The self in Alzheimer's Disease' A Case Study with Implications for Life Quality.

The self in Alzheimer's Disease' A Case Study with Implications for Life Quality. Hell J Nucl Med. 2019 Jan-Apr;22 Suppl:180-186 Authors: Sarafidou S Abstract In neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia of the Alzheimer's type the person gradually loses skills and aspects of everyday living. Does that indicate that he/ she lose the self? In the past it was widely accepted that the self diminishes in dementia, until it is lost in the latest stage, yet in the recent years this premise has been challenged. Accepting that the self is "lost" can be problematic theoretically in the approach of self-hood, and practically in the care of individuals. Currently a novel perspective is "gaining ground" supporting the existence of the self in dementia, and the importance of enhancing the self-hood, in order to improve the life of the person. A case study is presented where the self emerged along with a need to target it in order to improve the life of the person. A man with Alzheimer's disease was expressing rapid cognitive decline, along with emotional agitation and behavioral disturbances, and began having sessions. An intervention was structured that used all art modalities as a stimulus, and focused on the existing skills, on the narrative of the person, and on self- qualities, in order to improve life quality. It was composed of activities, each of which had a cognitive, an emotional, a behavioral and a somatosensory aspect, all of which...
Source: Hellenic Journal of Nuclear Medicine - Category: Nuclear Medicine Tags: Hell J Nucl Med Source Type: research