Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Effect of caffeine on sleep and behaviour in nursing home residents with dementia
L M M de Pooter-Stijnman1, S Vrijkotte2,3,4, M Smalbrugge5
1Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, VUmc/Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. l.stijnman@vumc.nl.
Background And Goal:
Sleep problems and challenging behavioural symptoms are frequently reported among nursing home residents with dementia. Coffee with caffeine is consumed frequently by these residents and can have a negative effect on sleep and behaviour in older persons with dementia. In this interventional study, the effect of caffeine reduction on sleep and challenging behavioural symptoms in nursing home residents with dementia was investigated.
Methods:
In 21 nursing home residents with dementia living in 1 dementia special care unit, caffeine was gradually eliminated in the afternoon and evening. During pre-intervention and post-intervention period the care workers daily scored sleep by a specially developed sleep questionnaire. Behavioural symptoms were scored in the afternoon and evening using four items of the NPI-NH: agitation/aggression, apathy, irritability and aberrant motor behaviour.
Results:
A significant improvement in sleep scores (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p = 0.015) and apathy (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p = 0.020) was found after eliminating caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening. No significant changes occurred in agitation/aggression, irritability and aberrant motor behaviour.
Discussion:
This pre-post pilot study found a significant positive effect of caffeine reduction on sleep and apathy and warrants further investigation in a larger controlled study.
Related Concept Videos
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Stages of Sleep
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Noncompartmental Analysis: Mean Residence Time
After the administration of a drug through intravenous bolus injection, the drug molecules are distributed throughout the body and remain there for varying periods. The MRT represents the average time these drug molecules stay in the...

