[Insomnia in the elderly: cognitive involvement and therapeutic attitudes]

Sleep is an important biological function, which greatly affects the quality of life at all ages. Sleep influences the alertness and stress levels, psychosomatic diseases and health in general.

The predisposition to insomnia increases with age, illnesses such as heart disease, breathing disorders, cancer, strokes, pain and polyuria often disturb sleep patterns. In addition, the aging process, which directly alters sleep-wake cycles and other cerebral functions, affects the elderly. All the above points can lead to an increase in sleep latency, less total sleep time, increases in early awakening and a greater frequency of daytime naps. In an attempt to improve sleep in the elderly, and thus their quality of life, we can try to prevent stress and psychiatric symptoms by altering life-styles and improve the patients' awareness of the problem. Hypnotic drugs are useful for short periods but for longer ones we prefer techniques which attempt to modify behavior. In chronic patients who need treatment with hypnotic drugs for a long time, therapy must be individualized.