There is evidence that sleep changes are more common in later stages of the disease, but some studies have also found them in early stages. Sleep changes in Alzheimer's may include: Difficulty sleeping. Many people with Alzheimer's wake up more often and stay awake longer during the night.
The primary cause of sleepless nights for those with dementia seems to be the changes that take place in the brain. Leading experts believe that as dementia changes brain cells, it also affects a person's circadian rhythms. When circadian rhythms get disrupted, the individual often confuses morning and evening.
Set a quiet, peaceful mood in the evening to help the person relax. Keep the lights low, try to reduce the noise levels, and play soothing music if he or she enjoys it. Try to have the person go to bed at the same time each night. A bedtime routine, such as reading out loud, also may help.
The National Institute on Aging recommends that seniors get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. However, research shows that dementia patients may sleep for anywhere from 13 to 15 hours in a 24-hour timeframe.
The dementia risk was 69% greater for individuals who slept over 8 hours, versus 7-8 hours. The risk was also twice as high for those who went to sleep before 9:00 p.m., versus 10:00 p.m. or later.
Take a walk with the person to help reduce their restlessness. Talk to the person's doctor about the best times of day for taking medication. Try to limit daytime naps if the person has trouble sleeping at night. Reduce or avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, which can all affect the ability to sleep.
Frequent awakenings during the night and premature morning awakenings are also common. People with dementia might also experience a phenomenon in the evening or during the night called sundowning. They might feel confused, agitated, anxious and aggressive. Night wandering in this state of mind can be unsafe.
The average life expectancy figures for the most common types of dementia are as follows: Alzheimer's disease – around eight to 10 years. Life expectancy is less if the person is diagnosed in their 80s or 90s. A few people with Alzheimer's live for longer, sometimes for 15 or even 20 years.
Administration: The examiner reads a list of 5 words at a rate of one per second, giving the following instructions: “This is a memory test. I am going to read a list of words that you will have to remember now and later on. Listen carefully. When I am through, tell me as many words as you can remember.
Late afternoon and early evening can be difficult for some people with Alzheimer's disease. They may experience sundowning—restlessness, agitation, irritability, or confusion that can begin or worsen as daylight begins to fade—often just when tired caregivers need a break.
One of the most common causes of death for people with dementia is pneumonia caused by an infection. A person in the later stages of dementia may have symptoms that suggest that they are close to death, but can sometimes live with these symptoms for many months.
If you aren't sure which stage of dementia you or your loved one are in right now, take an online Alzheimer's test. This can help pinpoint an individual's symptoms and stage.
Yes, dementia can suddenly get worse. Dementia and its symptoms are unpredictable. A person's symptoms might be stable for a long time, then suddenly get worse. Alternatively, they might steadily worsen at a slow rate, or a mixture of both.
Signs of the final stages of dementia include some of the following: Being unable to move around on one's own. Being unable to speak or make oneself understood. Eating problems such as difficulty swallowing.
In general, once a patient enters the moderate phase of dementia (the phase in which they require some help with their basic activities of daily living like dressing, bathing and grooming), it is unsafe to leave them alone for even short periods of time.
I'm going to discuss five of the most basic ones here: 1) Don't tell them they are wrong about something, 2) Don't argue with them, 3) Don't ask if they remember something, 4) Don't remind them that their spouse, parent or other loved one is dead, and 5) Don't bring up topics that may upset them.
People with dementia think about the same things that any human thinks about — emotions, relationships, daily life, tasks to accomplish, and more. Receiving a life-changing diagnosis of dementia does not strip a person of their humanity and personhood.
A healthy sleep routine can help the person with dementia to feel better, be less confused, be more co-ordinated and have more energy in the daytime.
Often when a person with dementia asks to go home it refers to the sense of 'home' rather than home itself. 'Home' may represent memories of a time or place that was comfortable and secure and where they felt relaxed and happier. It could also be an indefinable place that may not physically exist.
Tiredness and concentration – tiredness can cause people with dementia to not eat or give up partway through a meal. It can also lead to other difficulties such as problems with concentration or with co-ordination. People with dementia may have difficulties focusing on a meal all the way through.
They may find it difficult to get to sleep or they may wake up in the night. The person you care for may not feel well rested when they wake up. Over time, if these problems happen often, poor sleep may make the symptoms of dementia worse.
It can occur at any stage of the disease but it tends to peak in the middle stages of dementia and lessens as the disease progresses.
The Mini-Cog test.
A third test, known as the Mini-Cog, takes 2 to 4 minutes to administer and involves asking patients to recall three words after drawing a picture of a clock. If a patient shows no difficulties recalling the words, it is inferred that he or she does not have dementia.