Part 4/8:
An intriguing yet troubling aspect discussed is how neurodegenerative conditions, such as dementia, exacerbate existing personality disorders.
For instance:
Someone with narcissistic personality disorder may experience an amplification of narcissistic traits when dementia develops.
This intensification can make harmful behaviors more egregious and difficult to cope with, as the patient's capacity for empathy, insight, and remorse diminishes further.
A similar process is suggested for borderline individuals, where the "soft edges" of their personality may soften further, revealing underlying personality pathology more explicitly—almost as if the "invisibility cloak" gets lifted, unveiling a startling and possibly more destructive reality.