Sundowning

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Sundowning 2.jpg

Sundowning refers to a group of neuropsychiatric symptoms which develop late afternoon or during the evening and night time ( periods of diminishing daylight). It is commonly seen in individuals diagnosed with dementia or neurocognitive decline due to parkinson's or alzheimer's disease and in elderly institutionalized patients[1].

Some of the common symptoms associated with sundowning include:[2]

  • Confusion,
  • Anxiety,
  • Aggression,
  • Irritability
  • Hallucination
  • Pacing
  • Changes in demeanour and affect
  • Motor changes like restlessness, dyskinesia

Sundowning can negatively impact patient safety and wellbeing and results in considerable caregiver burnout, it also poses increased demands on the health care providers especially the nursing staff.[3]

Etiology of Sundowning[edit | edit source]

The etiology of Sundowning is complex and poorly understood.Changes in the normal circadian rhythm is one of the most common cause of sundowning however other factors like medications, environmental changes, comorbidities all play a significant role in development of disruptive behaviours seen in sundowning Some of the common factors are summarized in Table 1[3].

Treatment of Sundowning[edit | edit source]

The treatment for sundowning requires a team based approach. Coordination between the health care providers, patient and the family members is quintessential. The treatment can be broadly divided between Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic approaches.

  • Pharmacological Treatments: The three groups of drugs that have shown some promise for the management of sundowning are: Melatonin supplementation, cholinesterase inhibitors and antipsychotics[3]. However, more research is required.
  • Non Pharmacological Treatments: This should be the first line of treatment for the management of sundowning. These include environmental modifications, physical activity, alternate therapy like music, acupuncture, tai-chi , light therapy, consistent routines, caregiver education etc.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Khachiyants N, Trinkle D, Son S, Kim K. Sundown syndrome in persons with dementia: an update. Psychiatry investig, 2011; 8:275-87
  2. Menegardo CS, Friggi FA, Scardini JB, Rossi TS, Vieira TD, Tieppo A, Morelato RL. Sundown syndrome in patients with Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Dementia & neuropsychologia. 2019 Dec 9;13:469-74.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Canevelli M, Valletta M, Trebbastoni A, Sarli G, D’Antonio F, Tariciotti L, de Lena C, Bruno G. Sundowning in dementia: clinical relevance, pathophysiological determinants, and therapeutic approaches. Frontiers in medicine. 2016 Dec 27;3:73.