Sundowner's Syndrome: Understanding Evening & Nighttime Confusion in Dementia

According to SundownersFacts.com, Sundowners Syndrome is characterized by the intensification of symptoms exhibited during the evening and night hours by some Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

Prevalence

• Sundowners symptoms are not exhibited by all Alzheimer's and dementia patients, though a National Institutes of Health study found 1 in 8 demented and non-demented nursing home residents to exhibit Sundowners symptoms.

Onset

• The Sundowners patient typically exhibits intensified symptoms of dementia after dark. Others show no signs of dementia until the sun goes down.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Theory

• Some researchers believe Sundowners is related to SAD, a condition believed to cause depression during winter due to shorter periods of daylight. SAD, however, affects patients of all ages.

Overwhelming Stimuli Theory

• Others believe Sundowners is a result of sensory input accumulated during the day reaching a point of sensory stimuli overload at night, causing stress and confusion in the patient. A related theory blames ordinary fatigue at the end of the day for Sundowners symptoms.

Hormonal and Vision Theories

• Some doctors see a link between Sundowners and hormonal imbalances occurring at night, while others believe the diminished ability to see at night is a contributing factor.