01/19/2026
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Is this more common in certain types of dementia?
The short answer is yes, some dementias are more strongly associated with suspicion, paranoia, and false accusations than others. It’s about which parts of the brain are affected.
Vascular dementia is one of the most common.
Damage to reasoning, insight, and emotional regulation often in sudden or stepwise changes can make people feel confused and out of control.
When thinking becomes rigid and insight is reduced, the brain struggles to make sense of what’s happening. In that space, suspicion can take hold very quickly, especially around money, belongings, or fears of being harmed.
WHAT TO DO
When suspicion or accusations appear, focus on reducing fear rather than correcting facts.
Stay calm and avoid arguing or trying to prove the belief is wrong this often increases distress.
Acknowledge the emotion underneath the accusation with simple reassurance, such as:
“That sounds worrying” or “I can see this feels upsetting.”
Keep the environment as calm and predictable as possible. Noise, clutter, unfamiliar people, or sudden changes can worsen suspicion.
If accusations are new, escalating, or causing significant distress, seek medical advice. Pain, infection, medication effects, or further vascular changes can all contribute and sometimes treatment can help.
Most importantly, remember
these accusations are symptoms, not deliberate behaviour and you don’t have to carry blame that doesn’t belong to you.
