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Losing one's memory in early Alzheimer's disease
Karen Parsons-Suhl1, Mary E Johnson, Judy J McCann
1Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
Qualitative Health Research
|January 5, 2008
Summary
This study explored memory loss in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Findings reveal forgetting is a significant part of everyday life, not just a cognitive deficit.
Area of Science:
- Phenomenology
- Qualitative Research
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) significantly impact memory.
- Understanding the lived experience of memory loss is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lived experience of memory loss in individuals with early AD or MCI.
- To identify patterns and themes associated with forgetting in this population.
Main Methods:
- Heideggerian hermeneutical phenomenology was employed.
- Data analysis followed established phenomenological methods (Diekelmann et al., Benner, Thomas & Pollio, van Manen).
- Twelve participants with early AD or MCI were interviewed.
Main Results:
- Three constitutive patterns emerged: experiencing breakdown, temporality, and managing forgetting.
- Themes included 'awakening to breakdown,' 'living with forgetting,' 'being in the nothing,' 'forgetting the past,' 'looking ahead,' 'remembering with cues,' 'writing things down,' 'recognizing what made remembering better or worse,' and 'using laughter.'
Conclusions:
- Early Alzheimer's disease involves more than just cognitive decline.
- Forgetting holds significant meaning within the context of individuals' everyday lives.
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