I am tired of the term 'sundowners' and suggestions of lighting and scheduling. Habits are developed by learning, or appeal. They must find something appealing about staying up all night, in the early stages of dementia. What are the fears then of the daytime hours? My mother knows who the family is and the difference between night and day, although "I had no idea it was so late!" is a common statement. Yet she continues to sleep from dawn until dusk, after piddling around the kitchen. We have gone on trips, and managed to "reschedule" her routine fairly easily, for that period. She will go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up with the rest of us. Upon coming home, however it isn't long before she reverts back to staying up all night. There has to be something other than a screwed up internal clock, or confusing night and day. Certainly someone can postulate as to "why" and not just tell this is part and parcel of dementia/Alzheimers, and leave it at that.
melatonin secretion by the pineal gland (or taken as a supplement)
core body temperature (night setback thermostats help)
plasma level of cortisol (helps raise blood sugar levels during stress).
Ambient light is also a factor, and modern living with electric lighting has a way of throwing off the rhythms too.
Instead of trying to figure out what's "wrong" with someone else, let's put ourselves in his/her shoes; and take it from there.
About the night awakenings, I went through it for a year with my Mom. I cut her door in half and locked the outer side. She would rest her arms on it saying "hi? hi? helllllllo?" all night long but was safe. I could only put a few things in her closet and drawers to play with or everything would be on the floor. Finally I took her and the neuro gave her depakote sprinkles rx to calm her brain at night, worked like a charm. good luck everyone, this stage does pass.
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