Melatonin treatment of delirious state: A case study

Abstract

Melatonin secretion decreases with age and in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Sundown syndrome (“sundowning”), characterized by agitation, wandering, anxiety, aggression and confusion in the evening and at night is prevalent among demented patients [1,2]. Delirious state is a very common complication in severe dementia, dysregulation of the sleep-wake cycle is one characteristic finding during delirium. Melatonin is able to correct this circadian rhythm disorder [1,3]. Dysfunction of noradrenergic regulation and low tryptophan levels were found to be associated with delirium in the elderly, supporting the hypothesis of a possible role of tryptophan or tryptophan-like compounds such as melatonin in the pathogenesis of delirium [1,4].