Sundown Syndrome, or Sundowners Syndrome as it is also known, is a condition that is experienced by the elderly, especially those who are suffering from dementia and memory loss.
Workers in care homes started to notice that the levels of confusion, anxiety and hallucination seemed to increase towards the end of the day, at sunset;, hence the name.
Which Parts of the Brain are Affected
The condition affects people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or Senile Dementia - illnesses that occur as a result of degradation of certain areas of the brain. Cells in the Rhinal area of the cerebral cortex (a part of the brain that stores memory) seem to be the first to be affected, followed by the Hippocampi (areas that deal with spatial awareness) and the temporal and parietal lobes (that deal with word blindness and memory).
One of the early signs of the onset of this condition may be anxiety and paranoia - "my neighbours are watching me" etc.
Dehydration
It is noticeable that dehydration can make the problem worse. Ensuring that the Sundown Syndrome (SS) Sufferer is amply hydrated is essential, presumably because it affects the chemistry and hydration of the brain.
It was noticeable that when one SS sufferer stopped drinking diet soda and changed to spring water, the symptoms were greatly ameliorated. This is possibly due to the effects of additives in the diet soda on brain chemistry. Tea and coffee are also harmful and need to be restricted or avoided.
Restricting Water Consumption
Elderly people often shy away from drinking adequate water during the day as they are fearful of having to get up during the night to go to the bathroom. They need to be positively encouraged to drink fluids regularly during the day, easing off an hour or two before bed time so that the bladder has time to be emptied.
Ample Rest
Elderly people need plenty of rest. It is known that sleep allows the body to repair itself and refreshes the mind. For the SS sufferer it is noticeable that an hour’s good mid day sleep can reduce later confusion.
In addition, a very strict bedtime regime can help enormously to stave off confusion and hallucinations during the day.
Reducing Stress Levels
Certain situations can cause stress for the elderly; for example moving home, financial worries, loneliness, ‘official’ correspondence, etc. For this reason, it is wise to keep stress levels down to the minimum wherever possible in order to reduce the severity and incidence of episodes.
Memory Loss
SS sufferers have various types of memory loss; word blindness, inability to learn new facts, loss of short term or long term memory, etc. It is important that carers remember this when they are conversing with the sufferer.
The SS sufferer may get their facts very confused; one is advised not to contradict them as this only aggravates and causes more stress.
With good management, the effects of Sundowners Syndrome can be minimised making life more enjoyable for all concerned.
