Title:Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Psychosis: An Overview of Clinical Manifestations,
Pathogenesis, and Current Treatment
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
Author(s): Amira Y. Benmelouka, Yassamine Ouerdane, Oumaima Outani, Yusra T. Alnasser, Badrah S. Alghamdi, Asma Perveen, Ghulam Md. Ashraf*Mahmoud Ahmed Ebada*
Affiliation:
- Pre-Clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz
University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences,
King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Al-Sharkia,
Egypt
- Resident Physician, Egyptian Fellowship of Neurology, Nasr City Hospital For Health Insurance, Cairo Egypt
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease, psychosis, pathogenesis, assessment, management, dementia.
Abstract: Behavioral and psychotic manifestations, including aggression, delusions, and hallucinations,
are frequent comorbidities in patients with debilitating nervous illnesses such as Alzheimer’s
disease (AD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. ADrelated
psychosis may be linked to a poor disease prognosis, highlighting that early detection and
management are mandatory. The manifestations are variable and may be very heterogeneous, imposing
a real diagnostic issue. Some assessment tools such as BEHAVE-AD, CERAD-BRSD, and the
Psycho-Sensory Hallucinations Scale have been designed to facilitate the diagnosis. The mechanisms
behind neurodegeneration-related psychosis are complex and are not fully understood, imposing a
burden on researchers to find appropriate management modalities. Familial history and some genetic
disturbances may have a determinant role in these delusions and hallucinations in cases with AD.
The loss of neuronal cells, atrophy in some regions of the central nervous, and synaptic dysfunction
may also contribute to these comorbidities. Furthermore, inflammatory disturbances triggered by
pro-inflammatory agents such as interleukins and tumor necrosis factors are stratified among the potential
risk factors for the onset of numerous psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer’s patients. Little is
known about the possible management tools; therefore, it is urgent to conduct well-designed trials to
investigate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that can improve the care process
of these patients. This review summarizes the current findings regarding the AD-related psychosis
symptoms, pathological features, assessment, and management.
