Reflected image processing abnormalities in dementia – a case series and review. Issue 2 (4th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Issac, Thomas Gregor; Mukku, Shiv Shanker Reddy; Mangalore, Sandhya; Sinha, Preeti; Sivakumar, Palanimuthu T.
• Is Part Of: Neurocase. Volume 28:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 258
• Page End: 262
• Publication Date: 2022-03-04
• Subjects: Alzheimer's dementia (AD) -- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) -- mirror image processing -- mirror agnosia -- mirror image agnosia -- face processing; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Case Report; Mental Disorders -- Case Report; Nervous System Diseases -- Case Report; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2022.2072227
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-4794

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition with progressive decline in cognitive faculties and associated with different clinical phenomena. Mirror phenomenon in terms of both mirror agnosia and mirror image agnosia wherein there is difficulty in processing and perception of reflected images is not uncommonly seen, and understanding the same can contribute to early diagnosis and prognostication. We report two elderly women with Alzheimer's dementia and frontotemporal dementia, respectively, presenting with features of abnormalities in mirror image processing. The former had features of both mirror agnosia and mirror image agnosia and the latter had predominantly features of mirror image agnosia with preoccupation with her mirror image. Understanding neuroanatomical networks underlying these phenomena can help early identification and subtyping dementia. Clinically differentiating these phenomena from psychotic symptoms of dementia can help in initiating appropriate non-pharmacological measures rather than resorting to use of psychotropics, the use of which may be counterproductive.