title: [Sleep and its disorders in the elderly].
abstract: Restorative sleep is an important factor for preservation of health and quality of life. Sleep quality is associated with age, i.e., sleep disorders occur more frequently particularly after the age of 75 years. Furthermore, sleep shows an association with female gender, inactivity, dissatisfaction with social life, depressive symptoms, pain, intake of sedatives, genetic predisposition, and increased morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Strategies for improving sleep should include (1) effective treatment of organic diseases and mental disorders, (2) elimination of social life factors that impair sleep quality, (3) light therapy and other nonpharmacological treatment options for longer periods, and (4) short-term use of sleep medication as required. For the latter, it should be kept in mind that lower doses are needed in the elderly.
authors: Institut für Klinische Neurophysiologie, Klinikum Bremen-Ost, Lehrkrankenhaus der Universität Göttingen, Züricher Strasse 40, Bremen, Germany. shappe@gwdg.de
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Happe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*