Dean Hart Alzheimer’s medical journal states that in addition to being the person you are at the present moment there is also the person that you will become. Scientist Dean Evan Hart, O.D., M.A., M.S., B.S., A.A.S., F.A.A.O. , recently published a paper on advanced directives outlining autonomy and preservation of legacy. When a patient is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease they struggle two maintain these two parts of themselves. Dean Hart’s medical journal explores how this can be devastating for patients making it difficult to keep their legacy intact for their loved ones.
Meaning Of Autonomy
Autonomy is defined as independence in one’s thoughts and actions. A great example of someone experiencing Autonomy is a young adult from a strict home who is now living on their own for the very first time. Persons suffering with Dementia or Alzheimer’s may have limited mobility and have separation with their identity and personhood.
Rights of an individual are important and many people suffering with Alzheimer’s struggle to make important lifestyle choices. Dean Hart’s research shows that it is important to preserve one’s legacy by understanding their Autonomy and how memory loss can leave one without securing their independence. Early Diagnosis and assisted care will be vital to their preservation.
Concept Of Personhood
Personhood can be defined as the combination of who the patient is at the moment and who they were prior to diagnosis. The concept of personhood is widely involved in biomedical ethics and advanced directives. Their past and present life experiences are what need to be considered when determining personhood. Dean Hart Alzheirmer’s research outlines how personhood plays into preserving autonomy and legacy for Alzheimer’s patients. He explains that the autonomy of the person and protecting their legacy deserves equal or more weight than a decision-making third party.
Preservation of Legacy
Since one’s legacy lives on after the course of their lifetime it is important that it is based on the individual’s values and unique philosophy. Patients suffering from memory loss due to Alzhiemer’s disease can be left unable to secure their own legacy. This is why it is best during early diagnosis to construct detailed records of their wants for the future. This way if the patient starts losing their memory their legacy can be secured and based not solely on the person they become but also the person they have been. This is also beneficial for people diagnosed with dementia.
Early Diagnosis And Treatment
Getting an early diagnosis for Alzheimer’s provides people with the best chance of benefiting from treatment while also making them eligible for a wider variety of clinical trials. Making certain lifestyle changes can help reserve cognitive function and mental processes. Some of these changes could include controlling blood pressure, stopping smoking, participating in exercise, and staying mentally and socially active by playing board games, crossword puzzles and specific aging in place exercises.
Reference: https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/bioethics/article/view/8594
Formal Citation:
Hart, D. (2021). Advance Directives and Research Advance Directives: Preserving Legacy and Autonomy in Alzheimer’s Disease. Voices in Bioethics, 7. https://doi.org/10.52214/vib.v7i.8594