The Narrative Disintegration Hypothesis: A Complementary Psychological Framework for Neurodegenerative Disorders

Biomedical models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias emphasize neuropathology (amyloid-β, tau, neuronal loss), yet struggle to explain anomalies like preserved cognitive function despite pathology or persistent emotional memories triggered by sensory cues (Boyle et al., 2012; Janata, 2009). The Narrative Disintegration Hypothesis (NDH) proposes that narrative collapse, the erosion of the brain’s ability to weave experiences into a coherent autobiographical self, is a significant complementary dimension of neurodegenerative decline, potentially interacting with biological processes via stress, sleep disruption, and social withdrawal. We introduce the Unified Narrative Reinforcement (UNR) Protocol (v1.1), an exploratory, zero-cost intervention (Daily Narrative Resonance Therapy, Life-Books, Community Narrative Circles) and the Narrative Coherence Score (NCS, v1.1), an experimental 0–18 scale with robust reliability protocols. This paper outlines a stepped-wedge pilot design, exploratory predictions, and ethical safeguards. NDH invites citizen-science testing via OSF/Psycharchives to explore narrative preservation alongside medical care.