A “sense of time” is formed by multiple memories which create an “internal clock” that tells us when it’s time to get up, go to work, have lunch or go to bed. We do all these things because we’ve formed a memory in our “internal clock.”
Most of us take our “inner clock” for granted, yet our daily schedule is regulated almost entirely by a “sense of time” created by memories.
We know what day it is because we know what happened yesterday. We know what time it is because we just woke up and know we’ll be leaving for work soon. When someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia is unable to remember yesterday, or last night, or 5 minutes ago, he doesn’t know what day it is. And, he will not have a “sense of time” to tell him what will happen a few moments from now or hours from now.
