Wandering behaviour in community-residing persons with dementia

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Wandering behavior is a common and challenging issue in elderly individuals with dementia.
• Understanding the factors contributing to wandering is crucial for effective management and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify characteristics of dementia and other factors associated with wandering behavior in community-residing elderly patients.
• To develop a statistical model to determine the predictive importance of these factors on wandering behavior.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, case-control study was conducted at a university-affiliated outpatient neuropsychiatric center.
• Six hundred and thirty-eight new community-residing dementia patients underwent comprehensive neuropsychiatric evaluations.
• Assessments included the Mini-Mental State Examination, General Medical Health Rating, Cornell Scale of Depression in Dementia, and caregiver interviews.

Main Results:

• Wandering behavior was observed in 17.4% of participants.
• It was significantly more prevalent in patients with Alzheimer Dementia (AD), longer dementia duration, and greater dementia severity.
• Associations included moderate to severe depression, delusions, hallucinations, sleep disorders, neuroleptic medication use, and male gender. Dementia duration, severity, and sleep disorder remained significant predictors after adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Wandering behavior in elderly dementia patients is multifactorial, with modifiable aspects.
• Management of psychopathology, particularly sleep disorders, and addressing the underlying Alzheimer Dementia process may reduce wandering.
• Further research is needed on neuroleptic medication effects and alternative agitation control strategies.