Aggression and Alzheimer's - Are Men More Aggressive?
By Carrie Roberts
May 13, 2014
Unfortunately, there are times when aggression and Alzheimer's go hand-in-hand with seniors.
The reasons for Alzheimer's are not fully known, but hypothesis suggests that it may be caused due to a decreased production of acetylcholine, and formation of plaque in the brain, which damages nerve cells. Genetic factors might also cause the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists Alzheimer's disease as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that between 5 and 10 percent of all seniors with Alzheimer's will suffer from aggressive behavior. Although women are more likely to have Alzheimer's than men, it is men …show more content…
What makes these actions tough for family members is that this is not the way their loved ones behaved in the past. Violent behavior is probably the number one reason that families place their senior loved ones in nursing homes or other care facilities.
One symptom that surprises experts is the level of sexual aggression shown by seniors with Alzheimer's.
What to Do When Alzheimer's Sufferers Become Aggressive
• Remain Calm - Aggressive types of behavior are not uncommon with elderly Alzheimer's patients. Caregivers need to remain calm and gentle. Take into consideration that this is the same family member that you have loved so many years. The problem is that their brain is not functioning properly.
• Remove Possible Dangerous Objects - You will want to find and hide anything that your loved one might later use as a weapon, or throw. At the same time, you might want to make sure you have a safe route to another room, or that you can move out of range of any objects that your loved one might throw.
• Control Verbal Outbursts - Some Alzheimer's sufferers have patterns that they demonstrate before major outbursts. If this is the case with your loved one, try to predict when you think they might not be in a good mood, or that a verbal outburst is about to
By Carrie Roberts
May 13, 2014
Unfortunately, there are times when aggression and Alzheimer's go hand-in-hand with seniors.
The reasons for Alzheimer's are not fully known, but hypothesis suggests that it may be caused due to a decreased production of acetylcholine, and formation of plaque in the brain, which damages nerve cells. Genetic factors might also cause the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists Alzheimer's disease as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that between 5 and 10 percent of all seniors with Alzheimer's will suffer from aggressive behavior. Although women are more likely to have Alzheimer's than men, it is men …show more content…
What makes these actions tough for family members is that this is not the way their loved ones behaved in the past. Violent behavior is probably the number one reason that families place their senior loved ones in nursing homes or other care facilities.
One symptom that surprises experts is the level of sexual aggression shown by seniors with Alzheimer's.
What to Do When Alzheimer's Sufferers Become Aggressive
• Remain Calm - Aggressive types of behavior are not uncommon with elderly Alzheimer's patients. Caregivers need to remain calm and gentle. Take into consideration that this is the same family member that you have loved so many years. The problem is that their brain is not functioning properly.
• Remove Possible Dangerous Objects - You will want to find and hide anything that your loved one might later use as a weapon, or throw. At the same time, you might want to make sure you have a safe route to another room, or that you can move out of range of any objects that your loved one might throw.
• Control Verbal Outbursts - Some Alzheimer's sufferers have patterns that they demonstrate before major outbursts. If this is the case with your loved one, try to predict when you think they might not be in a good mood, or that a verbal outburst is about to