Recognizing the early signs of neurological disorders such as dementia can be challenging, as many symptoms are subtle and can be mistaken for everyday forgetfulness or clumsiness.
However, Dr. Kellyn Lee, CEO of a prominent dementia charity, points to an unusual symptom that should encourage a conversation with a healthcare provider.
This symptom often appears at a specific time of the day.
Should you or a loved one show troubling behaviors during the late afternoon or evening, or consistently at the same time each day, it might be indicative of what psychologists term ‘sundowning’.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, individuals experiencing this may start to ‘behave in ways that are difficult to understand in the late afternoon or early evening’.
Dr. Lee shared on TikTok: “This can happen at any time of day, but what we see a lot with people living with dementia is that it can happen in the afternoon.”
Dr. Lee noted that during these times, affected individuals might experience ‘anxiety and agitation and maybe increased confusion,’ particularly as the day progresses.
During these episodes, the person might become highly distressed, experience hallucinations, or develop delusions. These episodes can extend into the night, affecting their sleep.
‘Sundowning’ refers to a cluster of symptoms observed in people, mostly in the middle to later stages of dementia, occurring towards the end of the day. The exact cause remains unclear.
Nevertheless, certain factors can trigger or exacerbate sundowning symptoms.
The Alzheimer’s Society indicates that some of these triggers are linked to specific times of the day.
It is crucial to understand that individuals with dementia might exhibit these symptoms due to an inability to communicate needs, such as hunger or pain.
The organization also suggests that inconsistent indoor lighting can contribute to sundowning. To mitigate this, closing curtains and dimming lights as the day progresses may be beneficial.