Scott Robarge is the founder of Another8, a technology and sales focused recruiting firm with a customer base primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Boulder/Denver area . When he is not focusing on growing his recruiting firm, Scott Robarge supports the Alzheimer’s Association.
Many symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, such as confusion and memory loss, can be magnified by unwanted changes in sleeping patterns. Difficulty sleeping and frequent instances of waking up during the middle of the night are common in Alzheimer’s patients, as are unexpected midday naps. The exact causes for these sleep-pattern disturbances are unknown, though some may be linked to side effects of the disease, such as depression.
While Alzheimer’s itself is best treated with drugs, there are a few non-pharmaceutical approaches that can be taken to mitigate sleep loss. Committing to a fixed sleeping schedule is an obvious step to take, but a regular pattern of meals is also essential. Exposure to early-morning sunlight is a good way to signal to the brain that the day has begun and prevent daytime sleeping. Finally, individuals who are dealing with severe sleep issues should avoid watching television and other sedentary pastimes enjoying a period of wakefulness.
