Restlessness is a common neuropsychiatric symptom that appears to be associated with poorer functioning in persons with dementia and greater distress in their caregivers, a recent study found. Researchers combined baseline data from 3 caregiver intervention studies of community-dwelling persons with dementia who exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms (n=569) as measured by the Agitated Behaviors in Dementia Scale. They found:

• Nearly 65% (n=367) of dementia caregivers reported restlessness.
• There were no significant differences between those with and without (n=202) reported restlessness concerning functional status (physical or cognitive).
• However, persons with restlessness had significantly higher pain scores, were more likely to be on behavioral medications, and had more neuropsychiatric symptoms as compared with persons without restlessness.
• Caregivers of persons with dementia-related restlessness reported greater burden, behavioral upset, depression, and lower mastery providing care compared with caregivers of persons without dementia-related restlessness.