Understanding the Relationship Between Dementia and Sleep Problems

Senior woman lying in bed unable to sleep at night — *Credit: rido81 Via* *Freepik*

Dementia stands as an urgent worldwide health issue, impacting millions of people and their loved ones. It presents itself as a complex condition marked by diminishing cognitive abilities, memory lapses, altered behavior, and significantly disrupts individuals' lives. Meanwhile, sleep, often overlooked in conversations about dementia, plays a vital role in multiple facets of brain well-being and one's overall quality of life.

Sleep is an essential component of our lives, often underappreciated until it becomes difficult to attain. When it comes to individuals grappling with dementia, sleep disruptions can pose unique difficulties. In this blog, we'll explore the intricate connection between dementia and sleep, revealing how these apparently unrelated aspects of our lives are intimately linked.

At Sagecare, we aim to understand our residents' sleeping patterns and determine how dementia affects their sleep. Learn more about the link between dementia and sleep to help your loved one overcome sleeping challenges.

The Dementia-Sleep Connection

Dementia, which includes a range of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, disrupts different cognitive abilities. It also notably disrupts sleep patterns. Let's delve into how dementia and sleep issues might affect your loved one's experience with this condition.

Disrupted Circadian Rhythms

Circadian rhythms are our internal clocks that regulate our sleep-wake cycles. Dementia can disturb these natural rhythms, resulting in irregular sleep schedules. This can lead to individuals feeling daytime drowsiness and remaining alert at night, a situation that can be profoundly distressing for both those dealing with sleep and dementia challenges and their caregivers.

Sundowning

Sundowning is one of the symptoms of dementia commonly observed in dementia patients. As the evening sets in, the combination of sleep and dementia problems might become more pronounced, with seniors experiencing heightened agitation, confusion, and restlessness. Consequently, this can create challenges in falling asleep and maintaining a restful night's sleep.

Altered Sleep Architecture

Dementia can also alter the structure of sleep. Those with dementia might experience reduced periods of deep sleep (known as slow-wave sleep) and more time in lighter sleep stages. This results in lower sleep quality, which in turn makes it challenging for the brain to solidify memories and carry out vital cognitive tasks.

Sleep Disorders

Dementia can increase the risk of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. These disorders further exacerbate sleep disturbances, leading to a vicious cycle of dementia sleep problems and worsening dementia symptoms.

The Connection Between Lack of Sleep and Dementia Progression

The relationship between dementia and sleep is bidirectional. Not only does dementia disrupt sleep, but poor sleep can also accelerate the progression of dementia.

Increased Beta-Amyloid Accumulation

A distinguishing feature of Alzheimer's disease is the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. Research has indicated that inadequate sleep may result in heightened production and diminished removal of beta-amyloid, potentially hastening cognitive deterioration.

Impaired Memory Consolidation

Deep sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating memories and facilitating learning. When sleep is disrupted, individuals with dementia struggle to form new memories and recall existing ones, making daily life even more challenging. This is one of the common dementia sleep problems that can cause problems in an individual's life, as it reduces their ability to remember things.

Aggravated Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms

Sleep disturbances can worsen the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The correlation between dementia and sleep problems can result in various outcomes. Agitation, aggression, and hallucinations are more likely to occur when a person with dementia experiences poor sleep, making caregiving more demanding.

Reduced Brain Resilience

A well-rested brain is more capable of resisting the effects of neurodegenerative diseases, while sleep deprivation hampers the brain's ability to tackle the challenges brought on by dementia. According to a study, sleep deprivation can cause adverse changes in cognitive performance.

Overcoming Sleeping Challenges

Now that we understand the intricate connection between dementia and sleep let's explore some strategies to help dementia patients overcome sleeping challenges.

Establish a Consistent Routine

Maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule can help regulate circadian rhythms. Encourage daytime activities and exposure to natural light to reinforce the body's internal clock. A significant part of caring for seniors living with dementia at Sagecare involves maintaining a consistent routine to help residents with their sleep cycle.

Create a Calming Bedtime Routine

Establish soothing pre-sleep rituals such as reading a book, gentle stretching, or listening to calming music. These activities can help reduce anxiety and agitation before bedtime.

Limit Stimulants

Certain stimulants can cause a lack of sleep, and dementia patients can suffer from reduced sleep quality. Minimize caffeine and alcohol intake, especially in the afternoon and evening. These substances can disrupt sleep patterns and exacerbate symptoms of dementia.

Manage Sundowning

To address sundowning and sleep deprivation in dementia, engage in calming activities during the late afternoon and evening hours. Dim the lights, play soft music, and provide reassurance to alleviate anxiety.

Evaluate Medication

Consult with a healthcare professional to review medications contributing to sleep disturbances. Adjusting or discontinuing certain drugs can improve sleep quality.

Environmental Modifications

A great way to reduce dementia sleep problems is by ensuring the sleeping environment is comfortable, safe, and conducive. This includes maintaining a comfortable room temperature, using blackout curtains to reduce external light, and reducing noise levels.

Promote Physical Activity

Promoting physical activity is a great way of managing different dementia behaviours, including sleep disturbances. Promote consistent daytime physical activity, as it can enhance the quality of sleep. But steer clear of intense exercise right before bedtime, as it may have the opposite outcome.

Mindful Nutrition

To reduce the risk of sleep deprivation in dementia, offer your loved one a light, nutritious evening meal. Heavy or spicy foods can cause discomfort and indigestion, making it harder to sleep.

Engage in Cognitive Stimulation

Since sleep and dementia go hand in hand, engaging your loved ones in cognitive stimulation activities can help reduce cognitive decline and improve sleep quality. Puzzles, memory games, and storytelling can be beneficial.

Consider Sleep Medications Carefully

A common question when addressing sleeping problems and dementia is, why do people with dementia sleep so much? In some cases, medications are used to help seniors with dementia sleep. However, it’s advisable to consider sleep medications as a final option and solely when advised by a healthcare expert. These medications can bring about side effects and might not be suitable for all individuals.

Conclusion

The link between dementia and sleep problems is a complex and often overlooked aspect of managing neurodegenerative diseases. By implementing strategies to improve sleep quality and adopting a holistic approach to dementia care, we can enhance the quality of life for individuals with dementia and promote better cognitive health.

It's important to remember that each person with dementia is unique, and what works for one individual may not work for another. Tailoring sleep interventions to the specific needs and preferences of the patient is key to achieving the best outcomes.

Exploring the Link Between Dementia and Sleep