Shadow of loss hypothesis

In this chapter, the author focuses on the links between a diagnosis of dementia and an individual's attachment history. He hopes that by applying attachment theory to a new hypothesis, both dementia and attachment will be seen in a new light. Attachment theory suggests that multiple intergenerational losses of loved ones could affect a mother's capacity to provide an adequate secure base during sensitive periods in the child's development. This experience could cast a shadow across the child's internal working model of attachment and their capacity for affect regulation. The author examines factual information combined with well-established principles of attachment theory. The "Shadow of Loss" hypothesis suggests that the combination of being raised in the shadow of loss and then encountering significant stress in mid to late life may lead to an increased dementia risk. Developing a reliable assessment protocol and consistent scoring procedure will be the most challenging task for future research to test this hypothesis.