With Alzheimer's disease, the greatest fear is what will be lost, how accumulating neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques in the brain will eventually erase one's recollected life.

But maybe it's worse (or better?) than that. Researchers at the University of Iowa suggest that people with Alzheimer's may feel lingering emotions about past events, even when they no longer remember what actually happened.

In a recently published study, scientists played clips of sad and happy movies to Alzheimer's patients. They no longer remembered having seen the films but still experienced sustained states of sadness and happiness.

"This confirms that the emotional life of an Alzheimer's patient is alive and well," said study author Edmarie Guzman-Velez. The findings, she said, have implications for how Alzheimer's patients should be treated.

"Our findings should empower caregivers by showing them that their actions toward patients really do matter. Frequent visits and social interactions, exercise, music, dance, jokes and serving patients their favorite foods are all simple things that can have a lasting emotional impact on a patient's quality of life and subjective well-being."

Body of Knowledge

Every day, the heart creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles. In a lifetime, that's equivalent to driving to the moon and back.

Get Me That, Stat!

Roughly three-fourths of fatal automobile accidents that occur between midnight and 3 a.m. involve alcohol, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Three-fourths of drunken drivers involved in fatal collisions are not wearing seat belts.

Life in Big Macs

One hour of punching a boxing bag burns 408 calories (based on a 150-pound person), or the equivalent of 0.6 Big Mac.

Mania of the Week

Logomania: pathological loquacity. In other words (a lot of words), you talk too much.

Never Say Diet

The speed-eating record for "mixed fare" is held by Jay Gormon, who consumed 1.75 pounds of carrot cake, 1.02 pounds of oatmeal cream cookies and 0.425 pound of apple turnovers in four minutes, 15 seconds at the 2011 Great Preakness Pony Pig Out National Eating Championship. Note: Despite the event's name, no ponies were harmed in the making of this record.

Observation

"Ah, well, then I suppose that I shall have to die beyond my means." — writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), in response to a quoted fee for a medical procedure

Epitaphs

On a tombstone in a Ruidoso, New Mexico, cemetery:

"Here Lies

"Johnny Yeast

"Pardon Me

"For Not Rising."

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.