Expert Perspectives 2024: Treatment for Agitation in Alzheimer Disease with George Grossberg, MD

In this Patient Care year-end video series we feature interviews with leading physician scientists and principal investigators who discuss the most important clinical trials of the year with experimental drugs, devices, and procedures, the implications of findings for daily primary care practice, and the promise of these unique additions to patient care.

Welcome to Expert Perspectives 2024: Interviews with Key Opinion Leaders on Novel Therapeutics

In the interview series that begins with the video above, George Grossberg, MD, Samuel W. Fordyce professor and director of geriatric psychiatry in the department of psychiatry at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, discusses advances in understanding the disruptive behavioral, or neuropsychiatric, symptoms that comprise agitation in adults with Alzheimer disease (AD). According to Grossberg, depending on the setting considered and the stage of Alzheimer dementia, research suggests that a "minimum of 50% of patients are affected by the spectrum of agitated behaviors." Grossberg is among the leading researchers evaluating novel pharmacotherapies to quell agitation that could replace the widespread off-label use of antipsychotic medications, which are associated with significant adverse events.

In this first video segment, Agitation in Alzheimer Disease: A Behavioral Snapshot with Geriatric Psychiatrist George Grossberg, MD (above) Grossberg emphasizes that recognizing the disruptive behaviors of agitation in less severe stages of AD, ie in adults with mild cognitive impairment, reflects an evolving understanding of the disease spectrum. Agitated-type behaviors "do become more common with disease progression, but we need to look for them throughout," Grossberg said.

For the other videos in the series, see:

Pearls for Primary Care: How to Talk About Agitation in Alzheimer Disease with Caregivers

For Agitation in Alzheimer Disease, a Novel, Oral NMDA Receptor Antagonist Could be the Next Targeted Treatment

Treatment for Agitation in Alzheimer Dementia: Pipeline Preview with George Grossberg, MD

Agitation in Alzheimer Disease and Antipsychotics Used Off-Label are Not Meant for Each Other

Nonpharmacologic Options for Agitation in Alzheimer Disease Should Always Come First: Expert Insights

Environment is a Primary Nonpharmacologic Intervention to Reduce Agitation in Alzheimer Disease, Geriatric Psychiatrist Explains

Alzheimer Disease Insights: It's Not All About Cognition, Counsels George Grossberg, MD

Agitation-Type Behavior Occurs Across the Spectrum of Alzheimer Disease Severity, Advises Expert