title: Sleep disorders in the elderly.
abstract: Geriatric patients often complain about sleep disorders, but many of the typical sleep disturbances in the elderly are thought to be normal consequences of old age and go underdiagnosed and undertreated. Sleep disorders are estimated to affect nearly 50% of older persons. Most frequently the elderly suffer from Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB), Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS), Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), morning headaches, circadian rhythm disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS), and insomnia. This review describes all these common sleep problems in the older population and their possible treatment.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Psichiatria e Psicologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia. mariannamazza@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Marca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Risio
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Mennuni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazza
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D017286:Polysomnography; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D020919:Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives