Management of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia: A Comprehensive Review of the Current Literature

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Dementia is a progressive and debilitating condition that affects millions of patients in the United States with an enormous impact on healthcare costs, caregivers, and society. Patients with dementia often experience dementia-related neuropsychiatric disturbances, commonly known as Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and more recently Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in dementia. These symptoms include verbal and physical agitation, aggression, disinhibition, affect lability, apathy, psychosis, depression, and anxiety. Symptom management is important to optimize quality of life, minimize further functional decline, and delay institutionalization. We aim to review the existing published literature on pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management of NPS. Recent Findings: There are different treatment modalities to address NPS, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches, but the evidence throughout the years has been controversial and mostly studied in Alzheimer’s disease population making less generalizable to other dementia populations. Summary: NPS continues to be a prevalent and debilitating condition in the elderly population with dementia. Treatment options are limited and despite multiple pharmacologic treatments being studied and used for NPS, the first-line treatment continues to be non-pharmacologic.