Coffee Time

I have started Gregory on a cup of coffee every night at around 5:00. He never liked coffee and was more a Tea Person. The "Coffee at Five" has come about due to serve several purposes.

First, very often at sundown, people with Dementia go through was is known as "Sundowning." Why this occurs is not fully understood but maybe their mood and discomfort may be caused by an internal clock, by the change in light, by reflections in the window without the ability to discern "inside vs out."

Gregory automatically started the routine for himself of spending an hour or so reading or doing a jig saw puzzle that just happened to coincide with sundown. Because he is occupied, "Sundowning" does not seem to be a problem for him.

Second, I read an article a while back about the importance of caffeine in relation to dementia, and recently saw in November 2011's Weight Watcher's Magazine the following:

"Caffeine may do more than increase alertness. In fact, new research conducted by the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the University of South Florida is showing promising results regarding caffeine and dementia - at least in animals. Mice bred to develop the rodent equivalent of Alzheimer's disease improved when given 500 mg of caffeine (about five small cups of coffee.) Although the research is still in its early stages, lead researcher Gary W. Arendash, PhD, is working toward determining if his findings may be of use to people at risk for the disease as well as for those who already have it."

Having seen this information previously (and now reinforcing to see it further confirmed) I introduced "Coffee Time" to Gregory's five o'clock routine a couple of years ago. Now "Coffee Time" around our home is important for both of us. It helps Gregory through the possibility of Sundowning, might help offset some of his dementia, and he as come to enjoy the flavor of coffee (with a few cookies.) It also helps give me the needed energy boost before I begin to set up for, cook, and clean up from dinner.