Sundowning
Sundowning is a pattern of increased confusion, restlessness, or distress in the late afternoon and evening, experienced by many people living with dementia. It likely arises from a combination of circadian rhythm disruption, accumulated fatigue, fading light, and end-of-day household commotion. Because triggers are partly environmental, caregivers can soften it: bright light and activity earlier in the day, a calm predictable evening routine, closed curtains before dusk, and limiting late-day caffeine and naps. Recognizing sundowning as a symptom with triggers — not defiance — lets you respond with adjustment and reassurance rather than frustration.
Caregiver Training: Sundowning | UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program
Sundowning is a pattern of increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation that many people with dementia experience in the late afternoon and evening, linked to disruption of the brain's internal cl…