Sleep Disorders and Aging

Abstract

DISTURBANCES in the pattern of sleep are common in older adults. These sleep–wake disturbances can be the result of physiologic changes that are apparently part of normal aging, a primary sleep disorder, a secondary sleep problem resulting from one of a variety of causes, or a combination of the three. Sleep disruption often leads older persons to report symptoms of disturbed sleep to their physicians in an attempt to alleviate the disturbance.^{1 2 3 4 5} With the rapid increase in the elderly population, the practicing physician should be aware of the changes in sleep–wake patterns that accompany normal aging, the various sleep disorders . . .