On March 29, 1985, Clive Wearing, then an acknowledged expert in early music at the height of his career with BBC Radio 3, contracted a virus which normally causes only cold sores, but in Wearing's case attacked the brain. Since this point, he has been unable to process new memories. He has also been unable to control emotions and associated memories well. Wearing developed a profound case of total amnesia as a result of his illness. Because the part of the brain required to transfer memories from the 'working' to the 'long term' area is damaged, he is completely unable to encode new memories. He spends every day 'waking up' every few seconds, 'restarting' his consciousness once the time span of his short term memory elapses (max 18 seconds). He remembers little of his life before 1985; he knows, for example, that he has children from an earlier marriage, but cannot remember their names. His love for his second wife Deborah, whom he married the year prior to his illness, is undiminished. He greets her joyously every time they meet, believing he has not seen her in years, even though she may have just left the room to fetch a glass of water. In a diary provided by his caretakers, Clive was encouraged to record his thoughts. Page after page is filled with entries similar to the following: 8:31 AM: Now I am really, completely awake. 9:06 AM: Now I am perfectly, overwhelmingly awake. 9:34 AM: Now I am superlatively, actually awake. Earlier entries are usually crossed out, since he forgets having made an entry within minutes and dismisses the writings--although he acknowledges his own handwriting, he doesn't know how the entries were made or by whom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHUvCR-2AOc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmzU47i2xgw&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ObnErfTblY&feature=related
Wow! It's something I can't even get close understand what it'll be like, to always be moving forward. I mean, how we know we're moving forward is because we know what has happened in the past. It'd be very interesting and sad to know this man.
I have to say that if he could remember a full day at a time, and that was it, his life would be great. Less than 30 seconds? That's just horrible.
Madness I know. I was totally blown away by this guy's story. I saw it last night during a segment of "The Brain" on the History Channel. I can't imagine the frustration of picking up your journal wanting to record what you think is your moment of first awakening, only to see that you've written the same thing over and over for years. On top of that, he then crosses out his previous entries thinking that he was not really conscious until now. What a maddening feeling that must be. Truly strange.
That is really sad actually. Not being able to remember anything for more than 30 seconds. Its like 50 firsts dates but worse. But my hat must go off to his wife for staying with him though it all.
He must have a really dramatic life considering he thinks he hasn't seen anyone in a long time. That would also really get on my nerves because one second you tell him your name then he forgets again.
Wow,when i saw this it just seemed so interesting to me.This man seems like he has the life of Drew Barrymore in 50 First Dates.It must be horrible to wake up each day not knowing almost anything.I feel bad for that guy.