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Review
. 2017 Mar;17(3):27.
doi: 10.1007/s11910-017-0734-1.

Integrating the Constructs of Anosognosia and Metacognition: a Review of Recent Findings in Dementia

Preeti Sunderaraman  1   2   3 , Stephanie Cosentino  4   5   6   7
Affiliations
Review

Integrating the Constructs of Anosognosia and Metacognition: a Review of Recent Findings in Dementia

Preeti Sunderaraman et al. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

The current review integrates recent findings regarding the construct of self-awareness in dementia from both clinical and cognitive perspectives. We present the predominant theoretical models of awareness and summarize both traditional and emerging approaches to assessing awareness from clinical and meta-cognitive perspectives. In this review, we focus primarily on findings from recent studies in anosognosia and meta-cognition in the context of neurodegenerative disease with special emphasis on Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Emerging trends in the study of awareness, including examination of the longitudinal course of anosognosia, and investigation of the neural substrates underlying meta-cognitive abilities are addressed. Finally, the practical importance of studying and assessing awareness from both theoretical and clinical angles is emphasized.

Keywords: Aging; Anosognosia; Awareness; Dementia; Meta-cognition; Self.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines: Conflict of Interest: Preeti Sunderaraman and Stephanie Cosentino declare that they have no conflict of interest.

References

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    1. Ernst A, et al. Anosognosia and Metacognition in Alzheimer's Disease: Insights from Experimental Psychology. The Oxford Handbook of Metamemory. 2016:451. This article comprehensively discusses the various methods used to assess metacognition and anosognosia, and reviews the key findings from the literature.
    1. Sollberger M, et al. Neural substrates of socioemotional self-awareness in neurodegenerative disease. Brain and behavior. 2014;4(2):201–214. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Caddell LS, Clare L. The impact of dementia on self and identity: A systematic review. Clinical psychology review. 2010;30(1):113–126. - PubMed
    1. Shaked D, et al. Memory awareness influences modification of everyday decision making in cognitively impaired elders. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2014;20(Suppl 1):156.

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