Abstract
Many behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are shaped by how family members and caregivers interact with the person living with dementia. Preventive approaches to BPSD should begin at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage, when caregivers can develop an understanding of the disease and adopt reassuring, supportive interactions. Effective caregiver support requires recognizing the psychological process of accepting the patient’s condition and providing appropriate assistance at each stage of this process. When BPSD becomes recurrent, attending to situational changes before and after the symptoms emerge can inform the appropriate use of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. Healthcare professionals are increasingly involved from the MCI stage onward with the advent of disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. This shift underscores the need to strengthen support for caregivers and to proactively and sustainably prevent the onset and recurrence of BPSD.
