As dementia progresses, and for those with frontotemporal dementia, one of the more challenging aspects is the development of non-cognitive symptoms, such as agitation, aggression and psychosis. These behaviours often result from the person feeling confused or distressed and while they may, or may not, bother the person living with dementia, they can be upsetting for their families or carers.

When these symptoms occur, NICE guidance NG97 recommends a structured assessment to explore possible reasons for a person’s distress, using a decision aid. The assessment must be carried out by a trained professional and they should check for clinical or environmental causes, such as pain, delirium, adverse drug reactions or inappropriate care.