The Open Geriatric Medicine Journal

2009, 2 : 5-8
Published online 2009 February 11. DOI: 10.2174/1874827900902010005
Publisher ID: TOGERIMJ-2-5

End Stage Dementia and Entropy Definition of Suffering

Bechor Z. Aminoff
Geriatric Division, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

A new definition of human suffering and satisfaction according to the entropy hypothesis may facilitate comprehension of health, disease and the aging process.

Methods:

A cohort study of 71 patients (28 females, 43 males), with very advanced dementia, who died in our ward during the study period. The intense suffering level of end-stage dementia patients was evaluated by the Mini-Suffering State Examination (MSSE) scale.

Results:

Suffering level in end-stage dementia has a significant correlation with short survival, advancing age, more severe illness, malnutrition, the existence of decubitus ulcers, and the administration of medications. Established correlations could be explained by the enhanced level of the patients’ body entropy.

Discussion:

Suffering and satisfaction are functional levels of human entropy.

An elevated level of human entropy is a measure of disorder, a process of aging and torment of the patient.

Keywords:

Dementia, suffering, entropy, disease, aging.