An Examination of the Nature and Mechanisms of Anomalous Perceptual Experiences in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Anomalous perceptual experiences refer to a broad range of distorted and hallucinatory percepts. To date, anomalous perceptions remain poorly understood in healthy older adults, yet evidence suggests they may increase risk for the development of neurodegenerative and mental health disorders. This thesis offers valuable new insights into these experiences, with findings indicating that anomalous perceptions comprise two components, both of which are multimodal in nature. Furthermore, findings indicate that higher levels of loneliness and poorer self-reported vision increase risk for anomalous perceptual experiences in healthy older adults. Importantly, we hope that this increased understanding will help inform early intervention strategies.