Why Some People With Dementia Become Mean

Why Some People With Dementia Become Mean

From Dementia Careblazers by Dr. Natali Edmonds

March 26, 2026 · 11 min · Episode 174

About this episode

Dr. Natali Edmonds explains the reasons behind mean behavior in individuals with dementia and how caregivers can cope with it.

If your loved one with dementia has become mean, sharp, cruel, or just completely different toward you, I want you to hear this first: you are not imagining it. And you are not failing. This is one of the most painful parts of dementia caregiving because it doesn't just feel hard. It feels personal. In this episode I explain exactly what is happening in the brain that causes this, why it is not their true personality coming out, and how to understand it in a way that protects both your heart and your sanity. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here . Learn more about the Care Collective: https://careblazers.com/for-families Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Natali Edmonds

Topics covered

  • dementia behavior
  • caregiving challenges
  • understanding dementia
  • emotional impact
  • brain function

Keywords

  • dementia
  • mean behavior
  • caregiving
  • brain changes
  • emotional support

More episodes of Dementia Careblazers

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Dementia Careblazers podcast page.