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Dementia symptoms can differ depending on the type experienced(Image: DBenitostock via Getty Images)<\/p>\nDr Kellyn Lee has highlighted sundowning, a lesser-known sign of dementia that often becomes more noticeable in the afternoon and evening<\/p>\n
04:59, 07 Dec 2025Updated 09:20, 07 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
Dementia symptoms can differ depending on the type experienced(Image: DBenitostock via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
A psychologist has delved into a little-known sign of dementia<\/a> and ways for patients to help manage it. Dr Kellyn Lee, who heads up The Dementia Care Hub, highlighted that this particular symptom <\/a>tends to intensify during afternoon hours, often leaving loved ones baffled.<\/p>\n “This can happen at any time of day, but what we see a lot with people living with dementia <\/a>is that it can happen in the afternoon,” she said in a TikTok earlier this year<\/a>. “So, what I would be looking at is this would be, again, a symptom of anxiety<\/a> and agitation and maybe increased confusion.”<\/p>\n Dr Lee is describing a phenomenon known as ‘sundowning’, where dementia patients display increasingly erratic behaviour during late afternoon and early evening periods. Throughout these episodes, people may become exceptionally distressed and could also suffer from hallucinations and delusions.<\/p>\n Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n Although the precise triggers behind sundowning are not fully understood, the Alzheimer’s Society<\/a> suggests it is not necessarily connected to dusk. Instead, it is more likely driven by immediate unaddressed requirements, which could encompass:<\/p>\n READ MORE: ‘World’ top doctors’ explain how they avoid getting sick<\/a>READ MORE: Gran dies months after dizziness misdiagnosed as depression<\/a><\/p>\n “Sundowning can happen at any stage of dementia but is more common during the middle stage and later stages,” guidance from Alzheimer’s Society adds. “Some of these are related to the time of day, and others may happen at any time. Try to identify which of these problems might be affecting the person, as each problem may need a different treatment.”<\/p>\n If you suspect your loved one could be experiencing sundowning, Dr Lee recommends keeping a log of the symptoms you notice at different points during the day.<\/p>\n According to Surrey Live<\/a>, in the video, she continued: “So, what I would be looking at doing is noting down when this is happening and what’s happening. There are tablets that can be used, such as lorazepam.<\/p>\n “Absolutely these drugs are drugs that need to be taken with caution because they are highly addictive. So, some GPs may not want to prescribe them. However, I think we really need to balance the risk of addiction compared to the fact the person has dementia.”<\/p>\n Whilst dementia symptoms can vary depending on the specific form, common early indicators may include:<\/p>\n\n
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Sundowning describes a phenomenon in which people with dementia exhibit more unpredictable behaviour in the afternoons and evenings(Image: Dobrila Vignjevic via Getty Images)Other potential symptoms of dementia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n