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Dementia

Description

Dementia refers to a loss of memory and other intellectual functions due to a chronic, progressive degenerative disease of the brain. Insomnia in patients with dementia is due to sleep disturbances.

Diagnosis

Sleep disturbances in demented patients is characterized by delirium, agitation, combativeness, wandering and vocalization without apparent purpose and occurring during early evening or nighttime hours. Patients with dementia have fragmented sleep with frequent awakenings, and may have difficulty initiating sleep or with early morning awakenings. The sleep disturbance characterized by nocturnal wandering and confusion is often termed the sundown syndrome. The sundown syndrome appears to be present only in the most advanced stages of dementia and may be present intermittently.

Treatment

Sorry, there currently is no treatment for this condition. Please check back often as researchers are discovering new treatments for sleep conditions every day.

Source: Adapted from International Classification of Sleep Disorders Diagnostic & Coding Manual, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.