Sundown syndrome is the onset of confusion and agitation that is fairly common amongst the elderly population and generally affects people with dementia or cognitive impairment. It is called sundown syndrome be as is usually occurs around sunset.
Researchers typically equate sundown syndrome with dementia, but people without dementia sometimes develop delirious and agitated behavior in the hospital as a reaction to pain, medical procedures, or infection.
There is an association between sundown syndrome and changes in the internal biological clock among people with dementia. Studies suggest that the biological clock shifts in people with dementia, and that shift may make some people with dementia more prone to sundown syndrome. The change in circadian rhythm will cause the person's body the crave food at odd times, and blood sugar will drop. The sudden drops in blood sugar are the probae cause of the mood swings and agitation.
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