My Alzheimer's Journey

Part 23 - Did Someone Say, "Nap time?"

In recent weeks, my sleep schedule has been crazy. I barely sleep at night, and then I take long naps during the day. I am becoming more and more like a cat.

When I am not sleeping, I struggle to muster up the energy and desire to do something meaningful.

Apathy and poor sleep are common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

According to a 2019 Washington University School of Medicine study,“Poor sleep is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. People with the disease tend to wake up tired, and their nights become even less refreshing as memory loss and other symptoms worsen.”

Several recent studies report that up to 70% of persons with AD are affected by apathy. Specifically, a loss of motivation or goal-directed behavior.

Sleep is extremely important as it can mitigate the effects of AD and support brain health.

The usual steps people take to get better sleep (developing a routine, limiting daytime sleep, moving more during the day, limiting stimulants, etc) either don’t work for people with AD or they can’t find the motivation to do those things. That is certainly my situation.

I have decided to embrace reality and not let my sleep problems and apathy cause additional stress. That doesn’t mean I am not trying to improve my sleep pattern and do meaningful things. I am trying - just not aggressively.

Early Monday morning, I took a walk to a coffee shop near our apartment. Along the way, I saw a group of buzzards enjoying breakfast at a dumpster. They reminded me of a group of old men who meet for breakfast every day. The buzzards were chatting among themselves while eating.

I plan to do more walking as time goes on. We live about three miles from Duke Forest. There are many well-maintained hiking trails there. Many years ago, I enjoyed walking at Duke Forest.

We maintain a list of tasks that need completing (organizing the apartment, books to read, research to do, places to visit, etc). The list helps me stay focused.

Even with limited business responsibilities, I still have a continual list of business tasks to work on every day. Regular communication with clients and our manager keeps me engaged.

Most importantly, I have decided to embrace the cat lifestyle. I will join Bella for a nap soon.