How do advanced Alzheimer's patients often respond to their own emotions?

In the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, patients typically exhibit limited awareness or expression of emotions. This is largely due to the neurodegenerative changes occurring in the brain, which affect their cognitive abilities and emotional processing. As the disease progresses, individuals may lose the ability to recognize their own feelings or the emotions of others, leading to a diminished capacity to express emotions. Their responses may become more muted, and they might not react to emotional stimuli in ways that would be expected in earlier stages of cognitive functioning. This makes emotional communication less evident, which is a hallmark of the later stages of Alzheimer's. Understanding this aspect of emotional expression is crucial for caregivers and healthcare providers, as it can influence how they interact with patients and provide necessary support.