MANAGEMENT OF THE BEHAVIORAL MANIFESTATIONS OF DEMENTIA

Dementia affects 5% of persons over age 65 years and 20% of those over 80 years of age and is expected to increase further in the primary care setting as the population ages.(1) The constellation of neuropsychiatric disorders includes dementia, organic personality disorder, and organic psychotic disorder. Dementia is the most prevalent disorder, accounting for approximately 70% of the neuropsychiatric disease of institutionalized patients.(2)