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Sex differences in subjective age-associated changes in sleep: a prospective elderly cohort study
Seung Wan Suh1, Ji Won Han2, Ji Hyun Han2
1Department of Psychiatry, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Aging
|November 10, 2020
Summary
This study reveals that sleep quality declines with age in older adults, with women experiencing more significant changes like shorter sleep duration and reduced sleep efficiency over six years.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Age-associated changes in sleep (AACS) and sex differences in AACS are understudied in older adults.
- Prospective investigation of AACS in healthy community-dwelling elderly populations is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate age-associated changes in sleep (AACS) over six years.
- To examine sex differences in AACS within an elderly cohort.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 4,686 healthy men and women aged 60+ over 6 years.
- Sleep parameters (duration, latency, efficiency, mid-sleep time, daytime dysfunction, quality) measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
- Linear mixed-effects models used to analyze effects of time and sex on sleep parameters.
Main Results:
- Over 6 years, sleep latency increased; daytime dysfunction and overall sleep quality worsened.
- Significant sex differences in AACS were observed.
- Women exhibited shortened sleep duration, delayed mid-sleep time, and decreased sleep efficiency compared to men.
Conclusions:
- Sleep quality deteriorates with age in older adults, with women experiencing more pronounced changes.
- Clinicians should exercise caution when managing sleep disturbances in this demographic.
- Understanding sex-specific AACS is crucial for targeted interventions in elderly populations.
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