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How to Handle Sundowning
Sep
Sundowning may prevent people with dementia from sleeping well. It may also make them more likely to wander. Due to the stress it puts on caregivers, sundowning is a common cause of caregiver burnout.
Symptoms of Sundowning
Sundowning happens to nearly 20% of people who have Alzheimer’s disease or other kinds of dementia.
People who sundown may become more:
- Forgetful
- Confused
- Delirious
- Agitated
- Anxious
- Restless
People with sundowning often have trouble sleeping. They may:
- Pace the floor
- Wander
- Yell
- Become combative
Sundowning typically peaks during the middle stages of Alzheimer’s. It gets better as the disease progresses.
What Causes Sundowning?
The causes of sundowning are not well understood.
Some research suggests that sundowning may be related to changes to the brain’s circadian pacemaker. That’s a cluster of nerve cells that keeps the body on a 24-hour clock.
Studies in mice suggest that chemical changes in the brain that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease may play a role. Researchers found that older mice make more of an enzyme that’s associated with anxiety and agitation before they go to sleep than middle-aged mice do.
Several things may increase the risk for sundowning. These include:
- Pain
- Severe constipation
- Poor nourishment
- Being on too many medications
- Infection
- Noisy and disruptive sleeping environment
Treatments for Sundowning
Ways to make sundown syndrome less severe include:
Activity. Being more active during the day may help Alzheimer’s patients sleep better at night. You can:
- Discourage daytime naps.
- Encourage exercise, like walking.
- Encourage hobbies that get dementia patients up and moving.
Healthy diet. Caregivers should make sure Alzheimer’s patients eat properly:
- Limit caffeine and sugar to the morning hours.
- Plan an early dinner.
- Keep snacks light before bedtime.
Medical advice. A doctor can look for physical problems like pain, infections, or bladder problems that may be contributing to nighttime confusion and agitation. They should also regularly review prescription medications to make sure they are still needed.
Light therapy. Exposure to bright lights, like the sun, during the day may reduce some sundowning symptoms, especially when used in combination with exercise, like walking.
Good sleeping environment. Allow the patient to change bedrooms or to sleep in a favorite chair or couch. Keeping the room partially lit may also help to reduce confusion when the person wakes during the night.
Calm reassurance. Gently help your loved one remember where he is and what time it is. Avoid arguing and offer reassurance that he is OK.
Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on June 26, 2013
