New Research Exposes the Overlooked Symptoms of Alzheimer’s: How They Affect Behavior and Mind

A study conducted by researchers from UTHealth Houston offers valuable insights into the behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The findings were recently published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

Led by Carolyn Pickering, Ph.D., RN, a distinguished professor and Isla Carrol Turner Chair in Gerontological Nursing at the Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, the research applies an innovative framework to better understand and manage dementia symptoms. Pickering, a recognized expert in dementia family caregiving, spearheaded the study, which identifies both general symptom profiles, known as subsyndromes, and specific symptom groupings that vary daily within individuals, referred to as symptom clusters.

“Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia can fluctuate within the same person due to factors such as time of day, environmental noise, and hydration status,” explained Pickering, who is also the first and corresponding author of the study and leads the Pickering Caregiver Lab team, a research hub focused on advancing dementia care.

“Our research is significant because it introduces a novel approach to managing dementia symptoms, moving beyond current methods that often treat all symptoms as a single experience,” she added.

The study involved 68 family caregivers who reported daily on 23 different dementia-related symptoms in their loved ones, such as eating difficulties, uncooperativeness, delusions, depression, anxiety, apathy, and wandering. Over eight days, a total of 443 daily reports were collected. Pickering and her team employed a new statistical method to analyze the data, which considered both within-person and between-person variations.

One notable finding was the high occurrence of possible delirium in home care settings, a condition typically associated with hospital environments. This highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and education among caregivers on managing delirium at home.

“By addressing both subsyndromes and symptom clusters, we can develop more targeted strategies to help healthcare professionals and caregivers better manage dementia symptoms,” Pickering stated. “This comprehensive approach has the potential to significantly enhance the quality of care and support for individuals with dementia and their families.”

For more details: Carolyn E. Z. Pickering et al, “Subsyndromes and symptom clusters: Multilevel factor analysis of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia with intensive longitudinal data,” Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2024). DOI: 10.1002/alz.14075

Provided by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Citation: New research sheds light on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s and related dementias (2024, August 15). Retrieved on August 15, 2024.

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