June 25, 2026
Have you ever known someone who had a diagnosed illness but truly believed they were not ill? Denying one’s own illness or condition is more common than you might think, especially when it comes to Alzheimer’s. It’s called anosognosia (pronounced uh-nah-sig-NO-zee-uh).
Anosognosia goes beyond someone casually saying “No, I’m not sick. It’s nothing.” Here’s an explanation from the Cleveland Clinic:
Anosognosia is a condition where your brain can’t recognize one or more other health conditions you have. It’s extremely common with mental health conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. This condition isn’t dangerous on its own, but people with it are much more likely to avoid or resist treatment for their other health conditions.
Anosognosia is caused by changes in the brain that alter a person’s self-image or self-perception. “Your brain is prone to injury like any part of your body. Damage to your brain causes injuries called lesions,” according to the Clinic. It says the lesions can happen for a number of reasons, including brain tumors, aneurysms, sleep apnea, and strokes.
Anosognosia affects most Alzheimer’s patients
The disorder affects “more than 80% of people with Alzheimer’s disease,” reports the Cleveland Clinic. The Alzheimer’s Association adds, “While anosognosia is most common in later stages of dementia, it can also appear earlier in conditions like mild cognitive impairment (MCI), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or in some cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI).” The Association lists symptoms as:
- Denial of memory problems
- Resisting assistance
- Not recognizing severity
Anosognosia also affects, to lesser degrees, people with bipolar disorder and other forms of mental illness.
How loved ones can help
The person’s denial of any problems or their refusal to be treated can cause frustration and fear for loved ones. Trish Lockhard, a longtime volunteer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has experienced anosognosia in her family. She encourages patience and empathy. “I have heard [people] say that their loved one is in denial about their mental illness,” she says. “I always encourage people to reframe this kind of thinking. Their loved one is not ‘in denial.’ And they’re not mean, stubborn, self-centered, or lazy.”
“There’s no need to argue or fight,” says Lockhard, “as this will accomplish nothing but escalate tension and animosity. Anger does not diminish the effects of anosognosia. Nor does logic.”
If your loved one has an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and shows signs of denying it or even covering up their symptoms, talk to their dementia specialist. Explain the symptoms and behaviors. There’s no cure for anosognosia, but the doctor can provide more details and suggest ways of treating or working with the symptoms. A diagnosis of anosognosia might require new approaches to caregiving or alterations in the patient’s home environment.