Clive Wearing: A Life of Perpetual Waking
A Classical Musician's Sudden Change
Clive Wearing, a UK classical musician, contracted herpesviral encephalitis on March 27, 1985. This severe disease attacked his central nervous system, beginning with a headache and rapidly progressing to severe brain swelling. Doctors initially estimated a mere one-in-five chance of survival.
The Onset of Profound Memory Loss
The illness caused extensive memory loss and, crucially, the inability to form new memories. This resulted in Wearing experiencing a continuous sensation of waking up every 20 seconds, despite being fully conscious.
The illness caused extensive memory loss and the inability to form new memories, leading Wearing to experience a continuous sensation of waking up every 20 seconds.
His personal diary became a poignant record of this reality. Entries consistently documented his sensation of 'waking for the first time.' Remarkably, even though he didn't remember owning a diary, he recognized his handwriting and would frequently cross out previous entries, deeming them inaccurate because, to him, he had just awoken.
Enduring Affection and Instinctive Talents
Despite the significant memory impairment, Wearing maintained his deep affection for his wife, Deborah, whom he had married a year before his illness. He would forget her presence moments after she left a room, yet upon her return, he would greet her with profound joy and surprise.
In public, his inability to form new memories led to unique social interactions. He frequently misidentified unfamiliar people as important figures, such as the prime minister or the queen, assuming their significance simply because he had no prior recollection of meeting anyone.
Wearing also remarkably retained his musical ability. He could perform complex pieces with precision, even though he did not consciously remember them until he began to play them. This showcased a profound retention of procedural memory.
Decades On
Clive Wearing is currently 87 years old, and he has not recovered his memory.