Intact social, cognitive ability, and selfhood: A case study of Alzheimer' s disease

TLDR

The case study shows that an Alzheimer’s patient retains various social and cognitive abilities and expressions of selfhood, which Kitwood and Bredin classify as indicators of relative well‑being that signal common ground with healthy individuals. The authors discuss potential neural mechanisms that may underlie these preserved abilities and emphasize the importance of acknowledging them. The study finds that these intact abilities persist despite severe cognitive deficits and that recognizing them can improve interactions between patients and caregivers.

Abstract

An in-depth case study of the discourse of an Alzheimer's disease (AD) sufferer reveals a variety of intact social and cognitive abilities as well as intact manifestations of selfhood as viewed from a social constructionist point of view. Intact social and cognitive abilities included those which have been referred to by Kitwood and Bredin as being indicators of relative well-being— indicators understood to be abilities typically found among the healthy, and whose presence thus signals common ground between the healthy and the afflicted. Such abilities are found to exist despite the sufferer's severe losses of cognitive function as measured by standard tests. Possible brain mechanisms supporting such intact abilities are discussed as well as the importance of recognizing such intact abilities. Such recognition can enhance the interaction between AD sufferers and caregivers.