Does Alzheimer's Patients Sleep a Lot?

Yes, many people with Alzheimer’s sleep a lot, and the question ‘does alzheimer’s patients sleep a lot?’ often comes up as the disease progresses.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can make you watch every nap, every early bedtime, and every long morning in bed. Extra sleep can feel scary, as if it means the disease has suddenly worsened. At the same time, many carers already feel worn out from broken nights and worry that something else might be wrong.

The short answer is that extra sleep is common with Alzheimer’s, but the pattern and meaning depend on stage, overall health, medicines, and daily routine. This article explains how sleep usually changes, when long sleep is expected, when it points to another medical problem, and practical steps that can make nights calmer for both the person and the carer.

Does Alzheimer’s Patients Sleep A Lot? Common Patterns

Research shows that sleep problems affect a large share of people with Alzheimer’s. Studies report that roughly one quarter to more than half of people living with Alzheimer’s have disturbed sleep or changes in their usual sleep–wake cycle. Many describe fragmented nights, more daytime naps, and sometimes long periods of drowsiness across the whole day.

In mild stages, the person may still sleep roughly the same number of hours as before, yet wake more often and feel tired in the daytime. In moderate stages, nights can be restless while days become packed with naps. In severe stages, long stretches of sleep, reduced activity, and weaker muscles often go together.

To give a clear picture, the table below groups common patterns by stage. Every person is different, yet many carers recognise at least part of this chart.

Typical Sleep Changes By Stage Of Alzheimer’s

Stage	Typical Sleep Pattern	What Carers Often See
Early / Mild	Usual total sleep time, but more night waking	Restless nights, more snoring or bathroom trips, daytime yawning
Moderate	Short, broken night sleep with long daytime naps	Dozing in the chair, nodding off after meals, harder to stay awake in conversations
Moderate With Sundowning	Agitation late afternoon, wide awake late at night, sleepy in the morning	Pacing or calling out in the evening, then sleeping late into the day
Severe	Longer total sleep across 24 hours, less time fully alert	Many hours in bed, eyes closed or half open, short moments of awareness
After Acute Illness	Marked increase in sleep for days or weeks	Very long naps after infections, hospital stays, or surgery
Medication Related	Drowsiness soon after new drug or dose change	Heavier sleep after painkillers, sedatives, or some mood medicines
Other Sleep Disorders	Snoring, pauses in breathing, jerky legs, or acting out dreams	Loud snoring, gasping, kicking in sleep, or sudden shouting in the night

So, does alzheimer’s patients sleep a lot? In many cases the person spends more hours asleep or half asleep, yet the sleep itself is less refreshing. Brain changes alter the body clock, so the normal pattern of being awake in the day and asleep at night can fade, especially in later stages.

Why Alzheimer’s Can Lead To So Much Sleep

People often link Alzheimer’s only with memory, yet the disease affects many parts of the brain, including areas that handle sleep and wakefulness. The more damage in those regions, the harder it is for the brain to keep a steady rhythm through the day and night.

Brain Changes And The Body Clock

Inside the brain, a small region called the suprachiasmatic nucleus acts like a timing centre, using light cues and hormones to tell the body when to feel sleepy or awake. Alzheimer’s pathology can disrupt this centre and the wider circuits that carry timing signals. Studies of brain waves in people with Alzheimer’s show shorter deep sleep, less dreaming sleep, and more time awake at night compared with older adults without dementia.

When night sleep becomes shallow and broken, the person often tries to “catch up” by napping again and again during the day. Over time, naps stretch longer, and the line between day and night gets blurred. From the outside it looks like the person sleeps a lot, yet the quality of that sleep is poor.

Fatigue From Daily Effort

Everyday tasks that once felt automatic can turn into a huge effort with Alzheimer’s. Dressing, eating, following a short chat, or staying steady while walking all use far more brain energy than before. That extra load can make the person feel worn out even after simple activities.

Carers often notice that after a medical visit, a family gathering, or a small trip outside, the person with Alzheimer’s may sleep for hours. It is similar to how a healthy person might crash after an intense mental day, only here the bar for “intense” has dropped a great deal.

Alzheimer’s Patients Sleeping A Lot During The Day: Common Reasons

Many carers say the person they look after “sleeps all day” but then stays awake or restless at night. Daytime sleepiness can link to broken night sleep, but other factors play a part too. Guidance from the National Institute on Aging notes that people with Alzheimer’s may sleep too much or too little, wake often, or nap many times in the day. National Institute on Aging guidance explains that these patterns are common as the disease progresses.

Sundowning is another piece of the puzzle. Many people with Alzheimer’s feel more confused or agitated in the late afternoon and evening. That can lead to pacing or calling out at night and then long sleep the next morning. The Alzheimer’s Association describes sundowning as increased confusion and restlessness from dusk through the night, often linked to changes in brain function and light cues. Alzheimer’s Association sundowning information outlines these changes in more detail.

Illness, boredom, and low stimulation also feed into daytime napping. If the person has little to do, few visitors, and no daylight walks, naps tend to stretch longer. Gentle structure, such as regular mealtimes, short walks, and simple tasks, can keep the person engaged enough to save more sleep for the night.

Families often ask again at this point: does alzheimer’s patients sleep a lot? For many, the honest answer is yes, especially later in the disease, but the reasons mix brain changes with medical issues, medicines, and daily routine. Looking at the whole picture helps you decide what can change and what simply reflects the stage of illness.

When Sleeping A Lot Should Trigger A Call To The Doctor

Extra sleep in Alzheimer’s is common, yet some patterns need quick medical review. Sudden changes can signal infection, stroke, worsening heart or lung disease, side effects of new medicines, or another sleep disorder that is treatable on its own.

The table below lists sleep changes that deserve prompt attention, along with the type of concern they may point to and the first person to contact.

Sleep Changes To Treat As Warning Signs

Change In Sleep	Possible Concern	Who To Contact First
Sudden need to sleep most of the day over 1–2 days	Infection, dehydration, stroke, medicine side effect	Family doctor, memory clinic, or urgent care line
Very hard to wake, slurred speech, new weakness	Stroke or serious illness	Emergency services
Loud snoring with pauses in breathing	Possible sleep apnoea	Doctor or sleep clinic
Acting out dreams, punching or kicking in sleep	REM sleep behaviour disorder, safety risk	Doctor or neurologist
New sleepiness soon after a medicine change	Drug interaction or dose too strong	Prescribing clinician or pharmacist
Very short sleep at night with growing confusion in the day	Unmet pain, mood problem, or unmet basic needs	Doctor or memory team
Falling out of bed, repeated injuries during the night	Safety hazard needing urgent changes	Doctor and, if needed, emergency services

Carers should trust their instincts. If the person “just seems off”, eats and drinks less, or breathes differently while sleeping, that is enough reason to phone a doctor or nurse for advice. Extra sleep linked to fever, chest pain, new confusion, or sudden decline always needs quick medical review.

It also helps to keep a simple sleep diary for a week or two. Note when the person falls asleep, how often they wake in the night, and how alert they seem in the morning. Sharing this with the doctor gives a clearer picture than trying to recall a tiring week from memory.

Ways To Help An Alzheimer’s Patient Sleep Better

Although you cannot fully control sleep in Alzheimer’s, small daily habits can make a real difference. The goal is not perfect sleep, but safer, calmer nights and a pattern that works as well as possible for both of you.

Daytime Habits That Set Up Better Nights

Daylight is one of the strongest tools for the body’s timing centre. A short outdoor walk in the morning or early afternoon, even on a cloudy day, gives a clear light signal that it is daytime. Opening curtains wide, sitting near a bright window, or using a bright lamp at breakfast can help when going outside is hard.

Regular movement also promotes better night sleep. Simple chair exercises, short walks down the hall, light gardening, or gentle stretches can all help. Long naps late in the afternoon work against night sleep, so try to keep any late-day rest short, such as 20–30 minutes.

Evening Routine And Bedroom Setup

A steady evening routine can ease the transition to bedtime. Many carers find that a pattern such as a warm drink without caffeine, a favourite calm TV show or music, toileting, then bed at roughly the same time each night helps reduce restlessness.

In the bedroom, aim for a quiet, simple space with a comfortable mattress, enough but not too many blankets, and a small night light to cut down on shadows. Strong light from screens close to bedtime can confuse the body clock, so it helps to keep phones and tablets away from the bed.

Safety matters as much as sleep itself. Clear the path to the bathroom, remove loose rugs, and think about bed rails or a lower bed if the person tends to wander or fall. A motion sensor light in the hall can reduce confusion if they wake up and try to walk in the dark.

Food, Drink, And Medicines Around Bedtime

Caffeine from tea, coffee, cola, and chocolate can hang around in the body for many hours. Limiting these after lunchtime can reduce night waking. Heavy evening meals may lead to indigestion at night, so a lighter evening meal with a small snack later often works better.

Too little fluid in the day can bring headaches, low blood pressure, and more daytime fatigue, while too much drink close to bedtime can mean frequent toilet trips. Spreading drinks through the day and easing off in the last couple of hours before bed usually strikes a practical balance.

Any sleep medicine in Alzheimer’s needs careful handling. Many sedatives increase fall risk, worsen confusion, and may not improve deep sleep in the long run. If a doctor suggests a sleep drug, carers can ask about non-drug steps first, the planned length of use, and how to watch for side effects. Guidance from trusted bodies such as the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer’s Association stresses non-drug steps as the first line whenever possible.

Caring For Yourself While You Care For Them

Broken sleep can drain carers even faster than the person with Alzheimer’s. Many carers feel guilty if they nap when the person naps, yet shared rest can sometimes keep both going. Taking turns with another family member overnight, even one or two nights a week, can lighten the load.

Short breaks matter. A brief walk outside while a trusted friend sits with the person, or a regular visit from a day service, can give you a chance to rest or catch up on your own sleep. Local dementia charities, memory clinics, and carer organisations often know about respite options near you.

Carers sometimes wait until they feel close to collapse before asking for help. It is far healthier to talk with health professionals early about sleep troubles, both for the person with Alzheimer’s and for you. Honest conversations about safety, night-time wandering, or constant broken sleep can guide decisions about extra help at home or a move to a setting with overnight staff.

Balancing Rest And Quality Of Life

Does Alzheimer’s patients sleep a lot? Many do, especially as the disease moves into later stages, yet that extra sleep sits within a wide picture of brain changes, other illnesses, medicines, and daily routine. Understanding this picture can ease fear and help you pick changes that truly help.

No single schedule fits every person with Alzheimer’s. Over time you and the care team will learn which steps matter most: maybe a bright morning walk, maybe a calmer evening, maybe a medicine change, or sometimes simple acceptance that more sleep is the body’s way of coping. By watching patterns, asking questions, and adjusting gradually, you give both the person you care for and yourself the best chance of calmer days and quieter nights.

This article offers general information only and does not replace medical care from qualified professionals who know the person and their full health history.

Does Alzheimer’s Patients Sleep a Lot? | Sleep Changes