Can grief cause dementia?
Asked by Anonymous
Answered
05/03/2021
To answer your question, yes and no. Grief does not cause dementia but can exacerbate the onset and progression of dementia symptoms and can deteriorate the person’s remaining resources and coping skills.
The act of advancing through the course of dementia also includes its own set of losses and grief. There are periods when the person with dementia is crystal clear in their thinking and understands what is happening, which horrifies and aching realization. To lose your physical independence, you are also losing your ability to manage your own thoughts and body. Your own mind and body feel like someone else’s, and it causes many identity issues and confusion for the person experiencing these losses.
A person with dementia experiences gaps of time that they cannot account for and begin to lose aspects of their personality one by one. This resource, from https://pathwayshealth.org/dementia-care/dementia-patients-and-grief/, describes these losses as “little deaths” that occur, losing their independence, the ability to drive, read, cook, enjoy hobbies, as well as much bigger “deaths” of memories and relationships, which are paramount to knowing who we are and what our lives have meant. Depression is a big issue for people who have been diagnosed with dementia, and ongoing psychiatric care is very important for their overall well-being.
There is also evidence that suggests that the progression of dementia can be accelerated by stress, which may cause increased inflammation in the brain (https://www.alzheimers.net/the-stressful-life-events-that-can-lead-to-alzheimers) and can contribute to additional brain lesions due to the increase in cortisol and other stress hormones that are released as part of the body’s stress response (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060830005837.htm, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Stress-and-Alzheimers-Disease.aspx )
Your question points more to grief as a source of stress. Studies have been done on the so-called “Widowhood Effect” that suggests that when a spouse dies in an elderly couple, the overall mortality rate increases (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2636447/). If you know someone with dementia who has experienced this kind of loss, it is important to ensure that they are well-supported by friends, family, community, church community (if applicable). Remaining socially active and engaged is a protective factor for people with dementia and has been challenging during the global pandemic. Animal-based therapy has had wonderful outcomes for people with dementia, as well as art and expressive-based techniques, such as TimeSlips (https://www.timeslips.org/). Below are several other resources that will help you or your loved ones live with dementia and have an increased quality of life.
Resources for Alzheimer’s Care: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/getting-help-alzheimers-caregiving
Art Therapy: https://dailycaring.com/the-benefits-of-art-therapy-for-dementia/
Pets/Animal Therapy: https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/alzheimers-disease-magic-pets
Resources for Caregivers: https://www.caregiver.org/resource/caregivers-guide-understanding-dementia-behaviors/
(M.Ed, LPC)