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8 - Lost in the Fog of Alzheimer’s

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2024

Daniel Gibbs
Affiliation:
Emeritus of Oregon Health and Science University
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Summary

The fog of Alzheimer’s is a commonly used metaphor, and I think it’s a pretty good one. It refers to the loss of mental acuity, disorientation, and forgetfulness that are common in Alzheimer’s. But one aspect of the metaphor that is not emphasized is that like the fog bank on the ocean, the fog of Alzheimer’s can come and go. It does for me. Sometimes there is an obvious cause such as running a fever, getting too tired, or having a second glass of wine. On the day after I got my second Covid-19 vaccination I was not mentally sharp and had trouble concentrating despite not having any other side effects. Once or twice a week on first awakening in the morning, I think I am in my childhood bedroom. It only takes a few seconds to get reoriented, and it actually is a pleasant rather than scary experience. Sometimes the fog comes in for no apparent reason, lasts a few minutes or a few hours, and then goes away. I wonder what is behind these mysterious, seemingly unprovoked but temporary episodes of cognitive impairment.

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Chapter
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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References

VandeVrede, L, Gibbs, DM, Koestler, M, et al. Symptomatic amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in an APOE ε4/ε4 patient treated with aducanumab. Alzheimers Dement 2020; 12: e12101. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12101 (open access).Google Scholar
Irizarry, MC, Jin, S, He, F, et al. Incidence of new-onset seizures in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol 2012; 69: 368372. https//doi.org/10.1001/archneurol.2011.830 (public access version available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PMC3622046).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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  • Lost in the Fog of Alzheimer’s
  • Daniel Gibbs, Emeritus of Oregon Health and Science University
  • Book: Dispatches from the Land of Alzheimer's
  • Online publication: 19 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009430067.009
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  • Lost in the Fog of Alzheimer’s
  • Daniel Gibbs, Emeritus of Oregon Health and Science University
  • Book: Dispatches from the Land of Alzheimer's
  • Online publication: 19 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009430067.009
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Lost in the Fog of Alzheimer’s
  • Daniel Gibbs, Emeritus of Oregon Health and Science University
  • Book: Dispatches from the Land of Alzheimer's
  • Online publication: 19 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009430067.009
Available formats
×