Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among long-term care facilities- and home-dwelling older people

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K09187
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Arai Asuna 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 助教 (50421897)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 認知症 / 介護 / 高齢者 / 社会医学 / 社会福祉

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An epidemiological study on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) was conducted among long-term care facilities- and home-dwelling older people with dementia. I found that the participants in facilities had any symptoms of BPSD in about 60% at any of three annual surveys. Agitation/aggression and irritability/lability were the most common of the individual BPSD symptoms. Appetite/eating disturbances were annually changeable. Prevalence of any symptoms of BPSD was about 90% among home-dwelling older people in the baseline survey. Apathy/indifference was the most common symptom.

Free Research Field

老年保健医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、高齢者の主な住まいである介護施設等と自宅において、認知症に伴って頻発する行動・心理症状（BPSD）の出現状況を明らかにするものであった。本研究によって、認知症を有する高齢者がそれぞれの生活の場において、どのようなBPSDを生じやすく、また長期的にどのような経過をたどるのか、そしてBPSDがどのような個人・環境因子と関連があるのかについて、わが国における知見を積み重ねることができた。さらに、BPSDへの適切な対処方法を検討するための資料を提供できたものと考えている。