As we age, getting restful sleep becomes more difficult. Since more than half of older adults suffer from some form of sleep disorder, it is imperative to shed light on this prevalent problem and find effective solutions.
It is vital to understand and identify sleep disorders in older adults, as these conditions can significantly affect their health and quality of life. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of common sleep disorders allows for timely diagnosis and treatment, helping older adults to deal with these problems more effectively.
Here you can find an overview of the most common sleep disorders in this age group, their symptoms and possible consequences.
Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up early. Insomnia can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) and often worsens with age. It is sometimes related to stress, health conditions, medications, or poor sleep habits.
Sleep Apnea: Characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep. The most common type in older adults is obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. Symptoms include snoring, gasping for air while sleeping, and feeling tired despite a full night's sleep.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Uncomfortable sensations in the legs, accompanied by an irresistible urge to move the legs. These sensations usually occur in the evening or at night while sitting or lying down.
Periodic leg movement disorder (PLMD): involves repeated cramps or twitches in the legs during sleep. This can cause sleep problems and lead to daytime sleepiness.
REM sleep behavior disorder: characterized by experiencing vivid, often unpleasant dreams during REM sleep, accompanied by voices and sudden, often violent arm and leg movements.
Circadian rhythm sleep disorder: a disruption in the sleep-wake cycle, often occurring in older adults whose biological clocks are out of sync with the environment, such as shift workers or people with jet lag.
