Study helps explain 'sundowning,' an anxiety syndrome in elderly dementia patients
Monday, June 27, 2011 - 15:30
in Psychology & Sociology
New research provides the best evidence to date that the late-day anxiety and agitation sometimes seen in older institutionalized adults, especially those with dementia, has a biological basis in the brain. The findings could help explain "sundowning," a syndrome in which older adults show high levels of anxiety, agitation, general activity and delirium in late afternoon and evening, before they would normally go to bed.