Dementia Support

Memory – Applying Memory Research

In this course, Dr Ashok Jansari (Goldsmiths, University of London) explores the application of memory psychology research to the real world. In the first lecture, we think about how memory research findings can be applied to assist in the support of dementia patients and their families. In the second lecture, we think about how memory research findings can be applied to the support and treatment of individuals with mental health difficulties. Next, we think about how memory research findings can be applied to improve the reliability and usefulness of eye witness testimonies. In the fourth and final lecture, we think about how memory research findings can be applied to understanding and overcoming drug addictions.

Dementia Support

In this lecture, we think about how memory research findings can improve the support for people with dementia, focusing in particular on: (i) the commonality between all forms of dementia being that they are degenerative, with Alzheimer’s being the most commonly recognised; (ii) the non-pharmacological nature of current dementia treatments; (iii) levels of processing theory, which found that more effort put into learning results in more effective remembering of that learned information; (iv) research into effortful learning which has shown to be effective at improving the memory abilities of dementia patients; (v) spaced retrieval, which involves providing the answer alongside a question, but gradually increasing the time between each presentation of the question, to solidify the memory; (vi) research into remembering in groups, finding that social remembering elicited better memory performance; (vii) Dr Jansari’s own work on a dementia diagnosis test which can detect dementia symptoms earlier than is currently possible, giving families opportunity to prepare and implement support.