Why is the prevalence of sleep disorders in the elderly so prevalent?
Age-related sleep changes may partly explain the prevalence of sleep problems among long-term care residents. Changes in sleep are inevitable as people age, although evidence suggests that the major sleep changes associated with aging are secondary to diseases rather than to aging itself. Minor age-related sleep changes (e.g., earlier morning awakening, reduction of total sleep time, increased napping) that do not disrupt usual activities are considered normal and do not require assessment or treatment. Data suggest that age-related sleep changes, medical conditions common among older people, medications that interfere with sleep, substance use or abuse, and factors related to the long-term care facility environment all contribute to the prevalence of sleep difficulties in the long-term care population. Psychiatric disorders are associated with more than 50 percent of cases of insomnia. • Is there a relationship between insomnia and dementia? Compared with non-demented older persons, p
