Stage 5. Behavioral Changes: The Unanticipated Mood Swings
Middle stage dementia also brings about significant behavioral changes. This is a noticeable shift from the individual’s previous personality traits or habitual behaviors. These alterations can manifest as abrupt mood swings, heightened agitation, or even uncharacteristic actions.
The individual may exhibit unpredictable emotional responses. For instance, they might respond to a harmless joke with sudden anger or start crying without an apparent trigger. It can seem like they are on an emotional roller-coaster, swinging from joy to despair in a matter of moments.
Such emotional upheaval can also manifest as increased agitation or restlessness, especially during the evening or night. This phenomenon, often referred to as ‘sundowning’, is characterized by heightened confusion, anxiety, and agitation as the day progresses. (5)
