20% of Alzheimer patients and other forms of dementia express a symptom which involves a sudden aggression and bewilderment at the setting of the sun. This symptom is commonly termed as sundowning syndrome. Scientists have discovered link in between circadian rhythm and “sundowning” symptom in Alzheimer patients. Sundowning is one of the most common syndromes due to which dementia and especially Alzheimer patients need to be institutionalized.
There has always been a thought that if the doctors can regulate or curb this syndrome and minimize the intensity of aggression in patients, then they will be able to live longer at home. A team of scientists has successfully distinguished and mapped the circuit sandwiched between the area of the brain encompassing the circadian clock and the one that controls the aggression. With this circuit map at their disposal, the scientist can now…
