Agnosia is a lesser-known but deeply impactful neurological condition that affects how the brain interprets sensory information — even when the senses themselves are functioning normally. In this episode, we explore what agnosia is, how it presents in dementia, and why it can be so distressing for both individuals and caregivers.

Listeners will gain insight into:

1. What agnosia is and how it differs from memory loss
2. Common types of agnosia, including:
3. -Visual agnosia
4. -Auditory agnosia
5. -Tactile agnosia
6. -Prosopagnosia (face blindness)
7. -Anosognosia (lack of awareness of impairment)
8. How dementia-related brain changes affect perception and recognition
9. Real-life examples, such as not recognizing everyday objects or loved ones
10. The emotional and safety challenges agnosia creates

We also discuss practical strategies to support someone living with agnosia, including communication techniques, environmental adaptations, and assistive tools that can reduce confusion and anxiety. Understanding agnosia helps caregivers respond with empathy and patience, recognizing that misidentification and confusion are symptoms — not choices.

This episode offers education, clarity, and compassionate guidance for families navigating perception and recognition changes in dementia.

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.

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