Intranasal Oxytocin for Managing Agitation in a Patient of Mixed Dementia With Multiple Pathologies, Particularly...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Geriatric Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Agitation is a common and progressive symptom in dementia.
• Current FDA-approved treatments like brexpiprazole require long-term daily dosing for agitation in Alzheimer's dementia.
• Limited options exist for managing acute agitation episodes in dementia patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of intranasal oxytocin for acute agitation management in dementia patients.
• To explore oxytocin as a potential rapid-acting intervention for agitation.

Main Methods:

• A case report of a 70-year-old male with dementia and severe agitation.
• Administration of as-needed intranasal oxytocin (30 IU) for acute agitation.
• Post-mortem examination to determine neuropathology.

Main Results:

• The patient experienced rapid and remarkable improvement in agitation following intranasal oxytocin administration.
• Neuropathological examination revealed mixed dementia: Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Conclusions:

• Intranasal oxytocin demonstrated potential efficacy in managing acute agitation in a patient with mixed dementia.
• This case suggests oxytocin as a promising option for acute agitation, warranting further clinical investigation.