09/04/2026
Very happy to share that Dr. Sullivan is now a Contributor to Psychology Today and writing a new blog called Still Us: What Changing Brains Reveal About Being Human.
Her first post is live today: Why a Moment Can Matter Even When We Don’t Remember It.
Neuroscience tells us that feelings can persist even after the facts that created them have been forgotten. Someone may not remember the visit, the music, the meal, or the afternoon you spent together and still have experienced joy, safety, connection, and belonging. And the mood lingers well after the event ends.
Instead of asking, “Will they remember this?” We must ask, “How are they experiencing this right now?”
A good hour is still a good hour, even if someone cannot tell us about it tomorrow.
A great BLT still tastes the same, even if we don't remember it tonight.
A genuine hug means the exact same thing to the brain in the moment.
And perhaps that’s not only a lesson about dementia. Perhaps changing brains have something important to teach all of us about what it means to be human.
If someone you love won’t remember your visit tomorrow, does it still matter today? Research on Alzheimer’s disease offers a compelling answer.
