Agitation in Alzheimer's

Improving Behavior Management Interventions for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

Managing agitation in nursing home patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias could be improved by augmenting Minimum Data Set data with information from electronic medical records.

The 20-Year Risk of Dementia: Effects of Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Region

The contribution of mid-life risk factors to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias requires further understanding. An increased dementia incidence was forecasted to be higher in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black individuals, those with low socioeconomic status, and those living in the Midwest and South.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Uncovering Transcriptional Signatures of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Behavioral impairments, which are often the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease—even before cognitive impairment—have unique RNA signatures in the anterior cingulate cortex. Researchers took a closer look at this dynamic.

Cognitive Decline in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Predict Progression

Depression or agitation is associated with differences in brain volume and rate of cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment, according to this investigation.

Agitation, Disinhibition, and Irritability in Cognitive Disease

Investigators explored the link between hyperactive neuropsychiatric symptoms and brain changes in Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and cognitive healthy older adults, finding that each hyperactive behavior is related to specific brain regions.

In People with Young-Onset Dementia, A Closer Look at Palliative Care

A study from the Netherlands examined palliative care practices in patients with young-onset dementia, concluding that a palliative approach is appropriate even in this population.

In Dementia, Some Symptoms Vary by Social and Cultural Factors

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with substantial burdens among those with dementia and are particularly high among Hispanic White patients. Experiencing and reporting of neuropsychiatric symptoms is likely influenced by cultural, social, and environmental factors.

Heart Rate Variability: A Possible Marker for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease

A recent analysis found evidence of a relationship between heart rate variability and agitation in patients with dementia solely attributed to Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting HRV as a possible marker to include when studying agitation propensity in this population.

Is Dementia Risk Altered by Triglyceride Levels in a Higher “Normal” Range?

Data from this prospective study showed a slower cognitive decline in older adults with higher triglyceride levels compared with those with lower triglyceride levels.

Singing Away Dementia-Related Verbal Agitation—Is That Possible?

These investigators found that pairing nursing home patients with songs they enjoyed when they were younger was able to significantly lessen the amount of dementia-related verbally agitated behaviors that these individuals displayed.

Depression and Incident Dementia: Untangling This Knot

US investigators tapped a pair of Danish national health registries to calculate dementia risk in patients diagnosed with depression at 1 of 3 different life stages, starting at 18 years of age. They found a substantially increased risk of dementia in those with depression.

For Alzheimer’s Disease, Nordic Walking May Have Possible Cognitive Benefits

In a small randomized controlled trial, participants with Alzheimer’s disease who underwent 24 weeks of Nordic walking training had better scores on some cognitive assessment scales than controls did.

Acute Agitation in Long-Term Care Residents: More Injectables Used During COVID

Use of PRN injectable medications for the treatment of acute agitation increased in long-term care residents with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Canadian study has found.

Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms and Their Effects on Caregivers

It’s no secret that caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease carry a very heavy burden. And when a loved one—rather than a healthcare professional—is shouldering the load, it can manifest as anxiety and depression, leading to poor quality of life.

In People with Dementia, the Effects of Light Therapy on Sleep, Depression, and Agitation Remain Unclear

These authors assessed previously published randomized controlled trials to get a clearer picture of the impact of light therapy on sleep, agitation and depression in people with dementia. Long-term studies are still needed.

New Insights on BPSD Patterns in Dementia Patients

An international team of researchers recently tried to gain a better understanding of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), a difficult-to-treat spectrum of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Here’s what they found.

Advanced Dementia Patients Often Refuse Assistance with Personal Care. Why?

It could be the fault of the patient, the caregiver, something in the environment — or a combination of all 3. Researchers in the U.K. sought to better quantify which factors had the most influence on refusals of care in patients with advanced dementia.

Memory Loss and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms: A Look at Possible Links

These investigators compared the associations between neuropsychiatric symptoms and risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia or mild cognitive impairment in men and women. Here’s what they found.

COVID-19 Boosted Antipsychotic Prescribing Rates in Patients with Dementia

A study that assessed rates of antipsychotic drug prescriptions among people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic found an increase in prescriptions, even though the total number of dementia diagnoses decreased during the same time period.

Delusions and Hallucinations Diminish QoL in Patients with Dementia

UK researchers examined the independent effects of delusions and hallucinations on quality of life among people with dementia living in nursing homes.

7 Dementia Subtypes: What Common Symptoms Mean for Long-Term Care

Knowing what healthcare providers, patients, and patients’ caregivers can expect in terms of symptoms associated with various types of dementia is the first step toward providing targeted, compassionate care.

Dementia and Caregiver Burden: Going Deeper to Get More Specific

The type of agitation behavior—physically aggressive, physically nonaggressive, and verbally agitated—predicts different types of caregiver burden, according to the results of a study that may be a springboard to more-nuanced research on this subject.