Temperature extremes, whether very hot or very cold, can cause agitation in people with dementia because their brains have trouble managing how their bodies respond to these changes. Normally, the brain helps keep body temperature steady by triggering sweating to cool down or shivering to warm up. But dementia affects the brain areas responsible for this, so people with dementia may not feel hot or cold the way others do. This means they might not realize when they are overheating or getting too cold, which can make them uncomfortable and restless.
In hot weather, their bodies may not cool down properly because they might not sweat enough or drink enough water. Some medications taken for dementia can also interfere with how the body handles heat. This can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can cause confusion, irritability, and agitation. Similarly, in cold weather, they might not shiver enough or recognize the need to put on warmer clothes, leading to discomfort and agitation from feeling cold.
Additionally, dementia can affect judgment and awareness, so a person might wear heavy clothes on a hot day or forget to drink fluids, making temperature problems worse. Limited mobility can also prevent them from moving to a cooler or warmer place when needed. All these factors combined mean that temperature extremes can cause physical stress and discomfort, which often shows up as agitation or restlessness in people with dementia.
