ABSTRACT
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by impairments in cognitive, functional and behavioural domains. Although the formal clinical diagnostic criteria are defined by deficits in cognition and function,1,2 behavioural symptoms are also a common and problematic manifestation of this disorder. Among the most frequent and troublesome symptoms are apathy, agitation, aggression and delusions.3 Estimates of the overall prevalence of behavioural symptoms range from 53 to 98 per cent, depending upon the specific assessment tools and populations studied.4,5
While cognitive symptoms form the cornerstone of the clinical diagnosis of AD, behavioural symptoms are responsible for a substantial proportion of the morbidity caused by the disease. Studies in various populations of patients with AD have demonstrated that the presence of behavioural pathology correlates with higher rates of institutionalization,6 increased length of inpatient admissions,7 increased cost of care8 and increased caregiver stress and burden.9,10
When caregivers are surveyed, they report that abnormal behaviours are significantly more troublesome than cognitive deficits.11
