People with Alzheimer’s disease go through many changes, and sleep problems are often some of the most noticeable.
Most adults have changes in their sleep patterns as they age. But the problems are more severe and happen more often for people with Alzheimer’s.
You might notice that your loved one:
- Sleeps a lot more than usual, including taking naps during the day. This is common for people in the early stages of the disease.
- Has trouble falling asleep or wakes up a lot at night. When they do sleep, they might doze on and off.
- Wants to sleep more during the day and stay awake at night. This becomes more common as Alzheimer’s gets worse.
- Gets restless or agitated when the sun sets, a condition called sundowning. They might pace or wander during the night, too.
Scientists aren’t sure why people with Alzheimer’s tend to have problems sleeping. It may be because the disease damages the brain and changes the way it controls the sense of when to get shut-eye and when to be awake.
But even when sleep patterns change, you can make it easier for your loved one to rest and get some Zzz's yourself.
Treatment
Most doctors say it’s best to start with changes to lifestyle and behavior to fix sleep problems. There are medications that can aid sleep, but they can be harmful for people with Alzheimer's, causing confusion and making them more likely to fall.
Here are some tips to get started:
- Help your loved one keep a regular 24-hour schedule. Eat meals, wake up, and go to bed at the same time each day.
- Discourage naps during the day, or at least limit them to 30 minutes.
- Move them into sunlight soon after they wake up and keep the lighting low as bedtime approaches. This helps set their internal clock closer to normal.
- Make sure they exercise every day, although not within 4 hours of going to bed.
- Encourage them to avoid nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and large meals, especially at night.
- Make sure their bedroom is comfortable, with the temperature not too warm and not too cold.
- Check with your loved one's doctor about other health conditions they might have that can cause sleep problems, such as restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, or urinary tract infections. There may be treatments that can help.
- Some Alzheimer’s drugs, like donepezil (Aricept), can cause trouble sleeping. If your loved one takes this medication, avoid giving it to them at night.
A mix of changes may help if one tactic doesn't work.
Sleep Medications and Alzheimer’s
If your loved one’s doctor prescribes medicine to help them rest, they’ll probably start at the lowest dose possible and stop the drugs as soon as sleep patterns improve.
Medications include:
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as nortriptyline (Pamelor) and trazodone (Oleptro)
- Sleeping pills such as zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien)
Doctors also sometimes prescribe drugs called antipsychotics such as risperidone (Risperdal). They can be helpful, but they also might increase the risk of death in some people with dementia. You’ll want to talk carefully with your loved one’s doctor about this medicine before they take it.
Just as Alzheimer’s sleep problems can change over the years, so do the ways you can handle it. Always talk to your doctor about which options are best.
How You Can Get Rest, Too
As a caregiver, it's just as important for you to get enough shut-eye, so you can take better care of yourself and your loved one.
Many of the same things recommended for people with Alzheimer's can work for you, too:
- Keep a regular schedule.
- Get exercise.
- Have a comfortable bedroom and use it only for sleeping.
- If your loved one takes a short nap during the day, take the chance to lie down and rest as well.
- Connect with other caregivers for support. You might feel better talking to others about your situation and hearing their advice.
- Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
- Try to relax before you go to bed. Muscle relaxation exercises, writing in a journal, or soft music can help.
