Call our 24 hours, seven days a week helpline at 800.272.3900

24/7 Helpline 800.272.3900
Donate
Northwest Ohio
Change Location

Time Change Can Prompt Sleep and Behavioral Issues for People with Alzheimer’s Disease

Time Change Can Prompt Sleep and Behavioral Issues for People with Alzheimer’s Disease
Share or Print this page
Share or Print this page
November 2, 2019
Email:
Share or Print this page
For people on a regular routine, the end of Daylight  Saving Time is a noticeable change. Sunset arrives one hour earlier, so it is darker in the evening.

Nighttime can already be a troubling time for those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Reduced lighting can cause disorientation. Sundowning, also known as late-day confusion, occurs in some Alzheimer’s patients, meaning that their confusion or agitation could be worse in the late afternoon or evening hours. Some known factors that cause sundowning are end-of-day exhaustion (both mental and physical) and an upset in the "internal body clock," causing a biological mix-up between day and night.

"We are all somewhat sensitive to the time change," said Pam Myers, Program Director for the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter. "People living with dementia may be more sensitive to the change as darkness arrives earlier and their routine may need to be adjusted."
 
So, caregivers may need a plan to help their loved one get accustomed to darkness arriving earlier. "Having a plan to deal with increased anxiety or agitation is important," Myers said. "We recommend scheduling any out-of-home activities in the morning, having a larger meal at lunch versus supper, and keeping the home well-lit in the evening hours."

Alzheimer’s experts say nighttime restlessness typically peaks in the middle stages of Alzheimer's, and then diminishes as the disease progresses. Scientists don't completely understand why sleep disturbances occur with Alzheimer's disease, which is a fatal brain disease that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed. As with changes in memory and behavior, sleep changes somehow result from the impact of Alzheimer's on the brain
Some studies indicate as many as 20 percent of persons with Alzheimer's will experience increased confusion, anxiety and agitation beginning late in the day.

Research indicates that up to 45 percent of people with dementia may have sleep problems. Many people with Alzheimer’s wake up more often and stay awake longer during the night. Those who cannot sleep may wander, be unable to lie still, or yell or call out, disrupting the sleep of their caregivers. Experts estimate that in late stages of Alzheimer’s, individuals spend about 40 percent of their time in bed at night awake and a significant part of their daytime sleeping. For sleep issues due primarily to Alzheimer's disease, most experts encourage the use of non-drug measures, rather than medication.

Below are some tips if a person is awake and upset at nighttime:
  • Approach him or her in a calm manner.
  • Find out if there is something he or she needs.
  • Gently remind him or her of the time.
  • Avoid arguing.
  • Offer reassurance that everything is all right.
  • Don't use physical restraint. If the person needs to pace, allow this to continue under your supervision.
For more information, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia.™ For more information, visit www.alz.org or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

Keep Up With Alzheimer’s News and Events

The first survivor of Alzheimer's is out there, but we won't get there without you.

Donate Now

Learn how Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain.

Take the Brain Tour

Don't just hope for a cure. Help us find one. Volunteer for a
clinical trial.

Learn More