Step 1 : Introduction to the question "What is 'sundowning', a behavior often seen in dementia patients?"
...Sundowning is the term for the increase in confusion and restlessness that occurs in dementia patients as the day wears on. Many dementia patients' symptoms are barely noticeable in the mornings but become worse as the day goes on. Wandering away from the home at night can become a real problem. There is usually no fear of the dark, and loss of appetite usually lasts all day. Most violent behaviors, if and when they appear, occur in the evening and night hours. Disruption of the circadian rhythm is believed to be a factor, but for the most part, dementia is a poorly understood disorder despite its increasing prevalence.
