Overstimulating Environments
Loud, crowded, or unfamiliar places can cause sudden confusion and agitation in people with MCI. “People with early Alzheimer’s lose a critical cognitive ability: filtering,” says Etienne.
“The brain’s ability to filter out irrelevant or redundant sound information in order to focus on important information may be impaired in individuals with Alzheimer’s,” says Etienne. “For someone with dementia, this could mean that everyday noises, lights, or even textures become overwhelming; causing confusion, anxiety, and agitation that make daily tasks more challenging.”
This jump in confusion or behavior change can happen more often around bedtime — a phenomenon called “sundowning.”
This can be related to the level of sensory experiences you have over a busy day, says Parulekar. “As the day progresses, the brain becomes increasingly fatigued and less able to cope with environmental stressors.”
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