Lightening up before death

Palliative & Supportive Care
A D Sandy Macleod

Abstract

A lightening, or clearing, of the mental state in the hours or days before death, particularly in those delirious, is occasionally noted by those caring for the dying. Similar phenomena have been described in the natural world and in classical literature. This brief period of lucidity is generally followed by a rapid terminal decline. The author reports on his experience with six cases illustrating this phenomenon. The increasing use of palliative sedation may diminish the possibility of lightening up before death occurring. The theoretical concepts of Hughlings Jackson may provide an explanation for this phenomenon.

References

Apr 12, 1975·British Medical Journal·L Witzel
May 1, 1972·Psychiatry·R Noyes
Dec 1, 1965·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·T D Power
Mar 29, 2000·Archives of Internal Medicine·P G LawlorE D Bruera
May 1, 1963·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·E STENGEL
Mar 22, 1965·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·M LEVIN
Oct 28, 2006·Palliative & Supportive Care·A D Macleod
Dec 1, 2006·Palliative & Supportive Care·Simon Wein

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 20, 2014·Omega·Michael Nahm, Bruce Greyson
Dec 5, 2018·Death Studies·Chi-Yeon LimSung Joon Shin
Jun 24, 2019·Alzheimer's & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association·George A MashourRaj C Shah

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.