AIIMS-trained neurologist compares viral ‘Nihilist Penguin’ to behaviour of Alzheimer’s patients

AIIMS-trainer neurologist Dr Rahul Chawla compared the Adélie penguin's behaviour to Alzheimer's disease

• Viral penguin video compared to Alzheimer's by neurologist Dr Rahul Chawla
• Alzheimer's can cause patients to lose sense of home and seek familiarity
• Penguin's behavior may be due to navigation issues, not existential crisis

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The internet continues to be obsessed with the video of a lone Adélie penguin walking away from its group. The viral memes from the clip, taken from Werner Herzog’s 2007 documentary, have led many people to relate it to burnout, exhaustion, and the sheer desire to walk away from the everyday pressures of life.

AIIMS-trained neurologist Dr Rahul Chawla, however, compared it to Alzheimer’s, a brain disorder known to affect the elderly, in a recent video on Instagram. “In the viral video, the penguin leaves its group and starts walking towards distant mountains, where there is neither water nor food. Something similar is seen in patients with Alzheimer’s as well,” he said.

Dr Chawla explained that this is because of visuospatial dysfunction. “Our brain also has a navigation system, which tells us that this is our house and our family, and this is the way to our house. But Alzheimer’s diseaseimpairs not just memory, but also the navigation system. They begin to find their family and house unfamiliar and lose the ability to recognise their way back home. As a result, they become anxious and try to step out of the house in search of something familiar.”

Also read | Seen the 'lonely penguin' on your feed? Filmmaker behind viral clip explains he's heading towards 'death'

For such patients, leaving the house doesn’t mean they wish to escape or are depressed, rather it is to look for a sense of familiarity. This is because home and family can feel strange.

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He said, “They don’t recognise that they are leaving their own home. Their mind holds only a few faint old memories, and they attempt to move towards places that feel familiar to them. So perhaps the penguin was not facing an existential crisis, nor depression, nor was it trying to harm itself, it’s possible that even its own group had begun to feel unfamiliar.”

“In Alzheimer’s, people do not leave their homes because they are troubled or depressed. They step out because their home no longer feels like their own,” the neurologist added.

Also read | Who's that "Nilhist Penguin" walking to the mountains? Science explained behind the meme

According to Herzog and the scientists featured in the documentary, penguins most often depend on environmental signals for navigation. However, the cues may be disrupted due to illness, neurological problems, harsh weather, or confusion, leading them to lose their sense of direction.

Since the penguin was observed moving far inland, experts suggest this would end in death due to the lack of food, water, and shelter. Herzog called it a “death march,” as humans aren’t allowed to interfere, implying that the penguin was on its own on the path.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.