What is sundown syndrome?

The term “sundowning” refers to a state of confusion occurring in the late afternoon and spanning into the night. Sundowning can cause a variety of behaviors, such as confusion, anxiety, aggression or ignoring directions.

What are the early signs of Sundowners?

Early signs of sundowners syndrome include restlessness and agitation, irritability, confusion, disorientation, suspiciousness, and becoming demanding. As the condition progresses, these symptoms become more pronounced and more regular.

What is normal cognitive decline?

Normal age-related cognitive decline can show up as subtle changes in certain cognitive areas, and may differ from person to person. Some common examples of this include a slower pace of thinking and difficulty with paying attention, holding information in the mind, multitasking, finding words, and remembering names.

Does intellectual functioning decline with age?

Cognitive abilities often decline with age. It is important to understand what types of changes in cognition are expected as a part of normal aging and what type of changes might suggest the onset of a brain disease.

Do bipolar people experience Sundowning?

While some people with bipolar disorder experience multiple rapid mood changes throughout the day, this symptom is more commonly seen in people with dementia — especially in the evenings, a phenomenon known as sundown syndrome.

How do you stop Sundowning?

Preventing Sundowning

1. Go outside or at least sit by the window—exposure to bright light can help reset the person’s body clock.
2. Get physical activity or exercise each day.
3. Get daytime rest if needed, but keep naps short and not too late in the day.
4. Get enough rest at night.

What age does mental decline start?

The brain’s capacity for memory, reasoning and comprehension skills (cognitive function) can start to deteriorate from age 45, finds research published on bmj.com today.