Suche
Mein Konto
Education despite dementia: New hope for those affected in Germany!
Find out how Dr. Nora Berner researches education and learning in Alzheimer's dementia at the FernUni Hagen and develops individual approaches.
Education despite dementia: New hope for those affected in Germany!
The Dr. Nora Berner is an educational scientist at the FernUniversität in Hagen and has written a groundbreaking dissertation on learning and education for people with early Alzheimer's dementia. Her doctoral project entitled “Alzheimer’s dementia as a biographical experience” offers new perspectives on this group that is often considered temporarily lost. Loud FernUniversität in Hagen Her research addresses the question of how learning is possible even in times of cognitive limitations.
In Germany, around 1.8 million people currently live with dementia, and this number could almost double by 2050. This shows the importance of Berner’s research, which takes an educational perspective. To date, the educational aspect for people with Alzheimer's dementia has not been sufficiently empirically researched. Berner wants to change this by making individual learning and educational processes visible.
Biographical narrative analysis as a research approach
Dr. Berner uses biographical narrative analyzes and conducts biographical-narrative interviews with 18 people aged 70 to 92 suffering from Alzheimer's dementia. These interviews cover both the illness history and the biographical development of the participants. It turns out that many of those affected develop strategies to deal with their diagnosis.
The results of the study show that some people actively seek information about their illness, while others tend to trivialize the symptoms in order to ensure their quality of life. Berner points out that the disease is often experienced as a deterioration process typical of old age, which makes access to education and learning even more difficult.
Recommendations for more support
In her dissertation, Berner advocates greater individual support for affected people and better recognition of the needs of relatives. The loss perspective that is often prevalent in the research area should be supplemented by a capability perspective that focuses on the potential of people with Alzheimer's dementia.
This research is part of a larger context. The German Alzheimer Society (DAlzG) is also involved in scientific research into dementia. Research funding in the field of health services research is announced every two years. The next call for tenders is planned for early 2026, as stated on the website German Alzheimer Society is specified.
The DAlzG supports projects that aim to include people with dementia in future research projects. This approach is essential to developing a holistic perspective on the challenges and needs of people with cognitive impairments.
Dr. Nora Berner, who is currently working as a research assistant at the University of Witten/Herdecke, has made a significant contribution to the educational discussion about education in old age with her dissertation. Their commitment shows that education is possible even in difficult times and that people suffering from Alzheimer's dementia are not just subjects of research, but active participants in their own learning experience.