Could Different Cultures Teach Us Something About Dementia?
In other countries, dementia can be a time to rally around a loved one or transition to a new stage of life
We should recognize that dementia is not only a brain disorder of the person suffering from it but also a social disorder that can be understood in a variety of different ways.Jordi Ganduxe/Unsplash
Picture two different families, each dealing with a diagnosis of dementia in one of its members.
In one case, the patient is a retired executive, whose family tries as long as possible to keep the diagnosis secret, relying primarily on professional caregivers and eventually a nursing home.
Richard Gunderman
Author
Richard Gunderman, M.D., Ph.D., is Chancellor's Professor of Radiology, Pediatrics, Medical Education, Philosophy, Liberal Arts, Philanthropy, and Medical Humanities and Health Studies at Indiana University. His most recent books are “Marie Curie” and “Contagion.”
