Subjective Time in Dementia: A Critical Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Subjective time perception and mental time travel are crucial for daily functioning.
• Disruptions in these temporal capacities are increasingly recognized in dementia syndromes.
• These disruptions can severely impact an individual's independence and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of subjective timing dysfunctions in dementia.
• To explore the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying altered time perception and mental time travel in various dementia disorders.
• To elucidate the functional consequences of these timing alterations on prospective memory and intertemporal decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing current research on subjective timing in dementia.
• Analysis of neurocognitive mechanisms associated with time perception and mental time travel deficits.
• Examination of functional implications through the lens of prospective memory and intertemporal decision-making.

Main Results:

• Subjective timing disturbances, affecting both moment-to-moment perception and mental time travel, are prevalent across different dementia syndromes.
• Neurocognitive changes underpin these temporal deficits, varying in presentation across dementia types.
• Altered subjective timing significantly impacts essential adaptive functions like planning and decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Subjective timing dysfunction is a transdiagnostic issue in dementia with significant functional consequences.
• Understanding these timing deficits is crucial for informing management strategies.
• There is high variability in subjective timing performance across dementia syndromes and functional domains, necessitating individualized approaches.