Study: Alzheimer’s Patients Can Still Feel the Emotion After Memories Vanish

iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — While Alzheimer’s patients may not remember a particular visit or conversation, the event may have a lasting impact on how they feel, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Iowa stressed the importance of focusing on the emotional needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s, saying their findings can impact not only patients, but caregivers.

During their study, published in the journal Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology this September, researchers showed patients clips of sad and happy movies.

While they were unable to recall the films, the participants experienced lasting feelings of sadness and happiness.

“This confirms that the emotional life of an Alzheimer’s patient is alive and well,” said lead author Edmarie Guzmán-Vélez.

The results highlight the necessity for caregivers to avoid causing negative feelings and to instead try to bring positivity, scientists added.

“Our findings should empower caregivers by showing them that their actions toward patients really do matter,” Guzmán-Vélez says. “Frequent visits and social interactions, exercise, music, dance, jokes, and serving patients their favorite foods are all simple things that can have a lasting emotional impact on a patient’s quality of life and subjective well-being.”

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