Abstract

Introduction: Dementia is a known predictor of mortality, but little is known about disease duration. Dementia is a significant predictor of mortality (HR=1.7) after adjustment for several covariates like comorbidities. The mean survival time after dementia diagnosis is 4-5 years. More than 2 years were spent in moderate and a year in severe stages. Women with dementia live longer than men, as they survive longer in the severe stage among 75-84-year-old women compared to coetaneous men. The potential years of life lost are 3.4 for dementia, 3.6 for CVD, and 4.4 for cancer. A similar impact of dementia and CVD on survival, is also true but following diagnosis, persons with dementia, and especially women, spent half of their remaining lives in the severe disabling stages of the disease. Circadian rhythm is human body’s internal clock, which follows a 24-hour day’s biological processes. Our circadian rhythm connects to a tiny cluster of cells called “Supra-Chiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)” in the hypothalamus, a part of our brain. This rhythm tells the body when to sleep and when to wake up. It also affects several other body processes, like hormones, digestion and body temperature. Each human body sets circadian rhythm naturally, guided by the brain, which is influenced by some outside factors also like light, darkness, food, stress, temperature, travel, shift works etc. Professionals mentally active, keeping physically active and doing mental task they never did before to challenge the brain may have mild age-related physical changes but retain intact cognitive and social functioning like their status at age 60. Despite occasional memory lapses can retrace steps and remember later, they are Independent in all Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). Still managing personal & family finances, driving and using technology. On the other hand, Individuals with weaker and irregular daily rhythms are at a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those with strong, consistent and well-aligned rhythms. Similarly, individuals with activity peaks later in the day are associated with a 45% increased risk of dementia, suggesting a misalignment with environmental light/dark cues.
Materials & Methods: This article is based on 2 male Dementia cases and one comparison of younger aged Cousin with Dementia of this author with literature review of the causes of disruption in CIRCADIAN RHYTHM leading to dementia and the strategies to reset our internal clock.
Outcomes: Once Dementia sets in the treatment can only delay further damage, therefore, prevention by resetting circadian rhythm in late adulthood after 40 years is the best choice!

Keywords:Circadian rhythm; Dementia; Alzheimer’s disease