While The Chalet Malouin will post ideas and helpful tips on our Website
- It is in your best interest to consult any concerns with your Doctor
and contact the Alzheimers Society of Manitoba to discuss your particular situation.
Our team is here to support you
Connect with us through our Dementia Helpline:
1-800-378-6699 or [email protected].
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Connect with the First Link Client Support team at 204-943-6622/1-800-378-6699 or email [email protected] to find a support group that’s the right fit for you.
If you reside in rural Manitoba, connect with the Alzheimer Society office near you.
Pat Porter Active Living Centre
10 Chrysler Gate Road
Steinbach, MB
Dementia & Aggression: An Educational Guide for Families
Aggression in dementia is common — and it is usually a symptom of brain disease, not intentional behavior.
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) affect the majority of individuals living with dementia, including agitation, yelling, paranoia, and physical aggression (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024).
In conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, changes in the frontal and temporal lobes impair:
• Impulse control
• Emotional regulation
• Threat perception
• Communication ability
When the brain cannot process information correctly, fear often presents as anger.
⸻
Common Triggers
Aggression is often a response to:
Pain
Infection (especially UTIs)
Constipation
Dehydration
Medication side effects
Overstimulation
Fatigue
Feeling rushed or embarrassed
A sudden increase in aggression should prompt evaluation for delirium or acute medical illness (American Geriatrics Society, 2023).
⸻
Evidence-Based Management
Clinical guidelines recommend non-pharmacologic approaches as first-line treatment (American Psychiatric Association, 2020):
• Maintain consistent routines
• Reduce noise and environmental stress
• Approach calmly and from the front
• Validate feelings rather than correct facts
• Offer simple choices
• Ensure basic needs are met
Medications such as antipsychotics should be used cautiously and only when behaviors pose safety risks, due to increased mortality risk in older adults with dementia (FDA boxed warning; APA, 2020).
⸻
For Caregivers
Aggression is one of the leading causes of caregiver stress and burnout (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024). Support and education significantly improve outcomes for both patient and caregiver.
They are not giving you a hard time.
Their brain is having a hard time.
Early recognition, medical evaluation, and structured support can make a meaningful difference.
⸻
Aggression in dementia is common — and it is usually a symptom of brain disease, not intentional behavior.
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) affect the majority of individuals living with dementia, including agitation, yelling, paranoia, and physical aggression (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024).
In conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, changes in the frontal and temporal lobes impair:
• Impulse control
• Emotional regulation
• Threat perception
• Communication ability
When the brain cannot process information correctly, fear often presents as anger.
⸻
Common Triggers
Aggression is often a response to:
Pain
Infection (especially UTIs)
Constipation
Dehydration
Medication side effects
Overstimulation
Fatigue
Feeling rushed or embarrassed
A sudden increase in aggression should prompt evaluation for delirium or acute medical illness (American Geriatrics Society, 2023).
⸻
Evidence-Based Management
Clinical guidelines recommend non-pharmacologic approaches as first-line treatment (American Psychiatric Association, 2020):
• Maintain consistent routines
• Reduce noise and environmental stress
• Approach calmly and from the front
• Validate feelings rather than correct facts
• Offer simple choices
• Ensure basic needs are met
Medications such as antipsychotics should be used cautiously and only when behaviors pose safety risks, due to increased mortality risk in older adults with dementia (FDA boxed warning; APA, 2020).
⸻
For Caregivers
Aggression is one of the leading causes of caregiver stress and burnout (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024). Support and education significantly improve outcomes for both patient and caregiver.
They are not giving you a hard time.
Their brain is having a hard time.
Early recognition, medical evaluation, and structured support can make a meaningful difference.
⸻
