Why does my father with dementia think his reflection is another person?
If your father has dementia and believes his reflection is someone else, he may be experiencing a condition called Capgras syndrome. This is a rare disorder where a person thinks their loved ones or even themselves have been replaced by imposters.
Capgras syndrome can happen in people with dementia, especially those who have Lewy body dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It’s caused by changes in the brain that affect how a person recognizes faces and connects them to memories and emotions.
When your father looks in the mirror, the part of his brain that recognizes faces might be working fine. But the part that links that face to feelings and memories of himself isn’t working properly. So he sees a face that looks familiar, but doesn’t feel like it’s his own. This disconnect makes him think it must be someone else.
This can be very confusing and upsetting for your father. He might feel scared or angry when he sees his reflection. He might talk to it or try to interact with it as if it’s another person.
There’s no specific cure for Capgras syndrome, but there are ways to help your father:
1. Don’t argue with him about what he’s seeing. This will only upset him more.
2. Try covering or removing mirrors if they cause distress.
3. Use gentle reminders about who he is seeing.
4. Keep him in familiar surroundings with objects he recognizes.
5. Make sure he’s getting proper treatment for his dementia.
6. Talk to his doctor about any medications that might help.
Remember, your father isn’t doing this on purpose. His brain is playing tricks on him because of his dementia. Being patient and understanding can help both of you cope with this challenging symptom[1][2][3].
