National Geographic Shows Alzheimer’s Brain in 3-D

November’s National Geographic had a brilliant cover story on memory and why the brain forgets somethings and remembers others. The article highlights the extremes of memory in it’s first paragraph…

“…There is a 41-year-old woman, an administrative assistant from California known in the medical literature only as “AJ,” who remembers almost every day of her life since age 11. There is an 85-year-old man, a retired lab technician called “EP,” who remembers only his most recent thought. She might have the best memory in the world. He could very well have the worst.” (more)

…then goes on to discuss the reasons that such extremes occur.

Read the article and then check out the great interactive mapping memory graphics.

In particular, check out the graphic that displays the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s a highly visual description of how the brain changes as Alzheimer’s Disease takes hold.