title: Long-term follow-up of periodic limb movements in sleep in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to examine the natural history of periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, longitudinal design.
  
  
  METHODS
  San Diego area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  NA MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Subjects participated in follow-up visits every few years. Sleep disorders were assessed at each visit using sleep questionnaires and overnight sleep recordings. Changes in PLMS over time were examined as well as variables that were associated with change. Average PLMS did not change over time, although there was considerable variability within the sample. In women, changes in PLMS were associated with changes in sleep-disordered breathing. This relationship was not found in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the prevalence of PLMS is high for older adults, the severity of the disorder does not progressively worsen with increasing age.
authors: SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, University of California, San Diego, USA.
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Gehrman
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Stepnowsky
authors: Mairav
authors: M
authors: Cohen-Zion
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Marler
authors: Daniel F
authors: DF
authors: Kripke
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Ancoli-Israel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires