Dementia is a broad term for a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life, and it affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgment. One common question is whether dementia can cause people to forget their hometown, a deeply personal and often emotionally significant memory.
The answer is yes, dementia can cause people to forget their hometown, but this depends on the type and progression of the disease. Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease—the most common form—primarily affects memory and cognitive abilities by damaging brain cells and disrupting communication between them. Early in dementia, short-term memory loss is most common, such as forgetting recent conversations or events. As the disease progresses, long-term memories, including those of one’s hometown or early life, can also be affected[1].
Memory is not a single entity but consists of different types: short-term, long-term, episodic (personal experiences), semantic (facts and knowledge), and procedural (skills). The memory of a hometown is typically stored as episodic and semantic memory. In dementia, especially Alzheimer’s, the hippocampus and related brain areas responsible for forming and retrieving memories are damaged. This damage can cause people to lose access to memories of their hometown, including its name, location, or personal experiences associated with it[1].
People with dementia may also experience disorientation in time and place. They might get lost in familiar environments or confuse one place for another. This disorientation can extend to forgetting where they grew up or lived for many years. For example, a person might not recognize their hometown or might confuse it with another place. This is part of the broader cognitive decline affecting spatial awareness and memory[1].
However, the loss of memory about a hometown is not uniform for all people with dementia. Some retain strong memories of their early life and hometown even in later stages, while others lose these memories earlier. Emotional connections and repeated exposure to memories can sometimes help preserve these memories longer. For example, familiar music, photographs, or conversations about the hometown can trigger recognition and recall[3].
Caregivers and family members often observe that while people with dementia may forget recent events or new information, they sometimes vividly recall distant memories, including those of their childhood or hometown. This phenomenon is called “remote memory” preservation and is common in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias[3].
The progression of dementia varies widely. In some cases, people may forget their hometown but still recognize close family members or friends. In other cases, they may forget both their hometown and familiar people. For example, Jay Leno shared that his wife, who has dementia, repeatedly experienced the loss of her mother as if it were new every day, showing how dementia can cause repetitive and fragmented memory experiences[2].
Medical research emphasizes that memory loss in dementia is due to physical changes in the brain, such as the buildup of abnormal proteins (amyloid plaques and tau tangles) that disrupt neural function. These changes lead to the death of brain cells and loss of connections, which underlie the memory and cognitive impairments seen in dementia[1].
In addition to memory loss, dementia can cause mood changes, personality shifts, and difficulties with language and coordination. These symptoms can compound the confusion and disorientation experienced by the person, making it harder for them to recall or recognize their hometown or other important personal information[1].
In summary, dementia can indeed make people forget their hometown as part of the broader memory and cognitive decline caused by neurodegenerative changes in the brain. The extent and timing of this memory loss vary depending on the individual and the type and stage of dementia. While some memories may be lost, others, especially emotionally significant or long-held ones, may persist longer. Understanding these changes helps caregivers provide better support and maintain connections with loved ones facing dementia.
Sources:
[1] Your Brain’s Warning Signs of Neurodegenerative Disease, Hope Brain Center
[2] Jay Leno reveals most harrowing memory wife relived every day amid her dementia battle, WGXA
[3] God’s grace while I cared for my mother with Alzheimer’s disease, Faith Storyteller
