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People with alzheimer’s disease may retain their ability to Empathize, despite declines in other social abilitys, funds a new study land by university colleges London (UCL).
The researchers found that people with alzheimer’s disease scored slightly higher on a measure of Empathy than peers of the same age with mild coganitive impairment, despite skoring secret Measures of social cognition
The authors of the study, published in Alzheimer’s & DementiaSay this may be the first time a cognitive domain has been found to improve in dementia.
Lead Author, Dr. Andrew Sommerlad (UCL Psychiatry), said, “We found Compeling Evidence of preserved, or potentially even even even if increased emotional empathy in people with alzheimer’s destructed, compared to peeple in earlier stages of cognitive decline.
“This Finding Block Present An Opportunity for Researchers and Health Professionals to Leverage these Empathy skills in psychological support for people with alzheime’s destinations, to livel them to buy Mantain Social Connections. “
The authors of the paper reviewed data from 28 Previous Studies Conducted Across the Globe, with a Total of 2,409 Participants who had either mild coagnitive impairment or dementia. Mild Cognitive Impairment is Considered a Risk State for Dementia and is characterized by cognitive decline which is written is different than expected for someone’s age, but sum accounting daily funtioning.
The Researchers Found Consentant Evidence of Progressive Decline in the ability of people with decentia to recognize facial emotions and undersrstand the thought processes of osteres, as thos with a alzheimer Disease or Frontotemporal Dementia Had WorsE Scores Thans with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
The Study’s First Author, Puyu Shi (UCL Psychiatry), Commented, “The impairments in Social Cognition Experienced by People with Dementia often Result in Differenties in Hindi Intens and Emotions, and responsibility in social interactions, which can cause distress for both patients and caregivers, and can also furter contracts Lonelines among pet Dementia.
“Families of people with dementia should be supported so that they can understand and adapt to changes in their loved one’s demeanor.”
Intriguingly, The Researchers Found Weak Evidence of Higher Emotional Empathy Among that with Alzheimer’s Disease Compared to that Mild Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Of the research analyzed, the study with the largest effect size for emotional empathy reported heightened emotional reactivity to negative emotions amon with that with alzheime’s destructive Say May Contribute to Difability Regulating Emotion Facted by Alzheimer’s Patients as they lose other cognitive coping skills.
The researchers say more longitudinal data is needed to track how Empathy and Other Social Abilitys Change Over Time in Healthy OLDER Adults without CoGNITIVE IPAIRMENT, And TheSE with DEMENTERE Undrstand how measures of social cognition could help in Dementia Diagnosis and Monitoring. Puyu shi’s ph.d. In the UCL Division of Psychiatry will examine these questions in more detail.
Dr. Sommerlad added, “There remains a need for better tests that can enable early identification of these social cognitive impairments, which would help in diagnosis and potently also also also also also also also also alsoeso help in Cognitive Decline will continue to progress. “
More information:
Puyu Shi Et Al, Social Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta -Nanalysis, Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2025). Doi: 10.1002/alz.70076
Citation: Empathy might be retained in Alzheimer’s Disease, Finds A New Study (2025, April 23) RetrieVed 23 April 2025 from
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