Dementia and sleep disturbances

Abstract

Sleep is fragmented and disturbed in older adults with dementia. Their sleep problems vary according to dementia subtypes, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Multiple factors, such as neurobiologic mechanisms underlying sleep disturbances and dementia, primary sleep disorders, long-term care environments, and physical and mental health conditions are associated with sleep disturbances. In older adults with dementia, these disturbances negatively affect their health, quality of life and medical expenses. As a result, these adults may require placement in a long-term care institution, and their caregivers’ health may be adversely affected. Both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions may alleviate the symptoms associated with sleep disturbances. However, nonpharmacologic interventions, particularly when combined, have been shown to be more effective than pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of sleep disturbances in older adults with dementia.