Terminal lucidity: why do loved ones with dementia sometimes ‘come back’ before death?

By Yen Ying Lim, Associate Professor, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University
Diny Thomson, PhD (Clinical Neuropsychology) Candidate and Provisional Psychologist, Monash University

Dementia is often described as “the long goodbye”. Although the person is still alive, dementia slowly and irreversibly chips away at their memories and the qualities that make someone “them”.

Dementia eventually takes away the person’s ability to communicate, eat and drink on their own, understand where they are, and recognise family members.

Since as early as the 19th century, stories from loved ones, caregivers and health-care workers have described some people with dementia suddenly becoming lucid.…

Read complete article

~	The jury from Moldova gave highest points to Ukraine during Eurovision 2024

~	Rwanda’s role in eastern DRC conflict: why international law is failing to end the fighting

~	Mapping malaria in Africa: climate change study predicts where mosquitoes will breed in future

~	Why is my dog so cute? The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast

~	India’s LGBTQIA+ community notches legal wins but still faces societal hurdles to acceptance, equal rights

~	Al Ahly and Esperance highlight the dominance of North Africa in club football. Lessons for other African teams

~	Sri Lanka: Fifteen years after the end of war, victims still await justice at Mullivaikkal

~	South African communities vs Shell: high court victories show that cultural beliefs and practices count in climate cases

~	Why the New Yorker blocked UK website readers from its Lucy Letby story – an expert explains

~	How a British military march became the distinctive sound of American graduations