My Brain Made Me Do It: The Neuroscience Behind Behavior

Abstract

Behavior is communication. Although behavior is often interpreted as intentional, examining the biological reasons driving behavior allows healthcare providers to equitably address basic needs, quality of life, and create person-centered care plans. Behaviors in older adults with neurocognitive challenges have great impact on quality of life and healthcare provision. Over 75% of people with dementia experience behavioral disturbances especially as the disease progresses (Press & Alexander, 2019) The healthcare burden is unimaginable including caregiver stress, loss of function in people with neurocognitive illness, and unneeded hospital stays. Despite behavior being the primary way people with advanced neurological illness communicate, healthcare providers use subjective reasoning to assign meaning to behavior. The neurologic basis for behavior is ignored and patient-centered care diminishes. By examining neurologic foundations and connecting it to function, health care providers can apply evidence-based interventions to understand, validate, and provide interventions for behavioral disturbances. This session will provide tools for learners to examine common neurologic behavioral disturbances such as pain, aggression, impulsivity, and delusions in an objective way. By redefining behaviors health care provides can provide strength-based interventions and make informed pharmacological and nonpharmacological care plan decisions. Session will include an overview of functional neuroanatomy, clinical applications, intervention ideas, and case studies.