Psychosis, Dementia, or Depression? Clarifying Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Cognitive decline and behavioral changes in older adults are often presumed to reflect Alzheimer’s disease, yet many patients present with reversible conditions, primary psychiatric illness, or alternative neurodegenerative processes. This session provides psychiatrists with a structured, step-by-step approach to differential diagnosis, incorporating clinical assessment alongside emerging tools such as blood-based biomarkers, neuroimaging, and longitudinal cognitive tracking. Faculty will address neuropsychiatric symptoms including: agitation, psychosis, mood changes, and sleep disturbance, as core features requiring active management. Emphasis will be placed on whole-person evaluation that integrates medical, psychiatric, functional, and psychosocial data to support accurate diagnosis and informed care planning.

Session developed in partnership with the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP).