What Kind Of Behavioral Changes Should I Expect When Caring For Someone With Alzheimer's Disease

May 4, 2009 -- Question: What kind of behavioral changes should I expect when caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease?

Answer: We often think of Alzheimer's disease as a memory or cognitive problem, but it's just as much a behavioral problem and behaviors can range from anxiety, depression, to agitation, to even psychosis -- where the patient loses touch with reality. We know that as the disease progresses some of these more disturbing behaviors can emerge.

So it's important to talk with your doctor if the behavior changes in the patient, to seek advice and counsel and also to find out if there are medications that can help with some of these disturbing behaviors.