An older adult making up stories to fill in for memory lapses is displaying which behavior?

The behavior described, where an older adult creates stories to cover up memory gaps, is known as confabulating. This is a psychological phenomenon often seen in individuals with cognitive impairments, such as dementia or brain injury, where the person unintentionally fabricates or misremembers information. The individual genuinely believes these created memories to be true, as they are filling in the voids left by their memory lapses.

Confabulation is different from lying or intentional deceit; instead, it stems from a genuine attempt to make sense of experiences when real memories are unavailable. This behavior is indicative of an underlying cognitive condition and reflects the brain's effort to maintain a coherent narrative despite memory loss. Understanding confabulation is crucial for caregivers and healthcare professionals, as it helps in providing appropriate support without misunderstanding the individual’s intent.