If you know someone with Alzheimer’s, you may notice that they often spend a lot of time sleeping, especially in the disease’s later stages.
But it isn’t the illness itself, which progressively destroys memory and thinking skills, that is making your loved ones sleepy.
Uncovering the scientific reasons behind why Alzheimer's patients sleep so much can assist caregivers and healthcare workers in providing better treatments and improved quality of life.
Why Do Alzheimer’s Patients Sleep So Much?
There is a profound connection between Alzheimer's and increased sleep duration among patients. The changes in the brain caused by the degenerative disease can interfere with a patient’s circadian rhythm, the daily cycle that helps determine someone’s sleep patterns.
There are several ways that Alzheimer’s can impact a person’s sleeping habits. Instead of sleeping at night, they may sleep a lot during the day.
For others, they may experience a phenomenon known as sundowning, which can cause restlessness, irritability or confusion as daylight darkens.
Read More: What You Need to Know About the 6 Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer's and Sleep Patterns
Often, it can be difficult for an Alzheimer’s patient to fall asleep and remain in their beds. For caregivers in particular, this can make a difficult situation even more challenging —although there are methods for helping Alzheimer’s patients sleep more soundly.
“We’re learning more about the relationships between Alzheimer’s, circadian rhythms, sleep and the brain,” said John Hsiao, a program director at the National Institute on Aging. “And we have a lot more to learn.”
Read More: Is Alzheimer's Disease Fatal, and How Does It Lead to Death?
