SLEEP DISORDERS
American Psychological Association
Table of Contents
Why Practitioners Need Information
- Several normal age-related changes in sleep patterns exist. The relative amount of dream sleep declines from 40 percent of sleep time in early childhood to about 25 percent by age 70. Slow wave, or stage 4 sleep, also decreases. There are more frequent arousals from sleep in later adulthood, and older adults tend to be awake longer during these arousals. Older adults also take about 5 minutes longer to fall asleep at night, compared to younger adults. Snoring increases in frequency with age, and, in general, older adults report that they do not feel as refreshed in the morning, compared to younger adults.
- Sleep problems increase with age, and about half of people over age 80 complain of a sleep difficulty. Insomnia is a common complaint among older adults, but hypersomnia is uncommon. Hypersomnia is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged periods of sleep. It does not refer to the naps that older adults often take.
- Because older people may not need to adhere to a daily schedule, they are more likely to experience sleep-wake schedule problems. These disorders involve a lack of synchrony between the actual times the individual is asleep and awake, and the body's natural circadian rhythm.
- Sleep apnea, episodes during which breathing stops briefly during sleep, increases with age and is a common problem among older adults. Severe apnea may be particularly dangerous because it can trigger rhythm problems of the heart, lead to increased blood pressure, and result in decreased cognitive functioning.
- Periodic leg movements may also cause sleep disturbances in later adulthood. This twitching of the legs during sleep usually occurs earlier in the night and lasts from a few minutes to a few hours, often causing the individual to get out of bed repeatedly to relieve the discomfort.
