Temporal Concepts: How does the brain understand time & why does this skill change with dementia?

What day is it? What time is it? What season is it?

Do you hear these questions often?

How does the brain understand time and why does this skill change with dementia? 

The brain regulates time in two ways –

• the ability to tell the time and plan accordingly, and

• the innate body clock or circadian rhythm.

When the brain is damaged by dementia, the person can lose reasoning and analytic abilities that would normally allow them to understand time and plan their day. 

Memory loss also plays a role in why people with dementia lose track of time. The loss of the ability to remember events as recent as a few minutes ago impairs their perspective of when other events happened or will happen. Dementia makes it difficult for people to form new memories but typically allows them to hold onto memories from decades ago as if they happened yesterday. You may notice your loved one increasingly talking about their past. In fact, they may believe they are a younger version of themselves and do not remember they are retired and no longer need to get up for work.

As a caregiver, this can be distressing and frustrating. Providing a daily routine and structure can be helpful, including getting up and going to bed at the same time each day and having meals and activities on a schedule. For some individuals living with dementia a Day Clock can be very helpful. Day Clocks can help someone with dementia feel more grounded and in control by providing them with the Day/Year/Date/Time all on one screen. They range in price from $30 -$70 and have other features including alarms to remind them to take their medication or complete other daily activities.

Watching someone lose abilities as dementia advances is difficult but understanding what skills they have left and how to support those skills can make the journey a little easier.

Written by: Susan Raychard, MOTR/L, CDP

For more on services provided by Susan, please visit her website: https://susanraychard-llc.com/