Many dementia patients show behavioral changes as an expression of distress caused by boredom and loneliness, especially in a long-term care facility. Dealing with behaviors related to dementia can quickly exhaust a caregiver or a family member, causing caregiver burnout. Some research suggests that people with low levels of vitamin D in their blood are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Below, you'll learn more about how and why some of the most common behaviors related to dementia can manifest in your loved one. They usually occur in the middle or later stage of dementia, when patients are unable to communicate their needs.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, but there are other causes of dementia. They have been found in the brains of people with dementia with Lewy bodies, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. According to research on dementia-related behaviors, up to 90% of people who have dementia behave in ways that challenge or worry the people who care for them.
