![]() Once behavioral changes have been identified as sundowners syndrome, there are steps you can take to both prevent and manage it.įirst and foremost, you must be patient. Sundowning Treatment & Management Options Delirium sets in quickly over the course of days or weeks rather than months or years, and its associated confusion may fluctuate throughout the day instead of along a predictable late-afternoon or early-evening timeline. The best way to tell whether your loved one is suffering from delirium or sundowners syndrome is to look at the timing. Though delirium is a stand-alone medical condition, people with dementia are highly susceptible to it. Delirium is a medical condition that results in mental confusion and changes in attention span, perception, mood, and activity level. When it comes to treating and managing sundowning symptoms, the first step is to confirm that it is, in fact, sundowners syndrome and not delirium. Disrupted circadian rhythm, sleep deprivation.Unfamiliar environment or unexpected change.Decreased sense of security/feeling of safety.Research suggests that contributing factors may include the following: Again, doctors do not fully understand sundowners syndrome or its causes, but some potential triggers have been identified. Some studies suggest that as many as 20% of Alzheimer's patients experience worsening confusion, agitation, and anxiety beginning in the afternoon or evening. Sleep deprivation can then trigger ongoing episodes of sundowning while simultaneously contributing to other symptoms of dementia. When it comes to sundowning, the timing of onset (and individual behaviors) varies from one patient to the next and symptoms can often interfere with sleep. Some of the most common symptoms of sundowning include the following: As the condition progresses, these symptoms become more pronounced and more regular.Īt their peak, sundowning symptoms typically develop in the late afternoon, and they can go long into the night. Early signs of sundowners syndrome include restlessness and agitation, irritability, confusion, disorientation, suspiciousness, and becoming demanding. In the early stages of sundowners disease, symptoms may be subtle, inconsistent, and difficult to notice. In severe cases, patients become extremely restless and may try to go outside. They may ask the same questions repeatedly or temporarily lose the ability to communicate. Patients experiencing sundowners syndrome have also been known to shadow their caregivers, following them closely and mimicking their movements. When a patient is sundowning, instead of new symptoms, existing symptoms typically worsen – particularly mental and behavioral symptoms. It can also be triggered by low light, depression, boredom, pain, or sleep problems. Some scientists have suggested the neurochemical changes that occur in the brain with Alzheimer's might affect the patient's biological clock, causing the part of the brain that signals when you are awake or sleeping to break down. Doctors do not understand why this phenomenon occurs, but it affects roughly 1 in 5 Alzheimer's patients. Sundowning occurs when a dementia patient exhibits changes in mood, personality, or behavior in the late afternoon and early evening. Sundowners syndrome is poorly understood, but there are specific symptoms to watch for and simple methods for its management. Though symptoms progress in a familiar pattern, each case is unique, and some patients experience a worsening of symptoms just before nightfall. A multi-stage disease, Alzheimer's symptoms progress over the course of several years, culminating in a complete inability to communicate or care for oneself. Symptoms include increasing forgetfulness, mental confusion, memory loss, difficulty performing daily tasks, and changes in mood or behavior. ![]() Frequently Asked Questions About Sundowners SyndromeĪlzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological condition and one of the most common forms of dementia.Sundowning Treatment & Management Options.
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