The American Journal of Psychiatry
Journal Home Search Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe All APPI Journals Help Contact Us
 
Quicksearch
Advanced Search
Or Search All APPI Journals
This Article
* Full Text
* Full Text (PDF)
* Alert me when this article is cited
* Alert me if a correction is posted
* Citation Map
Services
* Email this article to a Colleague
* Similar articles in this journal
* Similar articles in PubMed
* Alert me to new issues of the journal
* Add to My Articles & Searches
* Download to citation manager
* reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
* Citing Articles via HighWire
* Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
* Articles by Volicer, L.
* Articles by Satlin, A.
* Search for Related Content
PubMed
* PubMed Citation
* Articles by Volicer, L.
* Articles by Satlin, A.
Related Collections
* Alzheimer's Disease
Am J Psychiatry 158:704-711, May 2001
© 2001 American Psychiatric Association


Article

Sundowning and Circadian Rhythms in Alzheimer’s Disease

Ladislav Volicer, M.D., Ph.D., David G. Harper, Ph.D., Barbara C. Manning, M.Ed., Rachel Goldstein, B.S., and Andrew Satlin, M.D.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine changes of circadian rhythms induced by Alzheimer’s disease and to explore relationships among rhythm disturbances, sundowning, and sleep disturbances in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. "Sundowning" is the occurrence or exacerbation of behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in the afternoon and evening. METHOD: Circadian rhythms of core body temperature and motor activity were measured in 25 patients with diagnoses of probable Alzheimer’s disease and in nine healthy individuals. The subjects with Alzheimer’s disease were divided according to the occurrence of sundowning as determined by staff reports. RESULTS: The subjects with Alzheimer’s disease had less diurnal motor activity, a higher percentage of nocturnal activity, lower interdaily stability of motor activity, and a later activity acrophase (time of peak) than did the healthy individuals. They also had a higher mesor (fitted mean) temperature, higher amplitude of the fitted cosine temperature curve, and later temperature acrophase than did the healthy subjects. The severity of sundowning was associated with later acrophase of temperature, less correlation of circadian temperature rhythm with a 24-hour cycle, and lower amplitude of temperature curve. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that Alzheimer’s disease causes disturbances of circadian rhythms and that sundowning is related to a phase delay of body temperature caused by Alzheimer’s disease.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
BrainHome page
D. G. Harper, E. G. Stopa, V. Kuo-Leblanc, A. C. McKee, K. Asayama, L. Volicer, N. Kowall, and A. Satlin
Dorsomedial SCN neuronal subpopulations subserve different functions in human dementia
Brain, June 1, 2008; 131(6): 1609 - 1617.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Age AgeingHome page
A. Bouwen, J. De Lepeleire, and F. Buntinx
Rate of accidental falls in institutionalised older people with and without cognitive impairment halved as a result of a staff-oriented intervention
Age Ageing, May 1, 2008; 37(3): 306 - 310.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
S. Huitron-Resendiz, M. C. G. Marcondes, C. T. Flynn, C. M. S. Lanigan, and H. S. Fox
Effects of simian immunodeficiency virus on the circadian rhythms of body temperature and gross locomotor activity
PNAS, September 18, 2007; 104(38): 15138 - 15143.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
AJGPHome page
J. H. Lee, D. L. Bliwise, F. P. Ansari, F. C. Goldstein, J. S. Cellar, J. J. Lah, and A. I. Levey
Daytime Sleepiness and Functional Impairment in Alzheimer Disease
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, July 1, 2007; 15(7): 620 - 626.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
AJGPHome page
J. Cohen-Mansfield
Temporal Patterns of Agitation in Dementia
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, May 1, 2007; 15(5): 395 - 405.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Lighting Research and TechnologyHome page
J M Torrington and P R Tregenza
Lighting for people with dementia
Lighting Research and Technology, March 1, 2007; 39(1): 81 - 97.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
AJGPHome page
S. S. Carvalho-Bos, R. F. Riemersma-van der Lek, J. Waterhouse, T. Reilly, and E. J. W. Van Someren
Strong Association of the Rest-Activity Rhythm With Well-Being in Demented Elderly Women
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, February 1, 2007; 15(2): 92 - 100.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
J. O. Brooks III and J. C. Hoblyn
Secondary Mania in Older Adults
Am J Psychiatry, November 1, 2005; 162(11): 2033 - 2038.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
AJGPHome page
D. G. Harper, L. Volicer, E. G. Stopa, A. C. McKee, M. Nitta, and A. Satlin
Disturbance of Endogenous Circadian Rhythm in Aging and Alzheimer Disease
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, May 1, 2005; 13(5): 359 - 368.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci.Home page
L. Volicer and A. C. Hurley
Review Article: Management of Behavioral Symptoms in Progressive Degenerative Dementias
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., September 1, 2003; 58(9): M837 - 845.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
AJGPHome page
S. Ancoli-Israel, J. L. Martin, P. Gehrman, T. Shochat, J. Corey-Bloom, M. Marler, S. Nolan, and L. Levi
Effect of Light on Agitation in Institutionalized Patients With Severe Alzheimer Disease
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, April 1, 2003; 11(2): 194 - 203.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2001 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us

American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825, Arlington, VA 22209-3901 * 800-368-5777 * appi at psych.org