Sleep in the Elderly: Unanswered Questions

Steven H Feinsilver; Adam B Hernandez

doi:10.1016/j.cger.2017.06.009

Sleep in the Elderly: Unanswered Questions

Clin Geriatr Med. 2017 Nov;33(4):579-596. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2017.06.009. Epub 2017 Aug 19.

Authors

Steven H Feinsilver¹, Adam B Hernandez²

Affiliations

¹ Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Center for Sleep Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, 100 East 77th Street, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: sfeinsil@northwell.edu.
² Sleep Disorders Centers of the Mid-Atlantic, 7671 Quarterfield Road, Suite 201, Glen Burnie, MD 21061, USA.

PMID: 28991652
DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2017.06.009

Abstract

Sleep normally changes with aging, with implications for healthy elderly individuals as well as for those with disease states. Less slow wave sleep (deep sleep) is expected, along with more awakenings, and a tendency toward earlier sleep times. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is seen primarily in elderly individuals, and it often represents the earliest sign of a chronic and progressive neurologic disease. Complaints of difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep (insomnia) become more common with aging. Irregular breathing with sleep also becomes more common, with an increased Apnea Hypopnea Index that may not always be clinically important.

Keywords: Elderly; Insomnia; REM behavior disorder; Sleep; Sleep apnea.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Aging / physiology*
Humans
Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
Nervous System Diseases / etiology
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder* / complications
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder* / diagnosis
Sleep / physiology*
Sleep Hygiene
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / diagnosis*