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