Sundowning

     Ever heard of sundowning? Sundowning is a condition often associated with the early stages of Alzheimer's, although a definitive connection has not been made. It is not a disease, It is a sympton that often occurs in people with dementia. Sundowners syndrome can  be considered a mood disorder or even a sleep disorder. Sufferers of sundowning experience periods of extreme agitation and confusion during the late afternoon or early evening hours, leading to irritability towards caregivers or hospital staff. It was once believed that sundowners syndrome was a result of missed day/night light cues, hence the sudden onset at sundown. There is no known cause, although some factors like the following have been known to agggravate late-day confusion: fatigue, low lighting, increased shadows.

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