title: Is homeostatic sleep regulation under low sleep pressure modified by age?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously shown that healthy older volunteers react with an attenuated frontal predominance of sleep electroen-cephalogram (EEG) delta activity in response to high sleep pressure. Here, we investigated age-related changes in homeostatic sleep regulation under low sleep pressure conditions, with respect to regional EEG differences and their dynamics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of the sleep EEG during an 8-hour baseline night, during a 40-hour multiple nap protocol (150 minutes of wakefulness and 75 minutes of sleep) and during the following 8-hour recovery night under constant posture conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen young (20-31 years) and 15 older (57-74 years) healthy volunteers
  
  
  METHODS
  N/A.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All-night EEG spectra revealed an increase in spindle activity (13-15.25 Hz) for both age groups, but only in the young did we find a significant decrease of delta activity (0.5-1.25 Hz) in response to low sleep pressure conditions, predominantly in occipital brain regions. However, delta activity during the first non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep episode was equally reduced in both age groups. This response lasted significantly longer in the young (across the first 2 NREM sleep episodes) than in the older participants (only the first NREM sleep episode).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial EEG delta response to low sleep pressure was similar in healthy older and young participants. Therefore, age-related sleep deteriorations cannot solely be attributed to alterations in the homeostatic sleep-regulatory system. It is, rather, the interplay of circadian and homeostatic factors of sleep regulation, which is changed with aging.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munch
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knoblauch
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blatter
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wirz-Justice
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cajochen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology