A 69-year-old man has been displaying increased forgetfulness and confusion. His family also reports he often wakes up from sleep confused and disoriented. What could be the cause?
These symptoms could suggest dementia due to a number of potential causes. However, given the reported confusion and disorientation upon waking, a form of dementia known as "sundowning", typically associated with Alzheimer's disease, could be considered. This phenomenon involves increased confusion and agitation later in the day. However, these symptoms can also be present in other types of dementia, and further evaluation would be needed to confirm the diagnosis.