“Sundowning” or “sundowners syndrome” is a term that some say is unique to Alzheimer’s disease although there has not been a definitive conclusion. It is a behavior where sundowners become more demanding, upset, suspicious, and disoriented late in the day and especially after dark.

I was reading an issue of the Golden Gazette, a wonderful publication for seniors in Fairfax County, VA. In it, someone asked a question about her father who has Alzheimer’s disease and gets confused at night and doesn’t sleep well. As a result, she (as a caregiver) is finding it more and more difficult to get a good night’s rest.

The expert answering the question said that there is a tendency for individuals suffering from acute or chronic confusion to become more confused, restless and insecure late in the day, especially after dark. They may wander all night and it’s possible that they’ll see, hear, and believe things that aren’t real.

After staying up all night, of course, they doze off during the day. It appears that their biological clock is reversed. One theory according to wisegeek.com is that the constant daily mental processes for normal living can become overwhelming for the elderly during evening hours. They simply have too much incoming information and their restricted cognitive abilities become overloaded. The result is a period of irritability and negative thoughts.

Mayoclinic.com suggests that fatigue, low lighting, and increased shadows might be contributing factors as well. Suggestions include:

• Plan for activities and exposure to light during the day to encourage nighttime sleepiness.

• Limit caffeine and sugar to morning hours.

• Serve dinner early and offer a light snack before bedtime.

• Keep a night light on to reduce agitation that occurs when surroundings are dark or unfamiliar.

• In a strange or unfamiliar setting such as a hospital, bring familiar items such as photographs or a radio from home.

“Sundowning” or “sundowners syndrome” will definitely take a toll on the caregiver.  It is imperative that the caregiver seek help. The caregiver needs to take good care of him/herself first in order to be able to take care of others.

Last month a friend gave me an issue of  Woman’s World magazine. In it was a tiny article, Ward off Alzheimer’s with the new “Memory” Pill! As the author of this Alzheimer’s disease blog, that certainly caught my attention. It’s called phosphatidyl serine (PS) or more commonly spelled as one word in the scientific community, phosphatidylserine. It says, “it’s a supplement proven to prevent age-related memory loss and help your brain function as if it were 12 years younger!” Now, wouldn’t that catch your attention, too? Could we all use a memory booster?

Since it’s such a short article, let me share the rest of it.

PS helps restore the brain’s supply of acetycholine, a neurotransmitter that’s crucial for memory, reports Thom Lobe, M.D., of Beneveda Medical Group in Beverly Hills, California. In one study, folks who took 100 mg., three times a day, scored 30% higher on memory tests after just 12 weeks! Your Rx: 200 mg. to 300 mg. daily in supplement form (find it in health-food stores). Important: Ask your doctor before taking this or any supplement, especially if you also take an anticoagulant drug.

If phosphatidylserine is such an impressive supplement, shouldn’t all Alzheimer’s patients be on it? According to the Mayo Clinic, “Several studies involving phosphatidylserine indicate a benefit — improved cognitive abilities and behaviors. However, improvements in memory lasted only a few months and were seen in people with the least severe symptoms.” They go on to say that earlier studies were based on brain cells of cows. However, because of concerns about mad cow disease, most manufacturers now produce phosphatidylserine supplements from soy or cabbage derivatives. So it’s not really known if the plant-based supplements are equally effective.

WebMD adds that phosphatidylserine is a chemical that the body can make, but it gets most of what it needs from foods. Side effects include insomnia and upset stomach for doses over 300 mg. They warn that there could be drug interactions. Click here for more information and click on Interactions.

So the old adage, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is, appears to be in effect here. Have you ever taken phosphatidylserine? What is your opinion?

How is dementia different from Alzheimer’s disease? According to ezinearticles.com author Molly Shomer, she says that the term dementia seems to be preferred over Alzheimer’s disease possibly because of the less frightening connotation and that many are using the word interchangeably, but that is not correct. Dementia and Alzheimer’s are different.

Shomer says dementia is a symptom, just as pain is a symptom for something causing the pain. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, memory loss by itself does not mean you have dementia. People with dementia have serious problems with two or more brain functions, such as memory and language. Many different diseases can cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. Drugs are available to treat some of these diseases. For a list of other dementias from the Fischer Center for Alzheimer’s Foundation, click here.

So the actual cause of dementia could be one of a myriad of things where cognitive abilities have been impaired. With dementia, it could simply be a temporary thing if the cause is treated. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s is an actual disease and the disease causes dementia. Many different diseases can cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. Drugs are available to treat some of these diseases.

What we know about Alzheimer’s disease today, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, is that:

1. Alzheimer’s is a progressive and fatal brain disease.
2. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia.
3. Alzheimer’s has no current cure.

In our next post next week, we will specifically look at how Alzheimer’s disease is defined. In the meantime, challenge your brain to something new as was discussed here.