Sundowing And Alzheimers Disease Essay -- Alzheimers Disease Essays

SUNDOWNING AND ALZHEIMERS DISEASE     sunseting, or sundown syndrome argon terms that have been used for over 20 years to reveal the reversal of day and night which often occurs in Alzheimers and other dementing illnesses. (2) Those who are impacted are often called sunseters and they act as if their biological alfilaria have reversed their day and night cycles. more or less are fit to function on little balance throughout their 24-hour day cycle. Some individuals stay up all night and will then continually doze off during the day. This alteration in the sleep-wake cycle is not inescapably permanent and they whitethorn revert to earlier patterns of sleep, or may sleep for increasing periods of time. (1)      Those suffering from acute or chronic confusion increasingly become highly agitated, confused, suspicious, active and restless, combative and disoriented late in the day, especially after dark. (2,3) They may see, hear and believe things that are not real. Patients become more impulsive and respond to their own ideas of reality, often in ways that can that get them in trouble. The confusion is often worsened after a move or change in good turn and can happen in any setting, whether they are living at home or in a facility.      The behavior may be totally out of character for the person. And, the change is drastic. You may see them in the morning and the person seems mentally competent and alert. The same individual may not recognize you or other family members, seem lethargic, become tardily agitated, confused, or disoriented late in the afternoon or evening. (1)      in that respect is currently no conclusive evidence nearly the reasons for these changes in the sleep-wake cycle. (2) However, in the online articles "Sundowning and Sleeping" and "The Sundown Syndrome" there are some theories identified about the cause.     1)       The decreasing levels of light may be disorienting. The lower light provides few clues as to the persons surroundings and shadows may be frightening.     2)      The person may timbre they are supposed to "go home" around this time.     3)      The person may be fatigu... ...dence regarding the reasons for these changes, some theories have been identified about the cause. This syndrome can be exhausting for the caregiver. Some measures have been identified that may lessen the effects. It is authorized to realize with sundown syndrome, as in any behavior related to to Alzheimers Disease, that the person does not have control over their behavior and that it is a result of the brain tryng to sort out a confusing environment. REFERENCES1. Alzheimers.com. Sundown Syndrome and the Elderly. Alzheimers.com feature story. On-Line     Avaialble http//www.alzheim ers.com/L3TABLES/L3T-428.HTM.2. Crystal, H. (1998). Sundowning and Sleeping. Northern Virginia Chapter of Alzheimers      Association. On-Line. Available http//www.alz-nova.org/sundown.htm.3. Davis, M. (1997). Light in the Darkess. Perspectives Magazine. On-line.     Available http//www.siu.edu/worda/persp/sp97/alz.html.4. Nitram, R. (1997). The Sundown Syndrome. The Arizona Daily Star Online. Availabnle           http//www.azstarnet.com/rnitram/sundown.html