The woman had not spoken for months, advanced dementia having gradually robbed her of the ability to communicate or recognize loved ones. For Whitson, such lucid moments represent one of the most fascinating and least understood mysteries in dementia research. LEAD Network is pioneering a new area of neuroscience by reframing dementia research around memory retrieval and by bringing broader awareness to a phenomenon. Asking A Different Kind of Question"We've spent decades focused on preventing dementia and treating dementia," Whitson said. "This research asks a different question: What allows moments of preserved function to emerge, even in the setting of advanced disease?"