What Can NPS Look Like?

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) occur because of changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer’s disease, but certain situations can make them worse.

Some things that may trigger or intensify symptoms include:

  • Pain or stress
  • Too little sleep
  • Constipation
  • Sudden change in a well-known place, routine or person
  • A feeling of loss — for example, the person may miss the freedom to drive or go out alone
  • Too much noise or confusion or too many people in the room
  • Being forced to do something — for example, to bathe or to remember events or people — when Alzheimer’s has made the activity very hard or impossible
  • Feeling lonely and not having enough contact with other people
  • Certain medications or interactions between two medications
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