Visual reason for poor appetites - an easy fix ... try it ..

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Scientist Spotlight:

Alice Cronin-Golomb, Ph.D.

DIRECTOR, VISION AND COGNITION LABORATORY, BOSTON UNIVERSITY

More and more, neuroscientists are uncovering the important

relationship between our senses—such as hearing or vision—and our

cognitive abilities. These findings have real-world significance.

Scientists and doctors are beginning to understand that programs or

therapies that address deficits in sensory abilities might serve to

ameliorate cognitive problems, too. While the science is highly

complex, the solutions can be surprisingly simple.

A palette for the Alzheimer's palate

Many chefs will tell you that food presentation is essential to the

diner's enjoyment of a meal. Alice Cronin-Golomb, Professor of

Psychology and Director of the Vision and Cognition Laboratory at

Boston University, might agree. The Alzheimer's patients she works

with enjoy more of the meal when it is served on a brightly colored

plate. A bright color that contrasts with the color of the meal helps

people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) tell the food and drink apart

from the tableware.

Professor Cronin-Golomb has done tremendous research on visual

dysfunction in patients with AD. She and her colleagues have

demonstrated that AD affects areas of the brain that are responsible

for vision, resulting in widespread visual deficits. These deficits

in vision can contribute to the decline of people with Alzheimer's in

myriad ways. Perhaps surprisingly, one way is in how much they eat.

Read More:

http://bfc.positscience.com/brain/spotlight/cronin-golomb.php