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Advanced Neurology

PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
On disclosing Alzheimer’s disease: A need of

empathy

1
Edith Labos * and Osvaldo Fustinoni 2
1 Department Cognitive Sciences, Facultad de Medicina, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires,
Argentina
2 Department of Cerebrovascular and Cognitive Diseases, Instituto de Neurociencias Restaurativas,
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract
The disclosure of an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis is not always carried out
following recognized bioethical principles. Inappropriate disclosing attitudes may
induce unfortunate psychological impacts on the patients’ well-being, depriving
them of an emotionally balanced adjustment to the condition. We present and
discuss some examples of such inappropriate professional behavior, contradicting
traditional medical teaching that “there are no diseases but patients.” We emphasize
patient singularity and the need for a caring and empathy-driven approach to
diagnostic disclosure. We underline the need to avoid emotionally charged terms
at the time of disclosure and to provide cognitive, physical, and social interaction
guidelines as prevention and containment strategies. We call for a revised approach
on the appropriate disclosure of an AD diagnosis.

*Corresponding author:
Edith Labos Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Diagnostic disclosure; Bioethics
(neuropsilab@fmed.uba.ar)
Citation: Labos E, Fustinoni O.
On disclosing Alzheimer´s disease:
A need of empathy. Adv Neurol. 1. Introduction
2025;4(2):80-85.
doi: 10.36922/an.4393 New-onset psychiatric disorders are more common among patients with dementia both
Received: July 31, 2024 before and after diagnostic disclosure, including depression, anxiety, and stress-related
disorders. In a previous report, we raised the subject of bioethical considerations on
2
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Revised: October 25, 2025
the diagnostic disclosure of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from the clinical standpoint of the
Accepted: November 13, 2024 doctor/patient relationship, through several examples of professional attitudes resulting
Published Online: November 28, in a negative emotional impact, ultimately damaging to patients, relatives, and to a
2024 proper approach to the clinical situation. Given the ominous prospect of short-term
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). mental breakdown, a diagnosis of AD entails, the aim of the present paper is to reassert
This is an Open-Access article the appropriate ethical principles that should be followed by medical professionals at the
distributed under the terms of the time of the diagnostic disclosure of the disease.
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, A face-to-face diagnosis of AD, “thrown across” with indisputable certainty in its early
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is stages, may negatively affect patients, engendering a cascade of harmful behaviors, such as
properly cited. feelings of insecurity, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, obsession with cognitive performance,
Publisher’s Note: AccScience hopelessness, depression, and despair, thus depriving them of an emotionally balanced
1-4
Publishing remains neutral with attitude to the condition and disrupting family ties as a result. These consequences call
regard to jurisdictional claims in for careful consideration of the appropriate approach on the disclosure of such a diagnosis,
published maps and institutional
affiliations. its social and family impact, and its progression prognosis. Defined patterns of disclosure

Volume 4 Issue 2 (2025) 80 doi: 10.36922/an.4393