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Anosognosia in Dementia
Robert S Wilson1,2,3, Joel Sytsma4, Lisa L Barnes4,5,6
1Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 South Paulina Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. rwilson@rush.edu.
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|July 21, 2016
Summary
Nearly all individuals with dementia develop anosognosia, a lack of awareness of their cognitive decline. This unawareness is linked to brain damage affecting memory and self-perception networks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Psychology
Background:
- Dementia is characterized by cognitive decline, often accompanied by a lack of awareness of deficits.
- Anosognosia, or unawareness of illness, is a significant challenge in managing dementia.
- Understanding anosognosia is crucial for patient care and therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on anosognosia in dementia.
- To explore assessment methods, prevalence, and course of anosognosia.
- To examine neurobiological underpinnings and associated brain networks.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on anosognosia in dementia.
- Analysis of studies on assessment techniques and prevalence data.
- Synthesis of neuroimaging findings and proposed mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Anosognosia is eventually present in almost all individuals with dementia.
- Its occurrence correlates with dementia-related pathologies.
- Damage to memory and self-referential brain networks is associated with anosognosia.
Conclusions:
- Anosognosia is a near-universal feature of dementia.
- Brain network integrity is critical for self-awareness in dementia.
- Further research into component mechanisms can inform interventions.
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