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Treatment of Behavioral Disturbances in Dementia
Presently, at least 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease, which comprises about 60-80% of all dementia cases. (2) Approximately 150,000 individuals over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s disease in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with an estimated increase to rise to 190,000 by 2025. (2) Up to 90% of patients diagnosed with dementia will be affected by behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) during their illness. (1) Many individuals affected by dementia live in the community and depend upon their primary care clinicians for a large part of their care.
Following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, an alarming rate of antipsychotics were prescribed to treat BPSD despite being recommended as second-line treatments due to both limited evidence for efficacy and risk for adverse side effects. (5) With the increasing rates of dementia, it is imperative that as clinicians, we consider a multifaceted approach to treating these behaviors. In this presentation we will prepare for the projected increasing incidence of dementia by ‘restocking’ our dementia treatment ‘tool box’ with both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic methods of care to optimize treatment and quality of life for our patients with dementia.
Learning Objectives:
Dr. Huston is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Advent Health East Orlando in Family Medicine. She completed a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She has been working as a Geriatrician with Atrium Health and has served as a Medical Director within the Skilled Nursing Facilities and as a Post-Acute Care Medical Director. She also served as the Medical Director for the Geriatric Advanced Practitioner Fellowship and is currently Associate Program Director for the Geriatrics Fellowship at Atrium Health.
Disclosures: None
