Surprising Reason Why Dementia Gets Worse In the Evening

Have you noticed your loved one with dementia seems like a completely different person every evening? The confusion, the agitation, the restlessness — and then the nights when they're up convinced it's morning — it's exhausting in a way that's hard to put into words. It is not something you caused or something you missed. New research published in December 2025 finally gives us a neurological explanation for why dementia gets worse in the evening, and it has nothing to do with what you are doing. In this episode I walk you through what the science reveals, what actually helps, and what tends to make it harder. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  ⏱ CHAPTERS  0:00 - What evenings look like for many dementia caregivers 1:45 - What sundowning actually is 3:18 - New brain research: what's happening inside the brain 5:22 - 5 things that can help 8:11 - What tends to make it harder #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.