Dementia "Fact Splicing" As Part Of Memory Loss

I recently read about the term, "fact splicing" to perfectly describe something we see so often in someone with dementia who begins to struggle with memory loss.

When someone with dementia matches two pieces of information from different parts of their memory history together and draws an unusual conclusion, that is an example of fact splicing.  An example would be a person with dementia recalling the price of apples in 1954 from their long term memory and splicing that memory with the current price of apples and then getting angry and refusing to buy the apples in front of them.

Remember we said that arguing with someone with dementia is a no win situation so the fact splicing situations can be very trying on dementia caregivers.  It can appear to the caregiver that the person with dementia is acting irrationally but really they are just trying to process an ever-changing and confusing environment.

Can you share examples of fact splicing situations you have observed recently?

Comments

[Kay Brewer]

I am not really sure if this is the same thing...
Our lease on the apartment has come due for the first of May. My Dad has had me drive over to his childhood home, that his family lived in in the late 1920's, twice this week. He wants to go inside and look around. I've explained to him that we cannot do that, because people that we don't know, are living in the house. He thinks that we already own that house, so why pay the lease here.
Dad has lived in this apartment for 15 years, but it isn't home on a lot of days.But,some days he will open the front door and look at the apartment number and say "Well, Kay we ARE home....
Thank you Sue for the wonderful information that you provide for us.
Sincerely, Kay

[Sue]

Hi Kay: Yes, I think that is a perfect example of putting two different time periods together with a lack of insight too! Thanks for sharing your real life examples and your nice comments!
Sue

[Kim]

Thank you for giving a name to this pattern. My mother has been fact-splicing ever since before her knee surgery last year. She once mixed up her prescription coverage with her telephone company (with NO awareness of doing so) when talking to customer service. She scored MMSE 24 of 30 in March, but has a master's degree, so this does not represent "no impairment". She has never been diagnosed. I am trying to get a full cognitive eval. and neuro visit, but she rallies in front of her PCP and psychiatrist, and vetoed the eval. when it was scheduled before. She keeps asking me to end her day helper's services, saying that she can be independent and should be allowed to drive. She simultaneously denies her problem and fears that each doctor visit is for institutionalization.

[Sue]

Hi Kim: You are right on target to get the full evaluation done since your mother has never been officially diagnosed.

It is true that so many people can rally and present almost "symptom free" when faced with certain situations. You may have to prep the doctor that allowing your mom to keep talking during the eval, she will eventually have some of her symptoms come out.

Also typical that she would want to get rid of the help she has and drive. During the eval, you may want the physician to address these two issues directly with your mom. She may not remember the details but often the authority figure of the doctor can make more of an impression.

Sounds like you are doing your best--good luck and keep us posted on your progress with your mom!

Thanks for writing, Sue