Sleep health in the older adults: Architecture, circadian changes, and common sleep disorders - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #Circadian Rhythm
- #Sleep Disorders
- #Aging
- Population aging increases sleep-related complaints among older adults, impacting cognitive function, physical health, and quality of life.
- Age-related changes include reduced slow-wave and REM sleep, decreased sleep efficiency, increased fragmentation, and circadian amplitude dampening.
- Common sleep disorders in older adults include insomnia (20-40%), obstructive sleep apnea (>30%), restless legs syndrome, and REM sleep behavior disorder.
- Chronic sleep disturbances are linked to cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, falls, frailty, and mortality.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a first-line treatment for insomnia, while dual orexin receptor antagonists show promise.
- Continuous positive airway pressure is standard for obstructive sleep apnea, though adherence is challenging.
- Future research priorities include longitudinal studies in the oldest-old, circadian mechanism investigations, behavioral interventions, and equity-focused research.