Symptoms and behaviour

What is Anosognosia?

Anosognosia is a person's inability to recognise that they have an illness, caused by the brain changes themselves rather than by denial.

Someone with dementia may insist their memory is fine while being unable to recall the conversation. This is not stubbornness or embarrassment; the part of the brain that monitors one's own functioning is affected.

Arguing about it does not work and damages trust. It is one of the main reasons a person refuses help they clearly need.

Why it matters

Understanding that the person genuinely cannot see the problem changes how a family asks for anything.

Sources

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Anosognosia where you live

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Related terms

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