A study offering insights into understanding and managing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, led by a team of UTHealth Houston researchers, has been published in "Alzheimer’s & Dementia," the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Carolyn Pickering, PhD, RN, professor and Isla Carrol Turner Chair in Gerontological Nursing at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston and a noted expert in dementia family caregiving, led the research. The study applied an innovative framework to identify patterns of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. It distinguishes between general profiles of symptoms common among different people, known as subsyndromes, and the way symptoms group together based on daily variations experienced by individuals, referred to as symptom clusters.
“Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia can vary within the same person due to factors like the time of day, noise levels, and even hydration status,” said Pickering, first and corresponding author on the study. “Our study is significant because it offers a new way of thinking about how to manage symptoms for persons living with dementia that may be more effective than current approaches that tend to lump all symptoms together as one experience.”
The study followed 68 family members who live with and care for relatives with dementia. Caregivers reported daily on their loved ones’ 23 different symptoms related to dementia, including eating difficulties, uncooperativeness, delusions, depression, anxiety, apathy, and wandering. This produced a total of 443 daily reports over eight days. To analyze the data, Pickering and her team used a novel statistical method that considered variation within each person and between different people.
Researchers noted a high occurrence of possible delirium in home care settings usually associated with hospitals. This finding highlights the need for better awareness and education on how caregivers can manage delirium at home.
“By understanding and addressing both subsyndromes and symptom clusters, we can create new and targeted ways to help health care professionals and caregivers manage dementia symptoms more effectively,” said Pickering. “This comprehensive approach will improve the quality of care and support for individuals with dementia and their families.”
Funded by the Alzheimer’s Association, this research makes significant strides in managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Additional UTHealth Houston authors include Vicki Winstead, PhD; Mustafa Yildiz; Andrew Pickering; Danny Wang; Maria Yefimova from University of California San Francisco.
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