Is Forgetfulness Healthy for the Brain?
The latest research and expert opinions reveal that forgetfulness is entirely natural, and it is even an integral part of how the brain operates, constituting a healthy and necessary function, according to the British newspaper “The Telegraph”.
The newspaper’s report adds that natural forgetfulness (such as forgetting your cat’s name, where you put your glasses, or the keys to your car) is something that happens to everyone and can become more frequent with age.
The human mind deals with a plethora of matters, constantly receiving information and engaging in unlimited daily experiences, in addition to countless distractions, meaning that we must focus on important matters, and it’s not unusual to not remember everything.
The report emphasizes that the fleeting nature of memory is unreliable, and we cannot always control the things that remain stuck in our memory, no matter how hard we try to recall them, such as when playing the “Give Me a Clue” game, for instance, when details get lost in the brain.
How does memory work?
Dr. Thomas Ryan, an associate professor at Trinity College Dublin, states: “New studies indicate that memories have priority in the brain, with the old ones remaining anchored but at specific times other memories take over.”
Recent research conducted by Dr. Ryan’s team focused on engram cells (memory cells) in laboratory mice, where animals were given drugs causing memory loss, but when engram cells were stimulated, memory returned – even in mice with genetic forms of Alzheimer’s disease.
The research also showed that memories remained in the brains of mice but were dormant, strongly suggesting that “memories do not have an expiration date and can be permanent”.
The “Telegraph” report underscores that the workings of memory are complex and many aspects are still unknown to neurologists, given that the brain contains billions of nerve cells.
