An estimated 40 million people, mostly older than 60 years, have dementia worldwide, and this number is expected to increase significantly in the next decades. Despite ongoing advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of AD and related dementias, no treatment available can prevent or delay the cognitive decline that characterizes the condition.

Besides cognitive impairment, nearly all patients with dementia present neuropsychiatric symptoms, also called behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). BPSD have been associated with negative outcomes in dementia, including decrease of patient and caregiver quality of life, increased risk of institutionalization, higher costs and risk of mortality.
The expression ‘BPSD’ is an umbrella expression that encompasses different types of behavioral problems, such as agitation, apathy, delusion, insomnia, among others. Despite heterogeneous clinical presentations, the literature on BPSD usually does not address the specificities of individual syndromes, disregarding their different pathophysiological basis and therapeutics.

This Research Topic aims at dissecting the biological basis of different BPSD (apathy vs. depression vs. psychosis vs. aggression, etc.), including studies with imaging, genetics, biochemical, among other techniques that might inform about emerging therapeutic strategies. .

We welcome Original Research, Review, Brief Research Report, Case Report, Clinical Trial, Community Case Study, Data Report, General Commentary, Mini Review studies on the following subtopics:

• Imaging, genetics, biochemical and novel techniques informing on therapeutic strategies for BPSD;

• Studies on individual syndromes and clinical presentations of BPSD;

• Pharmacological and non-pharmacological (with special interest on neuromodulation) approaches to treat BPSD are highly encouraged;

• Studies on rare BPSD and preliminary interventions.

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Frontiers in Psychiatry

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