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Is it typical for people with dementia to sleep a lot during the day?
People with dementia, especially those in the later stages, can often spend a lot of time sleeping. This can sometimes be worrying for carers, friends and family. Find out why a person with dementia might sleep more than an average person of their age.
It is quite common for a person with dementia, especially in the later stages, to spend a lot of their time sleeping – both during the day and night. This can sometimes be distressing for the person’s family and friends, as they may worry that something is wrong.
Sleeping more and more is a common feature of later-stage dementia. As the disease progresses, the damage to a person’s brain becomes more extensive and they gradually become weaker and frailer over time.
As a result, a person with dementia may find it quite exhausting to do relatively simple tasks like communicating, eating or trying to understand what is going on around them. This can make the person sleep more during the day as their symptoms become more severe.
Some medications may contribute to sleepiness. These include some antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihistamines and of course sleeping pills.
Sleeping disorders unrelated to dementia, such as having breathing that occasionally stops during sleep (known as ‘apnoea’), can also contribute to sleeping for longer.
What should I do if a person with dementia is sleeping a lot?
If the person is in the later stages of dementia and they have gradually started sleeping more and more, it is likely to be due to the dementia progressing.
However, if the excessive sleeping has started more suddenly, or the person doesn’t seem well in other ways, it may have another cause.
If this is the case you should speak to the GP, to rule out any infections or conditions that could be affecting the person's sleep. It may also be worth asking for a medication review with the GP or speaking to a pharmacist as medication can cause a range of side effects.
Providing the person doesn’t appear to be uncomfortable or distressed, then sleeping more during the day isn’t normally a reason to be worried.
However, if a person is lying down in bed and asleep for most of the time they will need to be looked after to make sure they don’t develop any physical health problems. This sort of care is normally done by a health or social care professional in a care home or hospice. If the person is still living at home though, then it’s important to get advice from your GP or nurse on how best to do this.
Why does dementia affect sleep?
Problems with sleep are very common for people with dementia. They can include:
- sleeping during the day and being awake and restless during the night
- becoming disorientated in the dark if they wake up to use the toilet
- waking up more often and staying awake longer during the night
- getting up in the early hours and thinking it’s day time or time to go to work (disorientation in time)
- not being able to tell the difference between night and day.
Nobody completely understands why dementia affects sleeping patterns. For some people, it may be that their internal ‘biological clock’, which judges what time it is, becomes damaged so the person starts to feel sleepy at the wrong time of day.
There are also other parts of the brain which control whether or not we stay awake, and these may also not work properly if they become damaged.
Sometimes a person with dementia might completely reverse their normal sleep pattern, staying up all night and then sleeping all day.
It's common for people with dementia, especially in the later stages, to spend a lot of their time sleeping
Does quality of sleep matter for people with dementia?
The quality of a person's sleep gradually deteriorates as they get older. They tend to get less deep or ‘slow-wave’ sleep, which helps to keep the brain healthy and refreshed.
Even though a person with dementia may end up sleeping more than a typical person of their age – even as much as 14–15 hours a day – it is unlikely to all be good quality sleep.
Sleeping a lot can also be influenced by people’s sleeping patterns before they had dementia, as some people need more sleep than others.
Sleep for people who have dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease
The type of dementia you have can affect your sleep.
People who have dementia caused by Lewy body disease, such as Parkinsons’ disease (PD) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are often sleepy by day but have very restless and disturbed nights. They can suffer from confusion, nightmares and hallucinations. Insomnia, sleep apnoea (breathing difficulties) and restless legs are common symptoms.
A person affected with these types of dementia may often unknowingly ‘act’ out their dreams by shouting and moving around in bed.
They can even cause injury to themselves and/or their sleeping partner. This is called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder or RBD, and tends to happen from the earliest stages of the disease onwards.
This can be exhausting and often leaves the person feeling like they haven’t slept at all, so they are very tired and sleepy during the day.
It can be hard to stay awake during the day after a poor night’s sleep but, if possible, it’s best to try to limit sleep during the day to small bursts or ‘catnaps’. Otherwise the person’s body clock can become very confused and this makes sleeping well during the night even harder.
Read more about sleep and dementia
Learn more about how dementia can affect sleeping patterns, as well as our tips for healthy sleep.
This article was first published in 2019. It was most recently updated on 29 January 2024.
Linda Hewson
saysMy main problem is trying to get my mum to drink. Most days I am lucky if I can get her to drink the equivalent of a pint. I have tried different forms of drinking vessels, different drinks etc. She has a sip and feels that she has had a lot. She also sits with fluid in her mouth and forgets to swallow. She has Alzheimer's. I have found all the posts about extra sleeping very handy. Thank you everyone.
Hi Linda, thanks for your comment - that can be quite a common problem.
Have you read our page on Eating and Drinking? https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/eating-drinking
There are also some tips on staying hydrated in our hot weather blog that are useful even when it's not so hot: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/alzheimers-society-blog/how-support-someb…
If you'd like any further advice or support, don't hesitate to contact our helpline. You can find their details here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/national-dementia-helpline
Hope this is helpful
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Alzheimer's Society blog team
Isabelle
saysThank you,you have made me feel a lot better,as my husband sleeps all the time. He has had Alzheimer’s for nearly 10 years now,but his symptoms are just as you describe. I have a wonderful family and we have coped well,but now is getting very difficult.Thankyou for your good advice.Isabelle.
Larkin Pfeffet
saysThanks so much for this information! My Mom has started sleeping a lot during the day after the caregivers go and doesn’t get up when I go to check on her. She also sleeps through dinner time and into the morning so she’s not eating but 2 meals a day and has lost weight. So altogether she is sleeping about 18 hours some days and I was concerned about this but this article has eased my mind somewhat.
Christina
saysThis information regarding sleep is very interesting and reassuring. My husband has Dementia with Lewy Bodies. After considerable attempts to help him with medicines to reduce night time psychosis and related terror his Consultant reluctantly prescribed a very low dose of an antipsychotic drug which, thankfully, suits him and monitoring over several months hasn't shown an adverse impact on white bold cells and other potentially harmful consequences. We both find that coping with all the effects on us of his illness is more tolerable if nights are reasonably calm. I'd encourage people with Lewy Body Dementia and their carers to persevere with the different drugs offered until the "right" one is found even though the process of having some poor reactions is awful at the time. It's eventually worth it to be able to gain some peaceful sleep.
James whiteside
saysMy wife has Dementia and the Local Mental health Team have been calling at our home, They have now discharged her and do not call at our home, I am left to care for her with no help from anyone.
Hi James, I'm sorry to hear about your wife. That sounds really difficult and I hope we're able to offer some support.
Did you know about our Helpline? You can call them on 0300 222 11 22, and they can provide you with any information, advice or support you might need. You can find details of the opening hours and other ways to contact the Helpline here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/national-dementia-helpline
It may also be worth looking to see if there are any services in your local area that can provide support. If you type your postcode into our directory you'll be able to see what's available: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you
Some people also find that talking to others in similar situations can be helpful or reassuring. Our online community, Talking Point, connects people affected by dementia. You can share your story or ask a question there anonymously, or just browse and read other people's experiences if you prefer: https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/
I hope this is helpful. If you have any questions or need more support please do get back in touch.
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Alzheimer's Society blog team
Val
saysExactly the same has happened to me.Having found my husband could not tolerate any of the medications given for Altzheimers the memory clinic discharged him and all we now have is our GP. if we can get an appointment which is usually a 3 week wait. But no specialist support.as regards the sleeping issue how do all you carers deal with the lonliness issue.After 57 years of marriage I am finding it so hard sitting here virtually alone while he sleeps all evening
Tracey Fisher
saysWe get no help whatsoever with my mother in law, it's so draining. My husband and I are at work all day and when we come home it's like starting another days work all over again. We don't know what to do or who to turn to.
Joseph Lucas
saysmy wife has just died after 11 yrs of a hell of a journey with Alzheimers
she went through all the stages of this decease one was the sleeping
for days in chairs on sofas on beds , to me it was,nt normal this happened in 2 car homes. My wife was very active walking about all the time with one to one carers. Carers were asking me whats wrong with her? l had to think how was l going to speak to the nurses and managers about this. l know what response l was going to get from them the normal thing they say is that its a stage of the Alzheimers
l had to decide was she over medicated to slow her down was she bored with nothing to do, sometimes the carers never spoke to her.
its not easy to speak to doctors and managers in these care homes but l did,nt give up and the medication was the problem.
Linda
saysMy mom had a temporal bleed. The care home give her Mirtazapine at approx 5.15.p.m. with her tea. Shes often asleep by 6.45 They then say shes up at night. Who wouldn't be as shes had 8 hrs sleep by early hrs. Then asleep in morning so misses breakfast and her epilepsy pills and glaucoma drops. Purely because of incorrect drug administration by care home. I've spoken to social and doctors but nothing happens. Care homes are untouchable. Especially if your loved one has a DOLs.
Rose Marie COOIL
saysMy husband has started sleeping a lot during the day, he also sleeps allnight so I was relieved to read your article. Many thanks for this information I am sure many people will be glad to know a bout this issue.
Hilary
saysMy difficulty is loneliness. My hosband has slept all day and I have spoken to no one. If I was single the way I would deal with this is I would go out for a walk or visit a garden centre but I can't leave him.
Debbie
saysMy Mum is in the same situation. My Dad sleeps nearly all day and all night. She has given up her social life as she cannot (and will not) leave him alone and will not get carers. It is a very hard situation to be in.
Heather
saysMy mom does that too. I have seen my mom get up at 1 am make her bed and get dressed. Go back to sleep till I get up then breakfast then she falls asleep in front of tv then I tell her go to bed. Then I make lunch she has big appetite, eats falls asleep again. I go to work get home at 12 am put her drops in she sleeps all night. She is 91 good health but I think beginning stages of dementia she has been evaluated. We live together. I will not put her in a home . Not until she does not know any of us. I can’t do it. Her eyes aren’t good she still takes her walker goes to bingo. Just make her comfortable and some what happy. I do feel like part of my mom is gone. I don’t see a lot of genuine happy like I use to. But she is still here. So we cherish that.
Christine fothergill
saysMy mum, 88 has dementia but under control with medication. She gets up as early as 4.00am to have her bath and get dressed. Then sits in her bedroom before coming down to make a cup of tea at 7.00. She then nods off on and off all morning. I put a film on in the afternoons and she seems to stay awake then.
Audrey
saysThank you! This article was really reassuring.
Rita Poole
saysThankyou for putting my mind st rest regarding my husband s sleeping for long periods I now feel I am doing right letting him sleep
Sharon Watson
saysMy dad tends to fall asleep in the morning and several times during the day. I think it has got more frequent over the last few months. He has had Vascular Dementia for 10 years. My mum who is his main carer has become a little worried about this as she says he drops off in the chair constantly. He is 87 now so we sometimes think it could be age related too. He does sleep well at night though and gets up once to use the toilet. It is concerning but he seems ok.
Lizzie Bennett
saysMy husband has Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 57 years.
We have flown to the states for him to receive Stem Cell treatment which he had yesterday, so it’s fingers crossed now for a positive result.
BTW he sleeps a lot too
Wendy Johnson
saysWhere in the States are you. Is there a website as I have early onset Altzeimers & would like some info.
Sophie
saysHave you had good results with this?
Mrs Lorraine Merry
saysHi my husband is 65 and in his second year of Alzheimer’s. I am very interested to know how your husband is after the stem cell treatment?
Fran
saysCan you give more info regarding stem cell
Pauline Batten
saysThis was very helpful as my husband can easily sleep 14 hours or more a d I was worried that he was misdiagnosed g out om food and drinks
Lorraine
saysMy dad is 85 & diagnosed with vascular dementia. Hes also got bowel cancer. I can't believe how FAST his memory has gone but... how can I prevent him from being SO NASTY to my mum who's 84 & suffers badly from diabetes. PLEASE HELP
Hi Lorraine,
Sorry to hear about your dad - that sounds really difficult.
Have you tried calling or contacting our helpline? They'll be able to offer you some advice and support regarding changes in your dad's behaviour. Please find their number, contact details and opening hours here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/national-dementia-helpline
Hope this is helpful, and please do get in touch if you need any further support.
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Alzheimer's Society blog team
Vind
saysThat was what my MIL was like before she was given a medication named memantine, she used to really nasty to her husband and care giver, but since the medication she is happy as a lark, is easy to be taken care of, eats, sleeps, and chatter most day.
Olivette Hubler
saysVery helpful discussions. Thank you the sleeping thing has been such a concern. Would like to know what happens next
Hi Olivette,
Thanks for your comment - I'm glad you've found the discussions helpful.
We do have some pages on our website about how dementia progresses, you can find them here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/how…
It's important to remember that everyone experiences dementia differently, so this is just an indicator of some typical experiences.
If you'd ever like to talk to somebody about your situation, please remember you can call our helpline 7 days a week. Details and opening hours for the helpline are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/national-dementia-helpline
Hope this is helpful,
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Alzheimer's Society blog team