Caregivers of People With Dementia Are Losing Sleep

A study in JAMA Network Open found caregivers of people with dementia lose between 2.5 to 3.5 hours of sleep each week due to difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, reports EurekAlert . The researchers reviewed 35 studies with data from 3,268 caregivers. "Losing 3.5 hours of sleep weekly on top of all the stress, grief, and sadness can have a really strong impact on caregivers' cognition and mental and physical health," said Baylor University's Chenlu Gao. "But improving caregivers' sleep quality through low-cost behavioral interventions can significantly improve their functions and quality of life." The researchers noted nighttime awakenings by a person with dementia also can exacerbate disturbed sleep in caregivers. "With that extra bit of sleep loss every night, maybe a caregiver now forgets some medication doses or reacts more emotionally than he or she otherwise would," said Baylor Professor Michael Scullin. Improved sleep was seen in caregivers after such simple behaviors as getting more morning sunlight, establishing a regular and relaxing bedtime routine, and participating in moderate physical exercise. "Given the long-term, potentially cumulative health consequences of poor-quality sleep, as well as the rising need for dementia caregivers worldwide, clinicians should consider sleep interventions not only for the patient but also for the spouse, child, or friend who will be providing care," Gao recommended.