a human brain.