summary: A new study investigated episodes of lucidity in patients with advanced dementia and found that these episodes are not limited to imminent death scenarios as previously thought. Researchers surveyed family caregivers and categorized these episodes into types based on their quality and context, and found that 75% of those who experienced moments of lucidity had Alzheimer’s disease.
This study aims to better understand these episodes of spontaneous lucidity and provide caregivers with reassurance that these moments do not necessarily signal the end of life. This research is critical to improving caregiver interactions and management of dementia care.
Important facts:
- 75% of lucid episodes occurred in people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
- This study identified different types of lucid episodes and debunked the common belief that they herald death.
- Sixty-one percent of those who experienced lucid episodes were women, and 31% lived in the same household as their caregiver.
sauce: mayo clinic
A recent Mayo Clinic study published in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association investigated lucid episodes in people in the later stages of dementia and provided insight into how these events manifest.
The results showed that 75% of people experiencing lucid episodes reported having Alzheimer’s disease rather than other forms of dementia.
Researchers define a lucid episode as an unexpected, spontaneous, meaningful, and appropriate communication, either verbally or through gestures and actions, from a person who appears to have permanently lost the ability to interact coherently. I am.
Family caregivers of people with dementia were surveyed and asked about witnessing lucid episodes. The researchers then categorized the episodes into types.
This study aimed to determine whether there are distinct patterns or types that can be used to understand why and when lucid episodes occur.
Dr. Joan Griffin, lead author of the study.
“We determined the type of episode based on the circumstances surrounding the episode, the quality of communication during the episode, how long the episode lasted, the cognitive level of the person with dementia before the episode, and the proximity of death,” he says. Dr. Joan Griffin, lead author of the study.
The results revealed that 61% of those who experienced a lucid episode were women, and 31% lived in the same household as the caregiver who completed the survey.
“We know that these lucid episodes occur, but we didn’t know whether different types of episodes occur at different times and under different circumstances,” Dr. Griffin says. “This study helped clarify that different types of episodes are likely to exist.”
In contrast to the results of previous studies, the conclusions of this study cast doubt on the idea that lucid episodes can signal impending death.
“It’s important that people know that these are not necessarily harbingers of death,” Dr. Griffin says. “I think people can become anxious when these events occur, so it’s good to know that there are different types of episodes and that they don’t necessarily mean death is imminent.” That’s it.”
Dr. Griffin noted that researchers are currently conducting longitudinal studies to better understand lucid episodes and how caregivers respond to and make meaning from them. do. Longitudinal studies allow researchers to track changes and behaviors over time and identify relationships between these changes.
“This new study allows us to better understand what patterns exist and determine the outcome of episodes over time,” explains Dr. Griffin.
Show compassion for caregivers and their loved ones
Dr. Griffin emphasizes the need to understand these episodes to support the work of caregivers and remind them of the cognitive and emotional potential of people living with dementia.
“Caregivers of people with dementia have to deal with a long list of challenges, and it can be overwhelming,” Dr. Griffin says. “Perhaps understanding these episodes will ease that burden.”
“In our research and in the stories we hear from carers, we know that these types of episodes change the way people interact with and support their loved ones, usually for the better.” she added.
“These episodes remind us that caregiving can be difficult, but we can always try to do it with a little more humanity and grace.”
The Mayo Clinic’s Robert D. and Patricia E. Kahn Center for Health Care Delivery Sciences supported this research.
About this dementia research news
author: Megan Lewin
sauce: mayo clinic
contact: Megan Lewin – Mayo Clinic
image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original research: Open access.
“Developing and explaining a typology of lucid episodes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias” by Joan Griffin et al. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
abstract
Developing and explaining a typology of lucid episodes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
introduction
In this study, we investigated episodes of lucidity in people living with end-stage Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (PLWD) and developed a typology to help characterize these episodes.
Method
Family caregivers of PLWD provided information about the witnessed episodes, including proximity of death, cognitive status, duration, quality of communication, and circumstances before the lucid episode, for up to two episodes (Caregiver) N = 151; Episode N = 279). We used latent class analysis to classify and characterize empirically distinct clusters of lucid episodes.
result
Four lucid episode types were identified. The most common type occurred among his PLWD during family visits and when he had been more than 6 months since the episode. The least common type occurred simultaneously with a family visit and within 7 days of the PLWD’s death.
discussion
Findings suggest that multiple types of lucid episodes exist. Not everything indicates impending death. Some, but not all, are caused by external stimuli.
