Sleep disorders in the elderly

Received 14 June 2000; received in revised form 2 October 2000; accepted 5 October 2000.

Abstract

Sleep disorders and sleeping difficulty are among the most pervasive and poorly-addressed problems of aging. As the population ages, a burgeoning cadre of seniors will seek attention for sleeping difficulties and sleep disorders. Sleep changes with age, and sleeping problems and disorders generally increase with aging. At present, health care professionals are not receiving adequate preparation and training to help the elderly cope with age-related sleeping problems, and several specific areas are ripe for investigation.

Keywords: Geriatrics, Insomnia, Sleep-disordered breathing, Apnea, Restless legs syndrome, Hypnotics

a Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, 800 Rose Street MN 614, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Sleep Center, Samaritan Hospital, Lexington, KY 40536, USA

b Department of Psychiatry 116A, University of California San Diego and Veterans’ Affairs San Diego Health Care System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA

Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-859-323-5419; fax: +1-859-323-1020

PII: S1389-9457(00)00083-6

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