Anosognosia is a condition where an individual lacks self-awareness, for instance if one is affected with a disease or a disability, in Anosognosia the individual is unaware of the existing condition.
Anosognosia refers to brain cell changes that lead to not knowing or realizing that a deficit or illness exists. It refers to a loss of self-awareness in impairments such as those of memory, thinking skills, emotion or movements.
Joseph Francois Babinski, a French neurologist, noticed this condition and coined the term in 1914.
How does anosognosia differ from denial ?
Denial is a tactic used to reject something that a person would like to ignore, avoid or completely reject because it is just too difficult or causes way too much stress. The person may avoid a problem, minimize it or just accept part of the truth. For instance, the person may accept the fact of being chronically ill, however, he or she may avoid dealing with it by not taking medicine. Sometimes a person is in denial to steer clear of taking any responsibility for an issue or situation.
Anosognosia is NOT the same as denial.
What is the pathology behind anosognosia ?
Anosognosia is a state that results from substantial changes in brain cells usually in the right front side of our brain (that is in the right pre-frontal lobes, positioned in the front, top part of the brain) in addition to the parietal lobes (that is just behind the frontal lobes).
The condition does not affect the senses like hearing, seeing, touching, smelling or tasting but the defect is the understanding and the ability to use that information, as if the information is not coming in only or does not exist.
For instance, the person may be able to look at something on the table, but they will not able to “see” it. Therefore, the visual information has entered the eye but the information is not translated properly so that the person can understand and utilize the information.
This decreasing self-awareness is a result of changes in brain cells. These could be because of brain trauma such as that of a head injury from a car accident, or vascular changes like a stroke or degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Even some people in psychotic crisis may undergo anosognosia and need to be administered psychiatric therapy and medicines.
What are the symptoms of anosognosia ?
The self-awareness may range from being completely unaware to being a little aware of the deficits. The person may not comprehend that there is indeed a short-term memory problem. The person may be adamant that their memory ability is all right. Otherwise, the person may be to some extent conscious of occasional episodes of forgetting and make excuses.
Signs like unpaid bills, neglect of both personal and house hygiene and making up of answers or remarks that connect pieces of information, time, places, and people that do not actually belong together.
What is the treatment of anosognosia ?
Regular help both in the home and family, preparation ahead and working with an optimistic, partnership will aid the long-term, daily care management.
This regular assistance with daily chores, transport and personal care whilst restricting unsafe activities is imperative. Meals should be made readily available but alcoholic beverages should be kept away. Stove and water heater should be out of reach for the patient.
How to find neurologists for anosognosia treatment ?
Now you can find neurologists for anosognosia treatment from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions from multiple neurologists, get cost estimates for anosognosia treatment from different hospitals, compare things and then choose a neurologist for anosognosia treatment.
Find a neurologist for anosognosia treatment on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
