“Safety first” is the message a CU Anschutz behavioral neurologist wants caregivers of older adults with memory disorders and dementia to keep in mind. The recommendation is based on a behavior that’s been noticed more frequently in patients with many brain diseases – hoarding.
Christopher M. Filley, MD, professor emeritus of neurology at CU Anschutz School of Medicine, was part of a group of researchers who published a study about a simple screening tool to help doctors detect hoarding behaviors early.
Early identification of hoarding can help keep people safe in their homes by connecting them and their caregivers with the appropriate resources. While hoarding is typically treated as a psychiatric disorder, caregivers of patients with many neurological disorders often report hoarding behaviors in their loved ones.
“Both psychiatry and neurology deal with the mind. Neurologists focus primarily on how the brain contributes to behavior while psychiatrists are more engaged with symptom management, and the two disciplines collaborate to help patients in the best way possible,” said Filley.
Here he answers questions about hoarding disorder through a neurological lens.
Key points:
Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition that can also be observed in people with neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, where brain pathology is thought to contribute to the behavior.
New hoarding behaviors in older adults with a behavioral neurology diagnosis have been reported by caregivers, leading researchers to develop an effective screening tool to make earlier intervention possible.
Untreated hoarding increases health and safety risks, including falls, poor hygiene, and difficult caregiving – making early recognition, intervention and caregiver support critical.