Hallucinations — seeing, hearing, or sensing things that aren't real — can affect anywhere from 7% to 35% of people with Alzheimer's. They tend to show up more in the middle to late stages, but can happen earlier too.
There are several reasons why this happens:
- Brain damage — The most common cause. Alzheimer's damages Show Full Answer
Hallucinations — seeing, hearing, or sensing things that aren't real — can affect anywhere from 7% to 35% of people with Alzheimer's. They tend to show up more in the middle to late stages, but can happen earlier too.
There are several reasons why this happens:
- Brain damage — The most common cause. Alzheimer's damages areas of the brain that process what the senses take in, causing the brain to "fill in the gaps" incorrectly.
- Vision problems — As eyesight declines, the brain can sometimes create its own images to compensate.
- Hearing problems — Hearing loss can contribute to hearing voices or sounds that aren't there.
- Dehydration or pain — Physical discomfort can trigger or worsen hallucinations.
- Infections — Things like urinary tract or bladder infections can cause hallucinations.
- Certain medications — Some drugs can cause hallucinations as a side effect, though this is less common. A myALZteam member shared this about their experience: "My husband has had hallucinations. He thought shadows on the barn were people breaking my car windows. Later, he told me not to breathe because the little people had poisoned the air."
If hallucinations are happening, it's worth speaking with a doctor to rule out treatable causes like infections or medication side effects. They can also help explore options to reduce how often hallucinations occur.
August 11
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