Up to 20% of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease also have agitation. As the disease progresses, agitation becomes more common. While most people know what it is when they see it, for those who have not, it is defined as physical or psychological restlessness consistent with distress. It can involve yelling, hitting, irritability, anger, and restless pacing.

As you can imagine, feeling agitated has a major negative impact on the quality of life not only for the sufferer, but for those around that person. Interestingly, researchers are not entirely sure why some people suffer from agitation as a part of their disease, and others do not. It may have to do with differing patterns of damage to the brain tissue. For example, damage to the areas that control anger.

Sometimes agitation can be caused by underlying medical illnesses, so when treating it, that is the first target for treatment. Pneumonia, bladder infections, and even dehydration, can make someone at risk of agitation. After that, if the agitation is truly related to the Alzheimer’s disease, some milder forms of agitation can be managed by caregiver reassurance. Next, environmental changes might help: keeping a consistent routine and avoiding noisy, overstimulating environments. Aromatherapy may also help.

Finally, if the agitation remains very severe, medications may be used. These medications are marketed for other uses. My group and others showed that antidepressants may help with aggression and agitation related to loss of the brain chemical serotonin. Evidence shows that antipsychotics can help with severe agitation. While all medications have side effects, that risk is balanced with the risk of the agitation itself.   

Scientists around the world are working hard to find ways to avoid and treat this symptom of Alzheimer’s. My group is currently testing a medication to see if it will help.  New medications are being developed for Alzheimer’s memory problems, that may also help with these symptoms.  Hopefully, we’ll be better able to help people with agitation, and their loved ones, in the future.

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Overall heath gained by regular exercise, managing risk factors like blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and weight gain, not smoking and aiming for a healthy diet, can not only help promote a healthy heart, but also delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

You will be glad to know that one example of a healthy diet, the Mediterranean diet, includes red wine in moderation. Special activities to promote brain health include keeping mentally fit, avoiding head injury and remaining socially active.

The second question most frequently asked, once we all have red wine in our hands, is in distinguishing between normal aging and something more serious. We all may have lapses in attention and put the milk in the cupboard, or notice occasional word-finding difficulties. Knowing that the milk doesn’t really go there, and being able to eventually remember that word are good signs. It’s a more serious problem when you forget how to do something you have done many times before, get lost going to a familiar location, or have difficulties sequencing steps like following a recipe or making household repairs.

When memory problems interfere with your daily living, then they are problematic. So sign up for life-long learning, keep physically healthy, keep in touch with your friends and make some new ones.  Also know this: scientists around the world are working hard to find ways to avoid and treat Alzheimer’s. We’re making strides and the future is bright.

This post first appeared on aliveandawake.ca.

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