Sundown Syndrome

Sundown syndrome is a peculiar disorder that is seen to affect a section of people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. The basic tenets that make up this disorder suggest that it manifests in those who suffer from any form of dementia. This disease and disorder is sometimes also considered to be a sleep disorder or a mood disorder. Sundown syndrome is a phase which affects people who are suffering from any form of dementia and is characterized by sudden change in a person's behavior to include varied degrees of agitation, restlessness, anger and confusion. While there are several other symptoms that this disorder leads to (which will be tackled later in the article) we need to understand why this happens and what it leads to. Continue reading for more information on this peculiar disorder.

Symptoms

There are several behavior patterns and symptoms that are brought about by this condition. These come about in the phase when there is a transition from daytime to sunset. While some patients who suffer from Alzheimer's may show only mild symptoms throughout the day, as night approaches, they might exhibit severe symptoms of the same. While in others, it might be a complete and drastic set in after sundown. It has been said that the stress of dealing with accumulated sensory stimuli throughout the day causes a person to be stressed out and fatigued and this leads to varied symptoms that affects their health in this manner. While in others it is due to the hormonal imbalance that becomes more pronounced during the night. Along with that, being in an unfamiliar environment, the onset of winter and low light conditions or suffering from short term memory loss can also lead to these symptoms as well. Another factor that is noticed is that after a surgery of any kind, the sundown syndrome is seen to manifest in several patients. Given below are the main symptoms of this disorder.

• Confusion
• Fear
• Anger
• Being stubborn
• Depression
• Varying levels of restlessness
• Agitation
• Rapid change in mood
• Rocking back and forth or from side to side.
• Crying
• Asking the same question repeatedly
• Following you from room to room
• Hallucination
• Paranoia
• Wandering about
• Memory loss
• Hiding things
• Violent behavior streaks

Treatment

While there is no instant cure for sundown syndrome in the elderly, there are ways in which this disorder can be kept under control and the patients can be prevented from meting out further harm to themselves and others. Here are the ways in which this can be carried out.

• Understand the triggering factors that lead to increasing the severity of the symptoms and keep the patients away from them.
• Create a routine that is filled with familiar activities for seniors and tasks, which will automatically eliminate stress and confusion.
• One needs to be patient when dealing with these patients because they cannot be stressed out further with angry tones that you might use.
• When a patient becomes agitated and stressed, use soothing tones to divert their attention away from the triggering factors (question them about their cause of agitation).
• Take care of their health and diet, making sure that all their needs are met.
• Create an environment that they feel safe in. Make sure it is peaceful and that they are not expected to deal with the activities and stress causing factors of the day.
• Keep the rooms well-lit so that the patient does not suffer any added anxiety at sundown.
• It has been seen that interacting with animals has reduced the symptoms so one can use that option as well.
• Natural supplements and other forms of treatment can be undertaken in consultation with a doctor.

Sundown syndrome can be a very confusing time for someone suffering from it. One needs to be there for these patients and support them in every possible way. Love and care is what will help in keeping the symptoms under control and not becoming more severe.