Is excessive daytime sleep a common symptom of dementia?

A person with dementia frequently spends a lot of time sleeping, both during the day and at night, especially in the latter stages. For the person's relatives and friends, this might occasionally be upsetting because they could be concerned that something is wrong.

The tendency to sleep more and more is a common sign of advanced dementia. A person's brain suffers more extensive damage as the condition worsens, and they progressively deteriorate and become frailer.

As a result, dementia sufferers may discover that performing very straightforward actions like eating, conversing, or attempting to grasp what is going on around them is quite demanding. As a result, if their symptoms worsen, they may sleep more during the day.

Sleepiness may be exacerbated by some drugs. Certain antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and obviously sleeping drugs are among them.

Sleeping longer can also be influenced by sleep disorders unrelated to dementia, such as breathing irregularities during sleep (apnoea).

What should I do if a person with dementia is sleeping a lot?

The person's dementia is likely to be increasing if they are in the later stages and have gradually started sleeping more and more.

If, however, the excessive napping has started more recently or the person doesn't appear to be feeling well overall, there may be another reason.

If so, you should consult a doctor to rule out any illnesses or ailments that might be impairing the person's ability to sleep. Since that medications can have a variety of side effects, it may also be worthwhile to request a medication review from the GP or to consult a pharmacist.

Sleeping more during the day is typically not cause for concern, so long as the person doesn't appear to be in pain or distressed.

But, if a person spends the majority of their time lying down in bed asleep, they will need to be monitored to ensure they don't develop any physical health issues. In a care facility or hospice, this kind of care is typically provided by a health or social care professional. But, if the person is still residing at home, it is crucial to seek guidance on the appropriate course of action from your doctor or nurse.

Why is sleep impacted by dementia?

People with dementia frequently experience sleep issues. They may consist of:

• sleeping during the day and being awake and restless during the night 
• becoming disorientated in the dark if they wake up to use the toilet 
• waking up more often and staying awake longer during the night 
• getting up in the early hours and thinking it’s day time or time to go to work (disorientation in time) 
• not being able to tell the difference between night and day. 

Nobody fully comprehends why dementia alters sleep habits. Some people may experience sleepiness at the wrong time of day because their internal "biological clock," which determines what time it is, is damaged.

However, other brain regions that regulate our ability to stay awake might also sustain injury and cease to function effectively.

Dementia patients can experience a complete reversal of their typical sleep cycle, staying up all night and then sleeping all day.

Does quality of sleep matter for people with dementia? 

The quality of a person's sleep gradually deteriorates as they get older. They tend to get less deep or ‘slow-wave’ sleep, which helps to keep the brain healthy and refreshed. 

Even though a person with dementia may end up sleeping more than a typical person of their age – even as much as 14–15 hours a day – it is unlikely to all be good quality sleep. 

Sleeping a lot can also be influenced by people’s sleeping patterns before they had dementia, as some people need more sleep than others.

Sleep for people who have dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease 

Your sleep may be impacted by the type of dementia you have.

Individuals with Lewy body dementia, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), are frequently lethargic during the day but have very restless and disruptive nights. Confusion, nightmares, and hallucinations are all possible for them. Common symptoms include insomnia, sleep apnea (difficulties breathing while asleep), and restless legs.

Certain types of dementia frequently cause a person to inadvertently "play out" their dreams by shouting and moving around in bed.

Even worse, they might hurt their sleeping companion or themselves. This is known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder, or RBD, and it typically starts to occur in the early stages of the illness.

This can be exhausting and often leaves the person feeling like they haven’t slept at all, so they are very tired and sleepy during the day.

It can be hard to stay awake during the day after a poor night’s sleep but, if possible, it’s best to try to limit sleep during the day to small bursts or ‘catnaps’. Otherwise the person’s body clock can become very confused and this makes sleeping well during the night even harder.