Symptoms Experienced by People with Dementia

In addition to impairments in mental abilities (the ability to understand, think, and remember), people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias experience a range of psychological and behavioural symptoms.

Every individual is unique. The presence and severity of these symptoms vary greatly from person to person and can also vary from day to day. Most symptoms change gradually over the progression of the disease.

Here are some examples of the different types of symptoms that people with dementia tend to experience. Click on the links below to learn more about each type of symptom.
 

Psychological Symptoms

Psychological symptoms can occur at different times throughout the progression of Alzheimer's disease or another dementia. They can be difficult to deal with, both for the person with dementia and their caregivers. Psychological symptoms mainly include:


Behavioural Symptoms

Behavioural symptoms become evident as the disease progresses.  These symptoms can become concerning when they lead to problems where the person with dementia puts themselves or others in danger. Common behaviours include:


Research has demonstrated that both the psychological and behavioural symptoms of dementia can contribute to caregiver stress. Therefore, it is important to understand these symptoms and how they can be managed, in order to maintain quality of life for the person with dementia, as well as yourself.

 

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