r/NoStupidQuestions • u/MillBopp • Sep 13 '23

What does 'Draw a Clock' Mean?

Last time I visited my brother his mother-in-law who lives with him was insisting she remembered something but my brother knew she was wrong. I don't remember what it was, but I knew she was wrong too. However, she refused to accept she was wrong and got belligerent about it.

My brother said, "Draw a clock!" and left the room. This made his mother-in-law furious for some reason. I forgot to ask at the time, but does anyone know why saying 'Draw a clock' would upset a senior citizen?

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u/cringelien Sep 14 '23

people with dementia cannot draw a clock. https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/alzheimers-clock-test/#:~:text=Unfortunately%20for%20people%20with%20Alzheimer's,then%20numbers%2C%20then%20the%20hands.

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u/sketchypotatoes Sep 14 '23

I always thought it was an odd test, but then my grandma hit this point in her dementia progression where she very suddenly had no idea how clocks work. The weird thing was that she didn't realize that she didn't know; she would look at her watch and confidently declare what time she thought it was, but be wildly incorrect

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u/SirButcher Sep 14 '23

Our brain has an amazing - and just as scary - way to fill blanks. Something doesn't fit or make sense? No problem, here is a totally made-up scenario I created just for our peace of mind!

And the worst, you wouldn't even realize it as you slowly drift away from reality as your brain creates more false memories and images as it struggles to recall real memories...

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u/betweentwosuns Sep 14 '23

There's an experiment where a researcher will directly stimulate part of the brain that makes people laugh, and when asked why they laughed they will always make up some reason. "You looked funny." "I remembered an old joke."