Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia

There can be lots of symptoms associated with dementia. Everyone seems to be familiar with symptoms like memory loss and confusion. There can also be symptoms like difficulty getting dressed, or bathing, or paying bills.

Let’s now shed the light on a whole other category of symptoms. Symptoms such as agitation and aggression. Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.

Doctors call these the “behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.” But don’t worry about the medical terms—even the professionals don’t use the medical terms very consistently. These are symptoms that include things like agitation, anxiety, elation, irritability, depression, apathy, disinhibition, delusions, hallucinations, and sleep or appetite changes.  

You know it when you see it. Your loved one might be constantly pacing. They might be verbally abusive. They might be throwing things. They might be seeing things that are not really there. They might have paranoid feelings that everyone is out to get them.