With the arrival of winter and the onset of daylight saving time, we all feel the shortening of the days and the decrease in daylight hours. We can cope with it somehow, but for people dealing with dementia or Alzheimer's, these are not just seasonal changes.
This is a period in which the symptoms of the disease may increase, sometimes to the point of a sharp change in behavior, sleep, and orientation.
No less importantly, seasonal changes can also be the first sign of dementia, so winter, despite the short days, is actually a good time to seek early diagnosis and testing in cases of concern about the development of the phenomenon.
Daylight saving time disrupts the biological clock for all of us, but for people with cognitive decline the effect is particularly pronounced. The rapid transition to darkness causes some to think it's time to sleep, to nap at inappropriate times, and to wake up too early.
In addition, many people experience "sundowning," a phenomenon of confusion, restlessness, and anxious behavior in the evening. There is a solution to this: To reduce this, it is recommended to close the blinds early, turn on bright lights, and create a calm atmosphere, possibly with familiar music or familiar family members.
Winter also brings with it the cold, perhaps this year we feel it less so far, but it will come. And the cold holds great danger for those who don't feel it.
In winter, the thermoregulatory mechanism may be impaired. People with dementia and Alzheimer's often do not feel the cold, leave the house in inappropriate clothing, have difficulty understanding the need to dress differently or dry off from the rain, and worst of all, they are often unable to express or define distress.
This increases the risk of hypothermia, pneumonia, and falls. Therefore, it is important to maintain a constant temperature in the home (22–24°), immediately change wet clothing, and avoid dangerous heating methods.
The key to preventing deterioration in patients, experts explain, lies in employment. Confinement at home causes boredom and a decline in functioning. Simple, regular activity can maintain vitality. It can be any easy and comfortable occupation that suits the person who needs it, and helps them maintain vitality as much as they can. It can be board games, sorting objects, coloring, and the like, in comfortable conditions and for a period of time that is not too long.
But above all, it is most important to pay attention to the warning signs, so that you and your loved ones can seek testing and diagnosis, which allows for early and preventive treatment. If new confusion, unusual sleepiness, persistent tremors, falls, or difficulty in orientation appear, it is time to seek diagnosis. And the sooner, the better.
Today, there are innovative treatments that can significantly delay the development of the disease and its associated symptoms, so early diagnosis is critical in significantly improving the quality of life in old age.
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