Sleep disorders and aging: Understanding the causes

AS many as 40 % of the elderly population complainL about sleep problems. Studies sampling from a wide variety of populations have consistently demonstrated that older people are disproportionately dissatisfied with their sleep; these studies have also noted disproportionate use of sedative medications among the aged (e.g., 1,2,3). Significant sleep disturbance can lead to daytime sleepiness and fatigue and impaired daytime function; it can seriously compromise the quality of life of many elderly individuals and cause them to seek professional health care. The sleep disturbances of elderly people arise from a multitude of causes and create a complex problem. There are three major considerations regarding sleep disorders and aging: (a) the recognition of the multifactorial nature of sleep disorders in the elderly; (b) the need to, wherever possible, treat the primary problem rather than the symp