Neuropsychiatric and behavioral symptomatology in Alzheimer disease

Abstract

Behavioral and psychological symptoms are present in most patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and contribute significantly to increasing the cost of care, deteriorating the quality of life of patients and caregivers, and increasing the caregiver burden and suffering, being the principal predictors of the need for premature placement of the patient in a geriatric nursing home. The importance of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is increasing because most of these symptoms can be treated effectively with drug measures and behavior modification techniques. In the present study, the possible pathophysiological mechanisms of BPSD as well as the relationship of these symptoms with the patient’s cognitive and functional deterioration, the caregiver’s burden, and currently available therapies are discussed.