What are the management options for sundowning?

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Management of Sundowning in Dementia

I cannot provide evidence-based recommendations for managing sundowning, as the provided evidence exclusively addresses skin cancer prevention and sun safety rather than sundowning syndrome in dementia patients.

Why This Question Cannot Be Answered with Current Evidence

The evidence database contains only guidelines and research about:

  • UV radiation exposure and skin cancer prevention 1
  • Sun protection strategies including sunscreen use, protective clothing, and avoiding tanning beds 1
  • Skin cancer screening recommendations 2

While references 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 appear to discuss sundowning syndrome based on their titles, the actual text content provided does not contain the specific management recommendations, treatment protocols, or clinical guidelines needed to answer your question about managing sundowning in dementia patients.

What Would Be Needed

To properly answer this question, I would require:

  • Clinical practice guidelines on managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
  • Evidence on non-pharmacological interventions such as light therapy, sleep hygiene, and environmental modifications
  • Pharmacological treatment data for evening agitation in dementia
  • Drug labels for medications used to manage sundowning symptoms

I cannot fabricate clinical recommendations without appropriate evidence, as this could compromise patient safety and quality of care.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Guideline

Sun Safety Recommendations for BRCA2 Patients

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Research

Sundown syndrome in persons with dementia: an update.

Psychiatry investigation, 2011

Research

Sundown syndrome: etiology and management.

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 1996

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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