Alzheimer's patients may lose memory, not feeling
September 2nd 2010 06:12
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Finding ways to make visits with a person in the middle stages of Alzheimer's disease meaningful can be challenging. So often, family and friends feel sad and frustrated that the person does not remember their visits. This frustration can lead to more infrequent visits as family members try to cope with their disappointment and anger at the disease.
Good news has come from a study published in the journal PNAS - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - earlier this year. The study looked at the effect of showing people with dementia a sad film or happy film. While they did not remember what they watched due to Alzheimer's disease, the feelings associated with the experience lingered.
People involved in the study were able to report or demonstrate happiness even though they could not remember why they were happy. They had no recollection of recently watching an uplifting movie such as "When Harry Met Sally" or a Bill Crosby special, but could express pleasure triggered by the event.
While the part of the brain responsible for short-term memory is damaged with Alzheimer's disease, a different part of the brain allows the brain to retain good or bad feelings triggered by meaningful activity.
This is encouraging news for family members who wonder how much their loved ones are benefitting from activities and visits. It validates the advice often given for families to continue to visit while relishing the simplest of reactions.
Take a moment to think of small gestures and interactions you can initiate while visiting a person with dementia. Simple activities such as blowing soap bubbles, telling good-hearted jokes and sharing a laugh allow for pleasant interactions during the visit. Very importantly, the good feeling these actions illicit will continue to flourish after you are gone.
Rather than focusing on impairments, such as short-term memory loss, think of ways to nurture remaining abilities. Capitalize on the brain's ability to retain good feelings sparked by pleasant activities. Keep in mind that the process of engaging the person in the activity may be more important than the outcome.
An activity as simple as painting with non-toxic watercolors offers a chance for the person to communicate nonverbally when words are no longer there. It also encourages pleasant feelings that will stay with the person long after the activity.
Whether or not the picture in the painting is completed is not as important.
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