In March 2018 her partner, Dr John Cacioppo, a social neuroscientist who was a pioneer of research into loneliness, died unexpectedly, aged 66. But the memory game has a personal resonance for Cacioppo, who is 47 and has a big smile and rolling wave of platinum-blonde hair. It could also come in handy, say, during a global pandemic that makes us housebound for the better part of two years. Dr Cacioppo suggests the exercise might be useful for astronauts, who can spend months away from their loved ones on a space station.
