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Alzheimer's: Managing sleep problems
Alzheimer's sleep problems affect both you and your loved one. Try these tips for getting both of you a good night's rest.
By Mayo Clinic staffWhen people with Alzheimer's can't sleep, they may wander through the house — waking caregivers and possibly endangering themselves. These sleep disturbances, and the caregiver exhaustion that so often accompanies them, are among the most common reasons people with Alzheimer's are placed in nursing homes.
Sleep problems are common
Many older adults have problems sleeping, but people with Alzheimer's have an even harder time. Alzheimer's may reverse their sleep-wake cycle, causing daytime drowsiness and nighttime restlessness. And these sleep disturbances often increase as Alzheimer's disease progresses.
Eventually, people with Alzheimer's may nap off and on both day and night. Every hour may include periods of wakefulness and periods of light sleep. These naps replace the deep, restorative sleep most people enjoy at night.
Coexisting conditions
Some people with Alzheimer's have other health problems that affect their sleep. In many situations, these problems respond well to treatment.
- Sleep apnea. This disorder happens when throat muscles relax during sleep and obstruct airflow through the nose and throat. People with sleep apnea typically snore loudly, and their breathing periodically stops during sleep. It is very common in people over the age of 65.
- Restless legs syndrome. Occurring most often in middle-aged and older adults, this disorder consists of leg discomfort relieved only by moving the legs.
- Depression. Many people with Alzheimer's also suffer from depression. Sleep problems are common in both diseases. Treating the depression may improve quality of life for both you and your loved one.
Risks of sleeping pills
Most medicines designed specifically to help people sleep can cause problems for people with Alzheimer's disease. These drugs often increase confusion. They also may contribute to falls, although other factors — such as lack of sleep in itself — could be responsible for making people with Alzheimer's less sure-footed.
Some drugs used to control the agitated and combative behaviors often associated with Alzheimer's disease also have sedative properties that help people sleep.
The role of light
Exposure to a few hours of bright light in the morning may improve your loved one's sleep. Sunlight will do the trick, as will a special type of extra-bright light bulb used to help treat seasonal affective disorder — a form of depression that occurs when daylight is limited. Seeing sunlight may help regulate your loved one's circadian rhythms, which are predictable changes in mental and physical functioning that normally occur over the course of a day. These rhythms affect your sleep cycle, appetite and mental focus.
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