Sleep Disorders and Aging
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Sleep Disorders and Aging Overview
Are you one of millions of seniors in the US who think life would be pretty good….if you could just get some sleep?
Sleep disturbances are very common in older people. Changes in sleep patterns may be a normal part of aging, but many other factors common in older people contribute to sleep problems. These include physical illness or symptoms, medication side effects, changes in activity or social life, and death of a spouse or loved one. Sleep disorders decrease quality of life in older people by causing daytime sleepiness, tiredness, and lack of energy. Poor quality of sleep also can lead to confusion, difficulty concentrating, and poor performance on tasks. Sleep disorders also are linked with premature death.
The biggest sleep problem in older people is a feeling of not getting enough sleep (insomnia) or not being rested.
- Many take longer to fall asleep than they did when younger.
- Elderly people actually get the same amount of sleep or only slightly less sleep than they got when younger, but they have to spend more time in bed to get that amount of sleep.
- The sensation of insomnia often is due to frequent nighttime awakening. For example, older people tend to be more easily wakened by noises than younger people.
- Daytime napping is another cause of nighttime wakefulness. Older people are more likely to be sleepy during the day than younger people, but too much sleepiness during the day is not part of normal aging.
- REM sleep is the stage in which muscles relax most completely. Dreaming occurs during REM sleep.
- Non-REM sleep is subdivided into 4 stages. Stages 1 and 2 constitute light sleep; stages 3 and 4 are called deep sleep. Deeper sleep generally is more refreshing.
- The duration of REM sleep decreases somewhat with aging.
- The duration of stage 1 sleep increases, as does the number of shifts into stage 1 sleep. Stages 3 and 4 decrease markedly with age in most people, especially men. In people aged 90 years or more, stages 3 and 4 may disappear completely.
Among older people, women are more likely to have insomnia than men. More than half of people older than 64 years have a sleep disorder. The rate is higher among long-term care facility residents.
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Sleep Disorders and Aging
What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint. Insomnia is defined as difficultly falling asleep or staying asleep, resulting in inadequate length of sleep and/or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is not a disease, but a symptom associated with a variety of medical, psychiatric, or sleep disorders.
What Causes Insomnia?
Almost everyone experiences occasional or short-term insomnia (less than three weeks). Causes of short-term insomnia are typically related to environmental factors such as too much noise or light, temperature extremes, or an uncomfortable bed. Other possible causes include stress (for example, new job or school, deadlines, or examinations) or relationship concerns or losses (for example, death of a family member or friend).
Causes of chronic insomnia (greater than three weeks) are more variable and include the following:
- Medical disorders ...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Sleep Disorder, Geriatric »
Sleep disorders are commonly underdiagnosed and a significant source of concern in the geriatric population.
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