Abstract
Although ageing itself does not lead to insomnia, changes in sleep architecture (the 'typical' physiological progression from wakefulness to deep sleep) and health status create a vulnerability to the development of insomnia, which can be precipitated by a trigger event. This review highlights some of the problems associated with insomnia in older people and offers insights into the possible approaches to stop insomnia from becoming a 'rite of passage'. The main conclusion from this review however, is that sleep research focusing specifically on the ageing population is badly needed, alongside a unified diagnostic system and research structure (Leger, 2000). These findings are also discussed in relation to both healthcare policy and practice.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1935430 |
Pages (from-to) | 20-32 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Quality in Ageing and Older Adults |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Ageing
- Healthcare
- Insomnia
- Medical practice
- Older people
- Sleep disruption