Senior Living News

Keep reading to find out how a relationship with sleep can be strained for those dealing with dementia, what the impact of poor sleep is and how you can improve sleep for a loved one with dementia.

Common Sleep Challenges for Those With Dementia

Dementia impacts a person's brain function, including the circadian rhythms that contribute to healthy sleep patterns. Memory conditions like dementia can also contribute to other issues, such as anxiety or poor nutrition, that negatively impact sleep quality.

Sleep-related challenges someone might face when dealing with dementia include:

• General insomnia. Someone with dementia may find it difficult to fall asleep. In early phases of the disease, anxiety about the future might make it hard to settle down for the night. As dementia progresses, disruption of normal sleep cycles, agitation and restlessness can contribute to insomnia.  
• Reversal of circadian rhythms. Some individuals with dementia end up with a day-night reversal, causing them to be awake during the night and sleepy during daytime hours.
• Sundowning. Memory conditions can contribute to a phenomenon known as sundowning, which causes people to become increasingly agitated as the day progresses. A heightened state of agitation in the late evening can make sleep hard.
• Hallucinations. Auditory and visual hallucinations can occur with some forms of dementia, creating distress that keeps individuals awake or makes it less likely they'll sleep soundly on their own.

Other issues that may make sleep difficult for older adults with dementia include pain or soreness, medication that impacts sleep, waking often in the night and needing to use the restroom at night.

The General Impact of Poor Sleep

Poor sleep can cause mental and physical health issues, even for people who aren't dealing with dementia. In the short term, loss of sleep can make someone more tired during the day, reducing their attention span, judgment and ability to solve problems. Lack of sleep can also reduce someone's ability to process and handle emotions, leading to more volatile behavior. Long-term lack of sleep can lead to issues such as impaired memory and a greater risk for Alzheimer's disease.

The Impact of Poor Sleep on Dementia Symptoms

The impact of poor sleep can create a cyclical issue for individuals who are dealing with dementia. Not getting enough sleep can exacerbate dementia symptoms, including agitation. For example, someone who isn't sleeping well may experience heightened sundowning symptoms. Increasing late-day confusion and irritation can make it even harder to sleep, and individuals and their caregivers might feel trapped by what seems like an inescapable cycle.

Poor sleep might also increase the rate of cognitive decline someone experiences. Sleep is a critical function for brain tasks like memory consolidation. When you don't get enough sleep, your memory doesn't work as well as it could. Lack of rest also reduces your ability to process and store information, perform everyday tasks and focus for extended periods of time — all things someone with dementia might already be struggling with.

Poor sleep might also lead to increased inflammation in the brain and the accumulation of toxins that are normally removed from the brain during rest. These factors can lead to increased dementia symptoms.

Some Strategies for Improving Sleep

Individuals in the early stages of dementia and caregivers can leverage some common-sense strategies to help improve sleep, including:

• Establishing a routine. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can contribute to better sleep habits. Supporting a loved one with dementia in creating a consistent schedule can help address other symptoms too.
• Creating an environment conducive to sleep. Ensure the bed is comfortable, set the temperature at a cool but not cold level and find ways to reduce ambient noise that might disrupt sleep.
• Limiting stimulants. Reduce caffeine, alcohol and sugar in your loved one's diet. Especially avoid stimulants in the afternoon and evening, as they can make it harder to sleep.
• Increasing daytime activity. Promote gentle, safe physical activity such as walking around the home, yard or neighborhood during the day. Do the same for cognitive muscles by offering games and puzzles, music activities and other engagement opportunities during the day.
• Paying attention to natural light. Ensure natural sunlight can enter the room in the morning to help your loved one wake up.

The team at Bethesda Gardens in Loveland works to create safe, supportive environments for residents in our memory care community. That includes helping individuals improve sleep habits so they can better enjoy their days. If you think professional care might be the next best step for your loved one, contact us to find out more about our services.