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Decline in long-term circadian rest-activity cycle organization in a patient with dementia
Esther Werth1, Egemen Savaskan, Vera Knoblauch
1Centre for Chronobiology and Alzheimer's Research Group, Psychiatric University Clinic Basel, Switzerland.
Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
|April 9, 2002
Abstract:
Continuous measurement of the circadian rest-activity cycle for 598 days in a demented patient with probable Alzheimer's disease revealed slow progressive changes in temporal organization until death. Circadian and sleep analysis of the actigraphic data provided objective documentation of the gradual insertion of wakefulness into rest and rest into wake periods. Pacing, a nonphotic zeitgeber strengthening, led to improved synchronization of the rest-activity cycle.