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Back to all discussions
Community

Join the conversation and share your experiences with the community.

Start a Discussion
Discussion Guidelines

Please remember to:

  • • Be respectful and constructive
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  • • Help others feel welcome
You're not alone

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Find aphantasia-aware support
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Building awareness and understanding of aphantasia through research, education, and community support.

About

  • What is Aphantasia?
  • What is Hyperphantasia?
  • Take Assessment
  • Getting Started
  • Newsletter
  • About Us
  • Contact

Community

  • Premium Membership
  • Find support
  • Discussions
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  • Visualize

For Professionals

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  • Articles & Stories
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© 2026 Aphantasia Network. All rights reserved.

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Aphantasis vs Vascular Dementia

October 16, 20211 min readByPeter Burton
Acquired AphantasiaMemory
My wife Selina had two major operations in 2002. After the second one she was a different person and I gradually realised that she had lost the ability to visualise anything. I can only assume that she suffered a minor stroke during surgery. The diagnosis from the medics is vascular dementia but she has been stable for the last 20 years apart from when she spent 6 weeks in hospital in 2018 and came out more dependent on me.
Now I know her condition is called Aphantasia, I wonder if the Vascular Dementia diagnosis is incorrect. Any thoughts from anyone ?

Aphantasis vs Vascular Dementia

October 16, 20211 min readByPeter Burton
Acquired AphantasiaMemory
My wife Selina had two major operations in 2002. After the second one she was a different person and I gradually realised that she had lost the ability to visualise anything. I can only assume that she suffered a minor stroke during surgery. The diagnosis from the medics is vascular dementia but she has been stable for the last 20 years apart from when she spent 6 weeks in hospital in 2018 and came out more dependent on me.
Now I know her condition is called Aphantasia, I wonder if the Vascular Dementia diagnosis is incorrect. Any thoughts from anyone ?
Aphantasia Logo
H
Helen Kinch•recently•edited
Hi Peter, I used to work doing occupational therapy with dementia patents, and members of my family had vascular dementia also, so I thought I'd reply to you. Dementia does progress, however slowly, so it seems to me likely that your Selina suffered a bit of brain damage while under anaesthetic. If so, that is kind of good news because there is no reason why it would get worse. Has she adapted at all to not being able to visualize?
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