second childhood
The phrase "second childhood" is often used to describe a period in an elderly person's life when they exhibit behaviors similar to those of a child, usually due to cognitive decline.
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Definition
C1Geriatrics
(idiomatic, medical)A phase in old age where a person shows childlike behavior due to cognitive decline.
Example
- Her grandfather's second childhood made it necessary for the family to provide constant care.
- As he entered his second childhood, he became increasingly forgetful and dependent.
C1Psychology
(idiomatic)A state where an adult displays childlike traits due to mental illness or trauma.
Example
- After the accident, he seemed to enter a second childhood, needing help with basic tasks.
- Her second childhood was a result of severe psychological trauma.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "second childhood":