Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: October 20, 2023
Sleep disruption in older adults. Harmful and by no means inevitable, it should be assessed for and treated
Catherine Cole1, Kathy Richards
1University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing in Little Rock, USA. colecatherine@uams.edu
Abstract:
Insomnia is not a normal part of aging, but nighttime sleep in older adults is often disrupted, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and other physical, psychological, and cognitive changes that affect overall health. Even so, clinicians often pay little attention to sleep in this population. The sleep of older adults tends to be less deep than that of younger people, and coexisting conditions and treatment effects can more easily disrupt sleep. This article reviews the current literature on sleep disruption in older adults and suggests ways that nurses can apply the information in intervening to improve sleep in their older patients.
Related Concept Videos
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Management of Insomnia
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares often...
