Can't Remember What I Forgot

The latest research on memory loss and the aging brain

Sue Halpern is scholar-in-residence at Middlebury College and author, most recently, of Can't Remember What I Forgot: The Good News From The Front Lines of Memory Research. See full bio

August 20, 2008, Memory

Comments on "Sweet dreams John McCain, or what?"

Sweet dreams John McCain, or what?

By Sue Halpern on August 20, 2008 in Can't Remember What I Forgot

The oft-prescribed drug Ambien has been implicated in numerous cases of sleep-driving, sleep gorging, and sleep-stealing, none of it remembered once it has worn off. John McCain, takes Ambien when he has trouble sleeping. Then what? Read More

Scary...

Submitted by cindy on August 21, 2008 - 6:37am.

I was afraid that this would happen. First we have a retard now we may possibly get a monster. I'm splitting.

Sleeping Pills, First Responders and McCain

Submitted by Cornfields on August 27, 2008 - 8:26am.

I frankly think both first responders and presidents should avoid sleeping pills. McCain's Ambien use probably wouldn't be an issue for an average older American, but he needs to be able to wake up in the middle of the night and make decisions. At the very least McCain needs to go cold turkey and get off the pills if he becomes president.

Knowing what can happen with

Submitted by Sue Halpern on August 27, 2008 - 8:51am.

Knowing what can happen with drugs like Ambien for sleeping and Miraplex for Parkinson's and restless leg syndrome, I wonder if, in addition to having the result of their physical released, presidential candidates should have a list of their prescriptions released. Obviously, presidents have been known to rely on drugs for pain (Kennedy) and sleep (first Bush), but it does seem relevant to the question of fitness for duty.