How Common Are Delusions in Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for several diseases that affect the brain’s cognitive functions. One of the lesser-known but frequently occurring aspects of dementia is delusions. These can be highly distressing, not only for the person experiencing them but also for their caregivers and healthcare providers. In this blog post, we explore how common delusions are in dementia, the forms they can take, and how they can be managed.

What Are Delusions?

Delusions are false beliefs or perceptions that a person holds onto despite evidence to the contrary. In dementia, these delusions may arise due to brain degeneration and impaired cognitive functions. The most common types of delusions in people with dementia include:

• Paranoid delusions: For example, believing that someone is stealing their belongings or trying to harm them.
• Misidentification delusions: The person may think that a close relative has been replaced by an imposter.
• False memories: The person may believe they have recently done something that either occurred a long time ago or did not happen at all.

How Common Are They?

Research shows that between 30% and 50% of people with dementia experience some form of delusion during the course of their illness. This prevalence can vary depending on the type of dementia. For instance, delusions are more common in Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease but less frequent in vascular dementia.

It is also important to note that the severity of delusions can differ significantly. Some individuals may experience them sporadically and in a milder form, while others may endure persistent and deeply troubling delusions.

What Causes Delusions in Dementia?

The exact mechanisms behind delusions in dementia are not fully understood, but researchers believe they result from a combination of factors:

• Brain degeneration: Damage to specific areas of the brain, such as the temporal and frontal lobes, can disrupt how the brain processes information.
• Memory loss: Gaps in memory may lead the person to fill in the blanks with false beliefs.
• Stress and anxiety: These factors can exacerbate delusions and make them more intense.

How Can Delusions Be Managed?

Managing delusions in people with dementia requires patience and understanding. Here are some strategies that can be helpful:

1. Acknowledge the person’s feelings: Instead of arguing or contradicting, try to show empathy and understanding for their experience.
2. Create a safe environment: Ensure that the person feels secure and surrounded by familiar objects and people.
3. Avoid confrontation: If the delusions become too intense, try to redirect their attention to something else.
4. Work with healthcare professionals: Medical treatments, including medications for anxiety or psychosis, may sometimes be necessary.

Delusions are a common but often underestimated challenge in dementia care. They can vary in intensity and form, but with the right approach, their impact can be minimized. Understanding, support, and an individualized strategy are key to helping those affected by these symptoms.

Sensorem’s safety alarm has GPS positioning, medication reminders and automatic fall alarm

Sensorem’s personal alarm is an example of a technical aid specially developed for people with dementia. The personal alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning so that relatives can see the user’s position on a map in the Sensorem app. Relatives are automatically called by the personal alarm (two-way communication) if the user leaves a predetermined geographical area. The personal alarm also has medication reminders, which means that the watch emits a sound and tells the user that it is time to take their medication. The personal alarm can also alert automatically in the event of a fall with the built-in fall sensor.