Understanding The Fear Of Memory Loss

A recent study found that dementia was singled out as the most feared disease by individuals above their fifties, with cancer coming in at second (30%) and stroke coming in at third (12%). This trend of fear has accelerated, with an increasing number of older adults being found to be affected by dementia. This is also exacerbated by the media reporting about the most negative aspects of the condition — causing many people to speculate unfounded claims and worry about whether they might have dementia without consulting a medical professional.

Also known as anticipatory dementia, this phenomenon describes feelings and anxiety that an individual might be experiencing when they observe changes in their memory retention functions and signals that mimic the common symptoms of dementia. In the long-term, dementia fear can adversely impact an individual’s well-being as it fosters negative thinking habits and cycles that perpetuate poor mental health.

So, what are some common behaviors that individuals with anticipatory dementia exhibit? And most importantly, how can we overcome such affective responses to memory loss symptoms? Read on to find out more.

Three Signs of Anticipatory Dementia Behavior

While memory loss is a natural part of aging, dementia is a progressive medical condition where the neurological chemistry and function of the brain deteriorates over time. Therefore, it is important to distinguish and differentiate between the two to prevent unfounded panic and speculation.

Recent medical research has shown that anticipatory dementia has adverse effects on individuals’ mental health, causing them to reinforce misconceptions and misunderstandings in their behavior.

Without intervention, this can harm the individual’s mental and cognitive abilities, resulting in three main types of behaviors that usually work in tandem to reinforce each other:

• Excessive attention to dementia-related symptoms
• Fearful and avoidant behavior
• Increase in memory failure

This behavior usually involves a fixation, obsession or dedicated attention towards moments of forgetfulness — such as not remembering a name, misplacing an item, or forgetting to buy a certain thing. This type of excessive self-surveillance and monitoring is repetitive and mentally exhausting, further impairing their cognitive functions.

This has also been observed to affect healthy people who display no visible symptoms in terms of cognitive changes. They develop this fear of dementia excessive attention in looking out for signs of the disease. This can increase the chances of mental lapses, where occurrences of forgetfulness or delayed memory responses will be more common, reinforcing their initial belief that they are affected by dementia.

In the long-term, this harmful perception can foster fear and encourage socially avoidant behavior, causing them to withdraw from regular interaction and communication with their family and friends. This will also affect their ability to function daily, negatively impacting their mood management and self-confidence.

How Do We Mitigate the Fear of Dementia?

Prevention is better than cure, which is even more true when it comes to mitigating and overcoming the fear of dementia. However, it is important to stay educated and constantly seek out scientific knowledge in the face of uncertainty. Therefore it is important to seek out the diagnosis and advice of medical professionals before jumping to any conclusions.

With the increasing trend of older adults with dementia being observed in scientific research, the reality of coming to terms with this progressive disease will be inevitable for many. However, not all hope is not lost as there are ways to navigate around this tricky slope of emotions:

• Psychotherapy for fear management
• Reassurance and emotional support
• Leading a healthier and more active lifestyle

Firstly, anticipatory dementia is a form of maladaptive behavior (inhibits the individual from adapting to their new environment or situation). As our minds are malleable and shaped by our experiences, clinical interventions like psychotherapy can help individuals effectively manage and unlearn their fears. If you or your loved ones are experiencing this, do not be afraid to seek help from a mental health professional.

If you observe this happening to your loved ones, you must provide them with the emotional support they need. Reassuring them can help calm and stabilize intense negative emotions when they encounter their fear of dementia, as it gives them a safe space to manage their feelings. Encouraging them to stay connected with their strong network of family, friends, and loved to prevent them from socially isolating

You can also better manage your fears of dementia by changing your daily routine and avoiding health risks such as social isolation, smoking, physical inactivity. It is integral that you engage in positive lifestyle habits to reduce the likelihood of developing dementia, thus improving your mental and physical health. In addition, incorporating these habits in your life can help you stay socially connected with others and ultimately help you manage your phobias better.

Staying Educated and Informed

Dementia is one of the many illnesses that carry a social stigma, leading many to feel ashamed about their conditions. In addressing this issue, it is important to stay well-educated while listening to people with lived experiences and the knowledge shared by scientific experts in this field.

Dispelling these misconceptions also means recognizing that developing dementia does not equate to having a low quality of life and that individuals living with this condition can continue to be effective, valued members contributing to society. Having a balanced perspective of this illness can help us debunk these negative stereotypes while also help us overcome our fears of aging and dementia.