![]() Melatonin and ramelteon did not significantly help to improve sleep in people with dementia. Four common medications were included in the studies-the hormone melatonin (five trials), the antidepressant trazodone (one trial), the hypnotic orexin antagonist (one trial), and the sedative ramelteon (one trial). Unfortunately, there does not seem to be an easy sleep solution. Participants were given commonly prescribed sleep medications. The authors of a systematic reviewhoped to learn more about which medications work best to help people with Alzheimer’s disease and sleep disturbances (3). There are also concerns about harmful side effects (4). While prescription sleeping pills and over-the-counter sleep aids can help people with sleep problems, it’s not clear whether they work the same way in people with dementia. It’s a distressing problem that can affect the quality of life of people with dementia as well as their caregivers. Wakeful nights are usually followed by excessive sleepiness during the day (3). ![]() As a result, people with dementia often have trouble falling or staying asleep at night, wake early or frequently, and often wander at night, risking falls and other injuries. Sleep problems may be related to changes in the brain that affect the “circadian rhythm” or body clock (3). Why is that? As with many aspects of dementia, we don’t yet know. Sleep: a basic human need, yet so often a source of frustration.įrom occasional bouts of restlessness to chronic insomnia, sleep problems can affect anyone at any age but they’re particularly common – and difficult to resolve – in people with dementia (1 2).
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