The Memory Thief

April 26, 2021
Filmmaker Aguirre debuts with an insightful look at the inner workings of memory and the research of neurologist Jed Barash, who has for nearly a decade looked for a link between opioid abuse and memory damage. In 2012, Barash reviewed the MRI of a 22-year-old opiate overdose survivor whose hippocampus, “the place that holds the keys to memory,” had been completely obliterated. The experience launched Barash’s quest, which Aguirre embellishes with accounts of what is presently known about how memories are created and stored, a discussion of amnesia syndrome case studies that Barash believes are fentanyl-related, and a sobering look at the costs of the opioid crisis. Barash’s work with memory extends beyond opioids: his team also wondered, Aguirre writes, if their discoveries “could turn out to be a tiny piece of the giant puzzle that is Alzheimer’s disease.” Aguirre has a knack for explaining science in accessible detail, and paints a sympathetic and intimate picture of Barash through his tireless “years of study and obsession,” all the while illuminating the reality of former fentanyl users who struggle with profound amnesia. The blend of science and deeply felt humanity will leave readers thinking about this one long after they finish. Agent: Justin Brouckert, Aevitas Creative.

May 21, 2021

In 2012, Jed Barash (neurologist, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, MA) first came across a patient who suffered from amnesia due to a damaged hippocampus after a drug overdose; he felt that he was looking at only the tip of an iceberg. In his search for answers, Barash has spent the last decade relentlessly pursuing cases of what has since been called opioid-associated amnestic syndrome. Aguirre (writer and science producer for the PBS series NOVA) narrates the work of Barash and the many colleagues he has enlisted. Barash discovers that the amnestic syndrome is caused by fentanyl. But why do only some suffer from the syndrome? Is there a genetic component? Barash's work on opioids and memory is far-reaching and could potentially open new avenues to explore in the pursuit of effective treatment and even prevention for Alzheimer's disease. Aguirre writes clearly and imbues descriptions of the book's doctors, researchers, and patients with humanity. She adds relevant background information when necessary, such as a brief history of research involving the brain and memory. VERDICT Opioid use and Alzheimer's disease are two subjects affecting large swaths of Americans. A fascinating window into the search of one scientist (with a lot of help) to connect the dots and make a difference.--Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's Sch., Brooklyn

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