The darker side of Alzheimer's disease

The following is an excerpt from the CNN.com article written by Madison Park.

Alzheimer's patients are often vulnerable and fragile, but in rare cases, they can become the aggressor. About 5% to 10% of Alzheimer's patients exhibit violent behavior. It's unclear why the outbursts occur in certain patients.

"If you don't understand what's happening because your brain is not functioning, it can be scary," said Beth Kallmyer, senior director of constituent services at Alzheimer's Association. "It's normal human behavior. You might act out, become agitated, or violent if you don't know what's going on."
Before the Alzheimer's disease, Sam Cohen had never struck or hurt his family and his wife, Haya. Before the Alzheimer's disease, Sam Cohen had never struck or hurt his family and his wife, Haya.

Earlier this month, Cohen, who got an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in 2010, got into a heated argument with his wife. He snatched a pot from the kitchen and smashed the glass of water his wife had been holding. The glass shards cut her hands and she called 911.

"We're at a loss," his son said. His father had never before behaved in such a way.

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