Surprising Reason Why Dementia Gets Worse In the Evening

Have you noticed your loved one with dementia seems like a completely different person every evening? The confusion, the agitation, the restlessness — and then the nights when they're up convinced it's morning — it's exhausting in a way that's hard to put into words. It is not something you caused or something you missed. New research published in December 2025 finally gives us a neurological explanation for why dementia gets worse in the evening, and it has nothing to do with what you are doing. In this episode I walk you through what the science reveals, what actually helps, and what tends to make it harder.

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⏱ CHAPTERS 

0:00 - What evenings look like for many dementia caregivers

1:45 - What sundowning actually is

3:18 - New brain research: what's happening inside the brain

5:22 - 5 things that can help

8:11 - What tends to make it harder

#dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver

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Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.