What is agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease?
This condition is treated separately from Alzheimer's dementia. Of the 7.2 million people 65 and older in the US with Alzheimer's dementia, multiple studies show that about 76% develop agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.
Overview
Alzheimer's dementia and agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease sound similar, but aren’t the same. They're two conditions that are While this condition stems from Alzheimer's dementia, it's diagnosed and treated separately. Agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease is one of the most persistent and distressing behavioral conditions one can have.
What are the symptoms?
Agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease can seem like it comes out of nowhere, and each person’s experience can be drastically different. The condition can be broken down into three distinct categories, each with their own set of behaviors and challenges.
Restlessness
- Pacing/
rocking - Jumpiness
- Inappropriate social behavior/
pointing
- Irritability
- Shakiness
- Repetitive mannerisms
- Wandering
- Hoarding
Verbal aggression
- Screaming
- Swearing
- Complaining
- Constant requests for attention
- Being negative
- Emotional outbursts
- Strange noises (unwarranted laughter, crying)
- Inappropriate language (cursing, sexual advances)
- Repetitive questions and sentences
Physical aggression
- Biting
- Hitting
- Kicking
- Hurting self and/
or others
- Resisting help
- Destroying things
- Throwing things
- Inappropriate physical behaviors (sexual advances, spitting, scratching, slamming doors)
It's important to remember it's the condition causing these outbursts, and it's not your loved one's fault.
The brain without agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease:
In the brain, cognitive functions and impulse control work together.
Cognitive functions are:
- Mental abilities
- Learning
- Reasoning
Impulse control helps regulate:
- Emotional outbursts
- Irrationally agitated behaviors
The brain with agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease:
In agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, the cognitive function and impulse control stop communicating properly, which is associated with a chemical imbalance.
This chemical imbalance can cause:
- Agitated behaviors
- Restless mannerisms
How REXULTI may help
REXULTI is the first FDA-approved treatment for agitation that may happen with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. For those struggling with this condition, REXULTI may offer fewer symptoms of agitation. REXULTI should not be used as an "as needed" treatment for this condition.
“Many people don’t know that Alzheimer’s dementia and agitation symptoms are treated differently, or that it’s even possible to treat agitation symptoms.”
—Natasha, caregiver
Natasha is a caregiver ambassador and has been compensated by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck for her time. Patient images reflect health status at time of recording.