Life rhythm in Dementia

Abstract

Life rhythms in humans, including patterns of sleep, diet, work and leisure, have been commonly recognized as being important for the maintenance of good health. Some studies have indicated that delirium and wandering behaviors often observed in older persons with dementia might be associated with disturbances in life rhythms, and the rearrangement of rest-activity patterns in daily life can lead to a reduction in Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and the maintenance of good health. For older persons with dementia who have difficulty resting or regulating their activities by themselves, support might be needed from caregivers who understand the importance of life rhythms in people with dementia. Recent advances in information and communication technology (ICT), such as wearable technology, are useful for quantitatively assessing life rhythms in persons with dementia. In particular, the characteristics of rest-activity rhythms in older persons with dementia have now been well documented by research conducted in Japan and internationally. An appropriate understanding of life rhythms in persons with dementia is expected to help maintain good health in older persons with dementia as well as their helpers or caregivers, in addition to helping specialists develop new therapeutic approaches.