We now have a second study purporting to show that Alzheimer's may be detected in the work of authors who continue to write after the onset of the condition. The first study examined Iris Murdoch, the second Agatha Christie. Among aspects examined were range of vocabulary (which decreased) and use of indefinite words such as 'something' (which increased).
It is known that Murdoch suffered from memory loss but there is no evidence that Christie was ever diagnosed. However, Christie may have provided a clue in the title of her last novel, 'Elephants Can Remember'.
If the research is on the money it suggests to me that the common nostrum, use it or lose it, may be wide of the mark.
My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and it is sad to watch.
ReplyDeleteIt is. And it would seem mental exercise is not a solution - we must look to medical research.
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