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Millions of people worldwide are suffering from the brain diseases Alzheimer’s and dementia.  These diseases take a toll not just on the patients, but also their loved ones.  These spouses, children, and friends  may be forgotten, left by themselves to question where this leaves their relationship.  In some cases, they might even think that their loved one is no longer the person they spent so many years with.  They have changed, and the old husband, wife, or parent is no more.

But does dementia and Alzheimer’s change who you are?  Today we talk to Dr. Nina Strohminger, an  Assistant Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.  Nina is also a psychologist, and studies what it means when someone says their loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia is a “different person”.  Surprisingly, this leads us to get at what exactly is so important when we form relationships with people in the first place.

Remember, if your loved one is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, know that you are not alone.

Background music you hear are clips from Hidden Truth by Rafael Krux licensed under CC0,  Dark Hallway by Kevin MacLeod licensed under CC0, Foam Rubber by Alexander Nakarada licensed under CC0,  Brotherhood by Monplaisir licensed under CC0 1.0 Public Domain, True by Nctrnm licensed under CC BY 4.0, and Modum by Kai Engel licensed under CC BY 4.0.