My grandmother has had dementia for years. She's at the point where she no longer recognizes anyone. As best as we can tell, the part that makes her grandma simply isn't there anymore.

Oddly, though, she seems happy.

We often wonder if the problem is that she's gone, or that she simply can't communicate much anymore. And if she's gone, is she *totally* gone, or has she simply regressed to early childhood or pure brain-stem instinct? We don't know.

So to answer your question, I'd say it depends both on how you view the soul and how far gone your grandfather is.

If the soul is what gives personality, then it has either flown or is buried deep down inside. If the soul is simply the life spark, it's still there. If the soul is what makes us human, then it's probably there until the last vestige of true human consciousness is erased.

One thing to consider, though, is how things look to your grandfather. If the soul is buried, what is it experiencing? Is it trapped, as you fear? Or simply preparing for its upcoming journey? Could something like Alzheimer's be, in effect, a soul pupae? Or simply a brief vacation from the cares and worries of life? A long, restorative sleep after a lifetime of toil?

It's hard for me to see my grandmother, and miss her even while she still lives. But it's not at all clear that she is suffering.

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Man up.