Key takeaways: Seasonal Changes Can Symptoms of Sundowners
- Sundowning is a pattern of increased confusion and agitation in people living with dementia that tends to get worse in the late afternoon and evening.
- Disruptions in the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, play a key role in sundowning symptoms.
- Seasonal shifts such as shorter daylight hours and temperature fluctuations can make symptoms more pronounced.
- Enhanced light exposure and consistent routines are practical ways to support loved ones experiencing sundowning.
Table of Contents
What are some seasonal changes that affect sundowning?
How do I manage sundowning symptoms?
Find support at Provision Living memory care communities
As the seasons change, individuals with dementia may experience more than just shifts in the weather.
Families caring for loved ones with dementia may start to notice them becoming more agitated in the late afternoon and evening. It’s a pattern of behavior known as sundowning in dementia that can look like increased confusion, restlessness, or mood swings in the evenings.
Understanding how seasonal changes affect the symptoms of sundowners can help families anticipate challenges and develop strategies to use during the most difficult parts of the day. Read on to learn more about sundowning and practical ways you can help ease your loved one’s symptoms.
What is sundowning?
Sundowning, sometimes referred to as sundowners syndrome, is a pattern of behavioral changes where individuals living with dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, become more confused and agitated in the late afternoon and early evening. Recognizable symptoms of sundowners may include anxiety, pacing, mood swings, and difficulty sleeping, often kicking in as the daylight starts to fade.
Research shows sundowning behaviors are linked to disruptions in circadian rhythms, the human internal “body clock” that regulates sleep‑wake cycles. In individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, when normal activity patterns and body temperature shift due to environmental changes, it can contribute to nighttime habit dementia behaviors.
What are some seasonal changes that affect sundowning?
As the seasons change, so do our environmental cues that help regulate our internal clocks. The following shifts can be especially difficult on people with sundowning dementia:
Light exposure
Shorter daylight hours and reduced natural light mean fewer familiar cues the brain can use to tell day from night, which can increase confusion and sleep disturbances.
Hormonal influences
Light exposure helps regulate hormones like melatonin and serotonin, which affect mood and sleep. When days grow shorter, changes in light exposure can disrupt these systems.
Temperature changes
When seasonal temperature changes cause dehydration, excessive cold, or overheating, stress caused by this discomfort can make behavioral symptoms more noticeable and intensify nighttime habit dementia behaviors.
Routine disruptions
Daylight‑saving time changes can disrupt your senior loved one’s familiar routines, which can make it harder for someone with dementia to distinguish day from night.
Seasonal mood shifts
Even in people without dementia, shorter days and reduced sunlight in winter can lead to mood changes similar to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). These seasonal mood changes can interact with and intensify an individual’s existing cognitive symptoms.
How do I manage sundowning symptoms?
While sundowning dementia cannot be cured, there are steps you can take to help reduce its impact and support your loved one’s natural rhythms. Maintaining consistent routines for meals, sleep, and daily activities can provide a set structure that can help your loved one feel comfortable and secure. Spending time outdoors in natural light also reinforces the body’s natural circadian rhythms, while balanced indoor lighting helps minimize any glare or shadows that might cause confusion.
Other strategies for reducing symptoms of sundowners include keeping rooms at a comfortable temperature throughout the day and incorporating calming activities or soft music as the sun goes down to help ease your loved one’s transition into evening.
Find support at Provision memory care communities
If sundowning dementia and other behavioral changes are making caregiving more challenging, you may be starting to consider a transition to memory care. If so, know that our Provision team is here to support your family every step of the way.
To learn more about our approach to memory care, download our memory care guide. For more personalized guidance, our community advisors are here to listen, answer your questions, and help you take the next step that’s right for you.
We’d also love to welcome you for an in-person visit, so you can explore our neighborhoods, meet our care teams, and spend quality time in our communities. We look forward to welcoming your family to memory care at Provision Living!
