Hi Christine, This is an interesting topic to cover. A person's personality is based on perceptions and the values that an individual develops to support them. Changes in personality have been noticed in people having strokes or traumatic brain injuries. This suggests that damage to certain parts of the brain may alter the areas where certain personality-based information is stored. It would seem logical to conclude that a diseased brain may eventually impact the personality of the individual to some degree, since memory is needed to define personality.
My mother seemed to maintain her long-held values, while at the same time she would become less inhibited in behavioral ways that were completely out of character for her. It felt to me like she was somewhat conflicted by old values and changing perceptions. I have no doubt that my mom's personality had changed to some degree because there were brief times when she seemed more like a stranger to me than my mom. I didn't like those feelings, but I couldn't ignore them, either. I think that her personality was slightly changing, but the differences were only discernible to someone who had known her for a long time. It was uncomfortable to think of her as losing her "self" to dementia.
My mom was still "mom" when she passed away. She looked like mom, talked like mom and at times, even thought like mom. I felt like part of mom had passed away many months earlier, however. The parts that were missing were surely a part of her personality. If they weren't, I wouldn't have missed them. -- Joe --
Good to hear from you Joseph.
I know what you mean about dealing with some changes to a parent's personality. Disinhibited comments, unguarded statements that you do not expect are alien and difficult. It says as much about who we are as who they are!
Caregivers, friends and relatives, have to go through so many adaptations. Many people are unable to cope and it is often easier not to maintain their relationship leaving people with chronic diseases very isolated.Our parents are the lucky ones. Our relationships have been strong before they got sick.
Christine
Joe, I think at some point, my father-in-law has changed a little bit. At least he forgot to be a real professor. Sometimes he even agreed to be a Christian just because the caregivers were, but he really didn't believe God as scientist (he thought material like ash is eternal in the sense of science. He is very materialistic, not spiritual.)
Sometimes if the caregiver tries to tell him he should act like a nice guy and then he is nice. He was really not caring about small things. He does/did not like very fat people (not healthy or lazy to him.)
I think ironically he has become "better" if his personality is changed a little bit. Perhaps that is why I don't mind that. For a difficult person who was difficult before, this change may not be so bad.
Take care,
Nina
Hi Nina, I suspect that personality is affected, but probably only slightly. I think that the values change for people with dementia and that they modify their beliefs to conform to those new values. Inhibitions are the main area where personality changes seem likely. That can result in positive or negative behavioral changes. When they are positive, we appreciate the behavioral changes and are more accepting of that new personality dynamic. When the change is negative, it's usually so out of character, that we promptly label it as a dramatic change in personality. Thanks for sharing your ideas! Best Wishes, -- Joe --
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Christine,
Thanks for the post. It is true that my father-in-law still has his old personality intact. Although he can no longer read or write like a professor before, his desires and character are still the same. Even after he forgot his family in details, he does not forget about his own self and what he needs in the past and present. He may forget about his sons, but he remembers that he needs to work with his sons (this is never true but it is his desire for some 20 years.) He knows what he wants and what he prefers. He may be depressed but he would not become B person from A person just because he has late Alzheimer's.
Often people say the personality changes after one gets dementia. I would say, yes, the habits or the life styles are changed due to disabilities from dementia, but their personalities are still there until the end.
Regards,
Nina
Thanks for your comments Nina.
How diseases change who we are, and how people close to those with disease cope with any changes is very important. If we can 'see' the person we know I am sure it helps us deal with it better. Maybe because the changes in them are more gradual (compaired to other diseases) it helps.
Best Wishes
Christine