Alzheimer’s Symptoms Can Worsen Depending on The Time of Year

Seasons can play a huge factor in most anyone’s mood. Rain, snow and sunshine can alter your day in a good or bad way. A recent study showed that those who suffer from cognitive deficits, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s can be greatly affected by the time of year.

A 2018 research study done on over 3,300 Alzheimer’s patients in the U.S., Canada and France found that their cognitive ability -or their thinking ability- changes based on the season. Cognition was higher in the fall and summer and lower in the spring and winter. The study also found that there was a 30% higher chance of being diagnosed with a condition called mild cognitive impairment, which can often turn into dementia, in the spring and winter. So why is this?

Daylight plays a huge role in why this happens. When daylight savings ends in November that means shorter days and longer nights. This can make what’s called sundowning worse for Alzheimer’s patients. Sundowning includes an assortment of symptoms such as anger, aggression and irritation that happen at the end of the day when the sun goes down. So when the sun’s going down earlier, these symptoms arise earlier and can last longer.

Less daylight and changes in weather can sometimes lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression. Winter brings snow and spring brings rain so gloomy cold days mixed with less sunlight can cause anyone to feel down. Alzheimer patients are even more at risk for this because of the nature of the disease.

Other reasons why weather and the time of year can affect Alzheimer patients include altering their sleep schedules. Shorter days can cause Alzheimer’s patients to become confused as to when they are and are not supposed to sleep. Darkness can also cause increased visual problems for patients as well.

The study showed that these seasonal differences in Alzheimer’s patients remained even when taking into account other factors such as, depression, physical activity, sleep, etc.

There are ways to cope with these seasonal issues in Alzheimer’s patients. In most areas winter and early spring often mean colder temperatures. Therefore, the best way to fix this issue is to keep their living space at a decent temperature- not too hot and not too cold. Other ways to keep warm include heated blankets, draught-proofing and staying indoors when it’s below freezing.

It’s also important to try and prevent SAD. There are several ways to try and boost serotonin levels during the harsh winter months. Light therapy can be very beneficial. These special lamps are about 20 times brighter than any regular light therefore they mimic the effect of sunlight.

Regular exercise can also be extremely helpful. Not only is physical activity good for patients, but daylight improves their mood as well. Sunlight provides Vitamin D which is proven to boost serotonin. Just make sure it’s not too cold and bundle up accordingly.

Another good coping mechanism is social interaction. Engaging with others is very important for anyone but especially Alzheimer’s patients. It’s a healthy way to exercise a patient’s brain and can even slow symptoms such as memory loss.

Even though Alzheimer’s symptoms can worsen in the spring and winter, there could be some benefit to this find. Increasing the number of resources for treating the disease in those harder seasons could end up improving the overall treatment of the disease. This study also helps caregivers prepare for these symptoms to better care for their patients.

Sources:

Alzheimer’s study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6122787/

https://dementia.livebetterwith.com/blogs/advice/why-winter-can-make-dementia-symptoms-worse

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/cold-weather-is-treacherous-when-you-have-alzheimers-5-ways-to-keep-loved-ones-safe/

Visiting Your Aging Parent With Memory Loss at Avalon Memory Care 01/02/2018
As a loving son or daughter, you naturally want the best of care for your senior parent. The compassionate assisted living caregivers at Avalon Memory Care want you to know that while your parent is living with us, he or she will receive nothing less than respectful, loving care within our comfortable, safe, and fully-staffed
Celebrating New Year’s Day in Memory Care 01/10/2018
Families often find that celebrations with their loved ones in memory care are easier when they embrace new traditions. For instance, it may not be practical to expect your loved one to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve. Instead, consider throwing a New Year’s Day celebration, complete with a countdown to the first
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia 01/17/2018
Parkinson’s disease is an incurable neurological disorder, with progressively worsening complications. Perhaps the most well-known symptom of Parkinson’s is a hand tremor, but it can also cause speech changes, muscle rigidity, and impaired posture. Eventually, as the disease progresses, more than half of all individuals with Parkinson’s will require dementia care. This particular type of

Testimonials

“Since my mother has lived at Avalon, I have had peace of mind for the first time since Alzheimer’s began to exact its terrible price from my mother’s life. Thank you for your part in making our lives better.”

Daughter | Ft. Worth, TX

“I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the care and love afforded to my mom over the last two weeks. Your success in finding such quality people has my gratitude and respect.”

Daughter | Dallas, TX

“We are very pleased with all of the efforts that your caring staff has made to smooth this traumatic transition.”

Son | Plano, TX

“I know my husband had the very best care in his final days. I regret that I did not know about Avalon sooner.”

Wife | Dallas, TX

“Mom spent the final 8 months of her life in Avalon Memory Care in Allen. The staff was great. There was rarely a day that my brother or I did not come by and they were always friendly to us and did their best to make mom comfortable and happy. We really appreciated them for everything they did.”

Daughter | Allen, TX

“Making the decision to place my mother in residential memory care was the hardest thing I think I have ever done. But living at Avalon has been the best thing for her at this stage of her life.”

Daughter | Allen, TX

“My grandmother has lived at Avalon Memory Care for 6 months now. I cannot speak highly enough about the warmth, dedication, and caring compassion of the staff. They always make us feel welcome and go out of their way to work with us to accommodate grandma’s needs.”

Grandson | Arlington, TX

“My grandmother spent her final days at Avalon and we couldn’t have asked for a better place to care for her. The caregivers are attentive and kind, and many of them have been with Avalon for years. If you are looking for a place to love on you and your family in a season that is inevitably difficult, Avalon is a wonderful choice.”

Granddaughter | Arlington, TX

“We are delighted with the facility of Avalon Memory Care. We just placed Grandma in an apartment with them and couldn’t be happier. It is clean and well-lit, and everyone greets us, down to the folks who clean up.”

Granddaughter | Arlington, TX