Why do Alzheimer’s patients get violent?

People who have Alzheimer’s may at times get violent or lash out for no clear reason.  Understanding how these individuals experience different things in their lives will allow loved ones and those who are caring for the person to understand and adequately deal with any problem that may arise.  A person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, especially in later stages, can act out of character, including aggression, cursing, insulting people, or even physical violence.  This can be because they are confused or frustrated and cannot adequately express themselves or find the words to describe what they are feeling.  The person may be feeling this confusion for different reasons.  It could be from lack of sleep, side effects from medication, or pain that they cannot put into words.  There could also be issues with the environment around them, whether it be loud noises, temperatures, too many people, or too much activity.  Acting out violently can also be caused by someone interacting with the person so that they cannot understand. A person who does not understand the individual’s illness and symptoms could be asking too many questions at once, giving complicated instructions, or acting out in a way that causes the individual to feel their stress.

Other reasons that a person could act out violently could be because they are fearful or in pain physically that they do not understand.  This pain can come from infections like a urinary tract infection or intestinal infection that may not be seen from the outside but change their way of processing because of the infection itself.  They could also be having a negative reaction to medications that they are taking, such as medication for pain or psychiatric medications that can cause adverse side effects.  When communicating with people who have Alzheimer’s or dementia, the most important thing to remember is to stay calm and communicate with them slowly and clearly.  Make them feel as safe as possible and contact their medical provider as soon as possible to have them evaluated for more serious issues or necessary changes to their medication.