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Effects of aging on sleep structure throughout adulthood: a population-based study
Walter Moraes1, Ronaldo Piovezan1, Dalva Poyares1
1Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sleep Medicine
|March 25, 2014
Summary
Sleep patterns significantly change with age, affecting sleep structure, breathing, and limb movements in adults. These age-related sleep alterations were observed in a representative population sample.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Gerontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited studies utilize representative general population samples to detail sleep parameter evolution across the lifespan.
- Understanding age-related sleep changes is crucial for public health initiatives and clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize age-related modifications in sleep architecture, respiratory patterns, and periodic limb movements.
- To investigate these changes in a representative adult population sample from São Paulo, Brazil.
Main Methods:
- A representative sample of 1024 adults (20-80 years) from São Paulo underwent polysomnography and structured interviews.
- Participants were stratified into five-year age groups for comparative analysis.
- Statistical methods included one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation to assess age-related trends and associations.
Main Results:
- Significant decreases in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and REM sleep percentage were observed with increasing age.
- Age-related increases in wake after sleep onset (WASO), arousal index, and sleep latency were significant.
- Apnea-hypopnea index and periodic limb movement (PLM) index increased with age, while oxygen saturation decreased.
Conclusions:
- Sleep structure, duration, and quality significantly change across the adult lifespan in the general population.
- Age is strongly correlated with alterations in sleep respiratory parameters and PLM index.
- While both sexes exhibit similar trends in age-related sleep changes, effect sizes differ between men and women.
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