Dementia causes changes in the brain that can worsen sleep. Someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia can experience frequent waking, troubled sleep, or being awake at night. Dementia worsens sleep and poor sleep worsens dementia. A good night’s sleep slows cognitive decline, prevents falls and injuries, improves mood, and helps balance the sleep-wake cycle. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, nearly 7 out of 10 people with dementia experience sleep issues. It’s a vicious cycle: dementia worsens sleep and poor sleep worsens dementia. Scientific research has shown several ways to mitigate this harmful cycle.
