What is dementia?
Dementia is chronic, progressive, and global cognitive decline that jeopardizes the person's functional and social status. It is most often diagnosed by a physician according to DSM-IV criteria.

While Alzheimer's Disease accounts for approximately 60% of all cases of dementia, it can be caused by a wide range of other factors. It is estimated that by the middle of this century, 14 million people will have dementia, with approximately 360,000 new cases occuring each year. Currently, 7 in 10 people with dementia live at home, and half of all nursing home residents have dementia. More about behavioral problems in dementia ...

Behavioral Problems
Behavioral problems are very common in dementia sufferers. This is because as the disease worsens the person has a progressive inability to remember, reason, solve problems, interpret cues from the environment, and communicate with others. We look at several types of interventions used for behavioral problems, with supporting clinical evidence if it exists. More about evidence-based medicine ...

Types of Therapy
Nonpharmacologic interventions fall into three broad categories: sensory, affecting the patient's senses (touch, taste, sight, hearing or smell), environmental modifications (changing the social or physical environment), and behavioral strategies.

The Value of Nonpharmacologic Interventions
Even if a particular intervention is not supported by clinical evidence, it may still be valuable in improving quality of life, perhaps by reducing stress or anxiety in dementia sufferers and, in turn, their caregivers.

Disclaimer: Always seek the advice of a physician or other health care provider when considering an intervention. Many of these interventions can only be done by trained professionals.