Sundowning: Late-day confusion

What is sundowning?

- No name / No state given

Mayo Clinic neuropsychologist Glenn Smith, Ph.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

The term "sundowning" refers to people who become increasingly confused at the end of the day and into the night. Sundowning isn't a disease, but a symptom that often occurs in people with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. The cause isn't known. But factors that may aggravate late-day confusion include:

Fatigue
Low lighting
Increased shadows

Some tips for reducing this type of disorientation in your loved one with dementia:

Encourage a midafternoon nap or quiet time.
Keep a night light on to reduce agitation that occurs when surroundings are dark or unfamiliar.
In a strange setting such as a hospital, bring familiar items such as photographs or a radio from home.

When sundowning occurs in a care facility, it may be related to the flurry of activity during staff shift changes. Staff arriving and leaving may cue some people with Alzheimer's to want to go home or to check on their children — or other behaviors that were appropriate in the late afternoon in their past. It may help to occupy their time during that period.