Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for
50%-60% of all cases. The disease destroys brain cells and nerves disrupting the
transmitters, which carry messages in the brain, particularly those responsible for storing
memories. Alois Alzheimer first described Alzheimer’s disease in 1906 (Alzheimer’s
disease International 2004).
The research showed that psychotic and behavioral symptoms are common among older
patients with dementia. The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
are clearly noticed by observation of patient behaviors, such as, physical aggression,
screaming, restlessness, agitation, wandering, culturally inappropriate behaviors, sexual
disinhibition, hoarding, cursing, and shadowing. Psychological symptoms are identified by
interviews with patients and their families, relatives or care givers. Psychological
symptoms include anxiety, depressive mood, hallucinations and delusions (Beier, 2007).
Antipsychotic medications are the most widely prescribed treatment for BPSD. Atypical
antipsychotic medications are among the most well-studied therapeutic classes of
psychoactive medications and are frequently utilized for treating psychotic symptoms and
agitation in the elderly. However, these medications have distinct pharmacologic profiles
with different liabilities for adverse effects such as sedation, metabolic disturbances, and
anticholinergic effects. The data that showed recent findings from the Clinical
Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness-Alzheimer’s Disease (CATIE-AD)
study demonstrate that these agents have some efficacy, and their adverse effects may limit
their utility in patients (Beier, 2007). Therefore, the adverse effect profile should be a very
important consideration for the health care professionals selecting an atypical
antipsychotic medication for use in this elderly population.
Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and accounts
for 50-60% of all cases. Dementia is a collective name for progressive degenerative brain
syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behavior and emotion. The symptoms of
