Nostalgia films improve the episodic richness of the life story in Alzheimer’s dementia.

Research suggests that prompts, such as music and sensory cues, can stimulate autobiographical recall in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, studies have primarily focused on individual memories, neglecting life story retrieval. This study investigated whether watching nostalgia films—that is, short films with multiple references to the time of participants’ youth—can enhance life story recall in AD. Twenty-one individuals with AD and 22 healthy controls narrated their life story in two conditions: after watching a nostalgia film and in a no-stimuli condition. Watching nostalgia films enhanced the episodic richness of life narratives. Specifically, events included in the life stories were more specific and detailed after film exposure. This effect was consistent across groups, benefitting both AD and control participants. These findings extend the positive impact of memory cues from single memories to recounting one’s entire life, enhancing our understanding of the effects of prompts, and opening new lines of intervention.