What are you if not a walking, talking collection of memories? Memories are so much more than just the passing thoughts they are often characterized as; something that arises when you see something that takes you back to a previous time in life. Instead, memories are the very pillars of your existence and identity, defining the parameters of how you see yourself, how you interact with the world around you, and ultimately, who you are.
To this end, memory loss is a far more serious concern than many people realise. Watching someone’s memories slip away is not simply witnessing them forget things from their distant past; it is watching the essence of who they are as a person stripped away in real time. This can be difficult and emotionally taxing for both the individual in question and their close friends and family.
Fortunately, a newly established foundation, the American Memory Loss Foundation, aims to fill a critical psychological need by supporting individuals experiencing the early emotional effects of memory decline, offering both educational resources and emotional support. In this way, it aims to equip people with a better understanding of the root causes and symptoms of memory loss, enabling them to navigate this difficult period more effectively and feel less isolated.
Memory loss isn’t just a medical concern; it also causes psychological distress, such as anxiety, identity confusion, and family tension. The American Memory Loss Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, now provides information on how human memory functions, the differences between “normal” and “abnormal” memory loss, and how to discuss memory issues with a doctor.
Furthermore, as a private foundation, the American Memory Loss Foundation offers seed grants to other public charities that help disseminate this information to anyone interested.
In addition to working tirelessly to expand access to information resources, the foundation also plans to collaborate with mental health professionals to develop holistic, non-clinical interventions.
The foundation was started by Ed Chambliss, a long-time communications professional, after he helped three close family members receive memory-related diagnoses in just two years. Throughout this period, he realized just how monumental a challenge this illness was and how little weight it was being afforded in professional circles. Thus, Chambliss set out to do all that he could to change that.
He details: “When you’re trying to help someone who is experiencing memory problems, you quickly realize there’s a lot you don’t know. You also quickly learn that, until there is a confirmed diagnosis, it’s up to you to figure out what to do next. It’s an exercise in frustration and fear that is just unacceptable.”
Chambliss’s initial goal with the American Memory Loss Foundation was to create a single source for plain-English information about memory and memory loss, gathered from trusted medical and scientific sources and vetted by a medical advisor.
Today, the foundation also provides resources for those experiencing “subjective cognitive decline,” a phase often overlooked by the medical system.
Through this work, the foundation addresses a growing mental health concern in aging populations by fostering early conversations and community-based mental health literacy. There is nothing more difficult than struggling with such emotionally taxing things in isolation, feeling like you are alone. Thanks to the American Memory Loss Foundation’s work, you and your family no longer need to feel this way.
