What happens to personal identity when semantic knowledge degrades? A study of the self and autobiographical memory in semantic dementia

► We examined personal identity in patients (SD) with severe semantic memory disturbance. ► We assessed self-concept, episodic/semantic self-knowledge and mental time travel. ► SD reduces semantic self-knowledge except for the present time period. ► SD impairs episodic and semantic future thinking. ► The results are discussed in relation to LT memory models and future thinking in SD.