Clock change 'disorientating' for people with dementia - charity

Clocks are set to go back on Sunday

A charity supporting those with dementia says the upcoming clock change could be unsettling for them.

Alzheimer's Society says the clocks moving back, which will take place over the weekend, could be "disorientating".

People with dementia may find it difficult to adapt their sleep patterns as winter mornings become darker.

It could also take longer to regulate their circadian biological clock, compared to those without the condition.

As days get shorter, some people with dementia may also experience "sundowning", which is a change in behaviour in the later afternoon.

During this time, a person may become very distressed or confused.

Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia and one of the most diagnosed forms.

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Symptoms of dementia include problems with memory loss, thinking speed and mental sharpness and quickness.

Those with the disease can find it hard to speak properly and have problems with mood and judgement in certain situations.

Research shows more than 944,000 people in the UK have dementia, with numbers rising because people are living longer.

It is estimated that by 2030 there will be more than one million people with the condition in the UK.

Top tips for carers

The charity says there are steps those caring for people with the condition can take to minimise disruption to their daily routines:

• Keeping to a routine during the day and at bedtime can regulate a disrupted body clock. This could include keeping meal and exercise times the same each day.

• Going outside in the morning as this can help to set a person's body clock and can make them sleepier in the evening. This effect can also be created by using a light box.

• Avoiding sleep disrupters during the day such as caffeine and napping.

Dr Tim Beanland from Alzheimer's Society says that for most of us, the clocks going back "is met with a light-hearted shrug" and just requires making a mental note to change all your clocks at home.

But for people with dementia, he says it can "trigger anxiety, confusion and irritability".