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Why dementia may cause hallucinations

by Jo Crossland

Dementia advice

Some forms of dementia can cause a person to experience hallucinations.

Hallucinations are sensory experiences like seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that aren't real, but seem vivid and very convincing.

They are more common in people with  Lewy body dementia (LBD), but can also occur in people with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. They stem from brain changes misinterpreting sensory input, They can also occur in people with dementia who may have another illness, for example an underlying infection. 

What can cause older people to experience hallucinations

  • Delirium (sudden confusion, usually due to an acute illness).
  • Poor lighting in the environment.
  • Cognitive decline due to dementia or other conditions.
  • Medication side-effects (e.g. anti-Parkinson’s disease drugs, some sedative and very strong pain medication).
  • Visual problems, including poor eye sight or cataracts.

How to help a person with dementia who is experiencing hallucinations

When a person with dementia is experiencing a hallucination, it’s important that you consider their reaction first. One person may find a hallucination frightening, while another could find it to be a comforting or enjoyable experience.

Carl George, Specialist Dementia Lead at Care UK, recommends a few things you can do to help:

  • Stay calm and do not try to correct or argue; instead offer comfort and reassurance.
  • Seek medical advice to check for delirium, pain and medication side effects, with advice from a GP.
  • Optimise lighting and make sure the person is wearing sensory aids, e.g. spectacles of hearing aids.

How Care UK can help

At Care UK, we understand that every journey with dementia is unique. That’s why we are here to help you find the right care options for your loved one, with personalised plans and compassionate support every step of the way.

Find your local Care UK care home or explore our dementia help and advice hub for more tips for caring with someone living with dementia.

FAQs

Dementia hallucinations stem from brain changes misinterpreting sensory input.

Causes of hallucinations in older people:

  • Delirium (sudden confusion, usually due to an acute illness).
  • Poor lighting in the environment.
  • Cognitive decline due to dementia or other conditions.
  • Medication effects (e.g. anti-Parkinson’s disease drugs, some sedative and very strong pain medication).
  • Visual problems.

Not every person living with dementia will experience hallucinations. They are more common in people with Lewy body dementia (LBD), but can also occur in people with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. 

Author

Jo Crossland

Jo Crossland

Head of Dementia and Lifestyle

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