People who have Alzheimer’s disease may have problems with sleeping or with maintaining their sleeping schedule. Scientists do not yet fully understand why these problems with sleeping occur. Just as with changes in memory and behavior, changes in sleeping patterns somehow are caused by the effects of Alzheimer’s on the brain.
If your loved one is having problems sleeping, remember that non-drug treatments should be tried first.
Maintain a regular sleep schedule for your loved one as much as possible.
Common Sleeping Problems
Many people with Alzheimer’s will wake up more often and stay awake more at night. Studies on brain waves of these people show decreases in dreaming and non dreaming sleep stages. Those who are not able to sleep may tend to wander about, yell or call out. This can cause the sleep of caregivers to be disturbed.
Some patients may start to nap more during the day. They may feel drowsy in day time and not able to sleep at night. They might start to get restless or upset in the early evening, which is known as sundowning. Experts say that in the later stages of Alzheimer’s people spend 40% of their time in bed awake and also nap during much of the day. In more extreme cases, people can have a total reversal of the day time awake, night time asleep pattern.
Medical Issues that Can Cause Sleeplessness
If your loved one is having problems sleeping at night, she should have a medical examination to see if there is any physical or psychological cause that can be treated. Some of the common medial problems that can cause sleeplessness:
- Depression
- Restless leg syndrome
- Sleep apnea
For sleep changes that are caused by Alzheimer’s, it is generally not recommended to use sleep medications. They usually do not improve overall sleep quality. Actually, the use of these sleep medications could increase the chances of a nasty fall, so they are not recommended.
Some of the best non-drug treatment for sleeping problems in Alzheimer’s patients include:
- Keep regular times for meals, and for going to bed and waking up
- Have your loved one exposed to sunlight in the morning
- Encourage as much daily exercise as she can handle, but not close to bed time
- Do not allow her to have alcohol, caffeine or nicotine
- If she is taking a cholinesterase inhibitor, do not give it to her before bedtime
- Be sure that the temperature of the bedroom is comfortable
- If she wakes up, do not have her stay in bed. Reinforce that the bed is for sleeping only
- Make sure she is comfortable in bed (try the Leg Lifter Wedge Pillow, or the Contour Back Wedge Cushion with Massage)
While these sleeping changes and difficulties can be frustrating, they are a normal part of the disease for many people. With the help of your doctor, you should be able to minimize many of these difficulties over time.
